THE campaign to have a permanent memorial to Wyedean veterans of the Korean War has passed the halfway stage, as the name of a wounded Wye Valley war vet has been added to the list
More than £11,000 has now be raised towards the planned tribute at the Cyril Hart Arboretum near the Speech House, and comes after the discovery of the previously unknown soldier from Redbrook.
Private Alan Davies, who was born in the Wyeside village and lived at St Briavels and Lydney, is the 16th local veteran who fought with the Gloucestershire Regiment at the pivotal Battle of Imjin River in 1951 to be identified.
A hero who fought at Dunkirk and in Burma during WWII, his name came to light after his family read about the memorial appeal.
Daughter Pam Walker said: “My father was such a quiet person who kept himself to himself and never spoke about his experiences with the Glosters so nobody knew.
“I’m not surprised people didn’t know about him. When we saw the news about the memorial, we had to put his name forward.”
Alan, who died in 1989, was a Regular soldier who also served with 2nd Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment during World War Two, being wounded during the retreat to Dunkirk and later going on to serve in Burma.
At the Battle of the Imjin River, he was wounded again and evacuated before the Glosters were encircled by Chinese forces.
Roger Deeks, Vice Lord-Lieutenant and member of the memorial project team, recently met Pam who showed him her father’s medals and a bullet which was removed from his shoulder after the Battle of the Imjin River.
Mr Deeks said: “Alan was a remarkable soldier who was wounded in Dunkirk and in Korea. On both occasions he was fortunate not to have been killed or captured. His service should not be forgotten.”
After his military service, Alan worked at Lydney Tin Plate Works – later Pine End Works – and was a keen angler at Lydney Lake in his spare time.
The campaign has attracted donations from many individuals, town and parish councils, local businesses and community organisations.
Chair of the fund-raising group, Cllr Julia Gooch, said: “I am thrilled with the response and the kind gestures of support that we’ve received from the whole Forest of Dean community.
“There’s real momentum behind the fundraising campaign which shows strong support to remember our veterans’ actions and tenacity in Korea in 1951. I’d like to thank everyone who has donated so far.”
If anyone knows of a veteran associated with the Forest of Dean who fought at Imjin the, the memorial project team would be very keen to hear from them and ask that they contact Forest of Dean District Council on 01594 81000.
Anyone wishing to contribute to the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial appeal will find details for bank transfer or cheque payments on the Imjin Veterans’ Memorial page on the Forest of Dean District Council’s website fdean.gov.uk/ImjinVeteranMemorial.
Alternatively, donations can be made via the group’s Imjin JustGiving page, justgiving.com/crowdfunding/Imjinmemorial