Norfolk Regiment Returns From Korea

The return of the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment from Korea.

Shots of the City Hall, decorated with the sign Welcome Home and a cut-out of Britannia. There are some dignitaries on the balcony and then the Lord Mayor, Mr. R.H. Mottram, accompanied by dignitaries civilian and military, assemble on the steps. The parade of the Royal Norfolk Regiment is shown marching along an unidentified street in Norwich and then before the assembled dignitaries in front of the City Hall. Shots across the market and the street towards the Guildhall. There is a shot of the City Hall decorated with flags and then the crowds and soldiers are shown milling around outside.

Featured Buildings

The City Hall, Norwich; The Guildhall, Norwich

Featured Events

The Return of the Norfolk Regiment from Korea, 1954

Keywords

Korean War; Royal Norfolk Regiment

Background Information

The First Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment sailed from Southampton for the Far East on August 30th, 1951. 60% of the Regiment were National Servicemen. They landed in Pusan in November, 1951 and their first battle was against the murderously cold Korean winter. Temperatures fell to below 20o below zero on frequent occasions. When summer came, the roads turned to mud and bridges and bunkers collapsed. The Royal Norfolk Regiment were not involved in any large scale military campaigns. Most of their work was in digging the trenches and laying the barbed wire. There were frequent patrols in the 5,000 yards of no man's land; fighting patrols, reconnaissance patrols, ambush patrols. There was always steady shelling and mortar fire. This took a steady toll of casualties. Lt. T. Henson was awarded the Military Cross in 1952 for an ill fated attack on an enemy patrol that left all but three of his patrol dead or seriously wounded. In August, 1952, the Royal Norfolk Regiment left for Hong Kong. One officer and 32 soldiers had died; 10 officers and 98 soldiers were wounded and one officer and five men were missing. Two other officers were awarded the military cross; Capt. Eberhardie and Lt. Towell. Major Chapman received the DSO and Lt. Col. Orlebar was made an OBE. Corporal Critcher and Privates Pearman and Reed were awarded the Military Medal. (See: T. Carew, The Royal Norfolk Regiment. Published by Hamish Hamilton, London, 1967.) During the scene where the Regiment marches through the streets of Norwich, some damage from the blitz is visible. (T. Knighton, 1996.)