Bereaved Perth mum will never forget Korean War

Jul 6 2010 by Denis Brown, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

Bereaved mum never forgot Korean War

THE Korean War became known as the ‘forgotten war’ but Perth’s Mary Nicoll, carried its’ painful memory every day of her life.

Mrs Nicoll, who passed away three years ago, never got over losing her brother, William Shaw, a Black Watch private killed in action during the bloody conflict on November 19, 1952.

“Mary was so upset about losing William,” recalled Margaret Duff, a close friend.

“He was only 22 and it was so awful for her, just like it is for the families of these poor boys and girls who are being killed in Afghanistan now,” she said.

At Perth Day, Mrs Duff accompanied William’s niece, Methven’s Avril Dow, to a special ceremony where HRH Prince Edward awarded Elizabeth Crosses to families of six soldiers killed in conflict.

“When I saw the announcement on television last year about the new medals, I said to Avril, you must apply for this as your mum was always so sad that William’s sacrifice had never been properly recognised,” she said.

The first significant armed conflict of the Cold War, the Korean War began on June 25, 1950 after communist North Korea invaded democratic-governed South Korea, seizing Seoul and almost the whole region.

Although a counter-attack in September by southern troops with United Nations forces pushed the Chinese and Soviet Union-supported invaders back, the war dragged on until July 27, 1953.

Casualties were estimated at an astonishing 4 million, including up to 37,000 Americans and more than 16,500 UN allied members, as well as about 1 million civilians, 520,000 North Korean soldiers and 900,000 Chinese.

One of the hot spots where many soldiers fell was a ridge called the Hook, the scene of several savage battles.

In 16 days of fierce firefights alone during May 1953, casualties among the Black Watch defending the strategic ridge included an estimated 12 killed, 73 wounded and 20 missing in action.

The previous year, Private William Shaw was lucky to survive a battle at the Hook, and as he explained in a letter  home later that year, could not wait until his demob, then only months away.

“In the letter he talks about how he’s looking forward to getting home in May and describes just how horrible it was for him and his friends in Korea,” explained Mrs Dow, who brought the letters to Friday’s ceremony.

“William’s experiences were unreal. They had to cope with atrocious weather, very hot and humid, tropical downpours, lots of mosquitoes and outbreaks of malaria.

“They’d have to trek down mountains to collect their provisions, often wading through water right up to their necks and holding their rifles above their heads.

“The letters are fascinating and also quite sad.”

After applying for the Elizabeth Cross last October, Mrs Dow, helped by friends and family, researched archives to find out more about William, relieved to discover he was buried in a war grave at Pusan.

“He’s in a proper grave, so that’s wonderful,” she said.

“This medal means a tremendous amount to me and my family, and I’m really accepting it on behalf of mum.”