Korean Winter

by Griff Hosker

  It takes all the army and the navy

  To take the bra off Mae West

  He thought he'd take a trip to Italy

  He thought that he'd go by sea

  Jumped off the harbour in New York

  And he swam like a man from Cork

  He saw the Lusitania in distress (What'd he do?)

  He put the Lusitania on his chest (Big chest!)

  Drank all the water in the sea

  And he walked all the way to Italy

  That was my brother, Sylveste (What's he got?)

  A row of forty medals on his chest (Big chest!)

  He killed fifty bad men in the West, he knows no rest

  Speak of the man (Hell's fire!), don't push (Just shove!)

  Plenty of room for you and me

  I was not sure that the Lieutenant would have known the song but it was popular with all three services. My young officer was leading and singing as loudly as the rest. The section was becoming a team and it was none too soon. The Captain had been correct, the mission sounded almost impossible. The Lieutenant was grinning when he halted the men, “Right lads, quick shower, eh? Then the Major can tell us what our mission is going to be!”

  They chorused, “Yes sir!” It filled me with hope.

  “Sergeant Major, Lieutenant, join me in my tent before you shower. I will give you a heads up before we speak with the men.”

  Ken Thorpe was an old hand and he knew the score, “That bad, eh sir?”

  “Pretty much, Sarn’t Major; up there with the Cockleshell Heroes I think!”

  The two of them sat on Jake’s cot and I went through the main points. The Colonel had given me four copies of the map and I gave them one each as I explained the mission. When I had finished, I said, “And to make matters worse there is a North Korean Air Base to the west of the town. Even if we escape the ground troops the airmen may well pursue us and this time, we would be too far from our own air force to call in a strike.”

  “It has to be done though, sir, we can’t leave our lads with the Koreans.”

  “I know, Ken, but the trouble is we are unsure of exactly how many men there are. The aerial photographs show that the numbers of prisoners are growing the further north they march. It could be twenty or thirty more by the time we get there. We will need a medic. In a perfect world, we would have a doctor but…”

  “Powell did two years training to be a doctor before he jacked it in to join up and Wally Bridges was a volunteer in the St. John’s ambulance.”

  “Good. I have two mortars coming and a Browning.”

  The Sergeant Major nodded, “Those Brownings are big buggers, sir, if you will pardon my French. They need a couple of big lads. Bates and Lowe are likely lads and they are pals.”

  Jake lit a cigarette and said, “Timkins and Nesbit are also close friends and they scored quite well on the mortar.”

  Just then I heard a truck. “This might well be our supplies. We will sort out the rest as and when. We leave tomorrow morning. The rest of the afternoon is getting to know the weapons. Ken, you take one Thompson and Jake the other.”

  We stepped outside. The men were just coming back from the shower block and there was much horseplay. I heard Sergeant Sullivan and Lance Corporal Lake shout at them to calm down.

  I said quietly, “Sergeant Major, we need another couple of Lance Corporals. Smith and Williams did well. What do you think?”

  “Aye they will be alright and it will give us the opportunity to assess them.”

  “Jake?”

  He smiled. “I was going to say that Williams was a little young but I am guessing you two think that about me!”

  Ken Thorpe kept a straight face as he said, “Of course not, sir!”

  Captain Warwick jumped down from the cab. “We have everything I asked for, sir, and I got on the radio to the airfield. They are procuring some canisters to use for the drop.”

  I was relieved. I had tried jumping with equipment tied to my leg and it was not an easy thing. “Good! Sarn’t Major!”

  “Right my lovely lads. Now that you are all nice and clean get this gear out of the lorry. Be careful with it because we will be using it and soon!”

  The Captain said, “We have two belts of blanks and eight practice mortar shells. Sergeant Horowitz here will take the mortar crews and machine-gun crews to the range.”

  “Sergeant Sullivan.”

  “Sir.”

  “Bates and Lowe will be operating the Browning. Tomkins, Nesbit,” I looked around, “Foster and Fox will take the mortars. Take them to the range and make sure they know how to use them. Those three weapons are our heavy armour!”

  “Sir!” he turned to shout at the six men.

  “Ken, I will let you give the good news to Williams and Smith. Jake, after your shower, you and I will go back into my tent with the Captain here and try to come up with a plan which has half a chance of success.”

  Jake shook his head, “A shower can wait, sir!”

  Once inside we lit the lamp for soon it would be getting dark. I lit my pipe, “Smoke if you like.” They both took out their cigarettes. “Now then, you say they are still being marched north?”

  “Yes, sir. At the moment they are here, at Pyongyang, the capital. The Americans were there too but when we began the push, they started them marching.”

  “How do you know that the two sets of prisoners will be kept separate?”

  “They have been kept apart all the way from the border and there is a new camp at Sunchon. It looks like they are going to hold them there.”

  “So, they might be north of Sunchon by the time we land? It might only be a temporary holding camp?”

  I saw him chew his lip and then he shook his head. “The further north they go the slower they are travelling. The roads are cluttered with civilians as well as the military.”

  I looked at the officer, “Remember Captain, this is not a training exercise. If we get it wrong it is our backsides hung out to dry. I want your most confident guess.”

  He stared at the map, “They will be at Sunchon, sir.” He pointed to a compound. “We think they will be there. It is a small garrison and they have a stone wall, as well as new wire, to protect them.”

  “And the airbase?”

  He smiled, “Believe it or not they have eight biplane dive bombers, the Henschel Hs 123 as well as two Lockheed Hudson bombers. I think we can dismiss them as a threat.”

  I turned to the Captain, “My father flew biplanes in the Great War and let me tell you that they can be highly effective. In many ways, a piston-driven aircraft is better than a jet as it has longer over the target. However, I am more concerned with the personnel at the base. Twelve aircraft would only need a dozen or so guards for the airfield. So, where should we have our drop zone?”

  The Captain volunteered, “I think that Headquarters has identified the landing zone, sir.”

  I did not look up but continued to smoke my pipe and stare at the map, “Unless someone from intelligence is coming with us the drop zone will be in my hands!”

  Jake said, “Sir, how about the same sort of place as the last time. If we land north of the town, we have less chance of being spotted and if they have left Sunchon already, we should be able to catch them.”

  Jake was learning, “A good idea and, as the river valley runs from north to south it will make an easier landing.”

  The Captain shook his head, “And what do you do, sir, if you do manage to rescue them?” I gave him a sharp look, “No, sir, I am genuinely curious. How will you get out of the town if you are north of it?”

  I smiled, “There is a river and the river runs south. There are mountains too. We hide and hope for two things. One, that the advance continues at the same pace and two, that the North Koreans are more interested in escaping than hunting down a few prisoners of war. From what I have been told the attempt to take politicians might be seen as a more serious threat.” I tapped my pipe out, “And who knows, we may find some vehicles
again. It worked before.” I pointed the pipe stem at the Intelligence officer, “The radio will be vital. I want someone on the radio at this end. I have two operators and I intend to take two radios.”

  “Don’t worry, sir, I will man the radio myself. I shall sleep by it for the duration of the mission.”

  I stood, “Right, then as I could eat a horse, I shall dress and go to dinner. I shall leave you two in charge.” With that, I strolled off to grab my towel and take a shower. To be truthful I was nervous but I wanted the two of them to think I was supremely confident. It would permeate to the men. Troops liked following a confident leader, even if he was not confident!”

  Chapter 6

  I made certain that the truck taking us to the field was early. We had much to pack and I wanted to speak with the Colonel of the 187th as well as our pilot. We left an empty camp and there would be no caretaker for we needed every man we could muster. We had all of our weapons as well as winter clothes. We would be laden and that was not a good thing but this time there was no certainty that our troops would reach us in time. When we reached the busy airfield, I left the Lieutenant and Sergeant Major Thorpe to organise the packing of the canisters with the heavier equipment and the winter clothes for the prisoners of war.

  “Captain, come with me, let us find this Colonel White.”

  There were a number of hangars at the airfield and we had one to ourselves. The 187th were using the rest. I saw a Colonel wearing his fatigues speaking with some officers and the Sergeant Major of the regiment. I headed for them. I snapped a salute as I was wearing my beret, “Major Harsker, sir!”

  He turned and smiled, “Good to meet you, Major. I have heard a lot about you. I am Colonel Walter White and these are some of my officers. We are the Rakkasans!”

  I frowned for I had never heard the word before, “Rakkasans, sir?”

  “When we were in Japan, after the war, an interpreter tried to explain our function to the locals. Rakkasan means umbrella man. We kinda like it!” He turned to his men, “Give us some space, gentlemen, I am sure you have things to occupy you.”

  I saw that Captain Warwick was hovering nearby and that the Colonel wanted privacy, “Captain go and give the lads a hand! You can pack anything but my parachute!”

  Disappointed he gave a salute and said, “Sir.”

  When he had gone the Colonel said, “You have done this before then?”

  “Just a few times.”

  “You really have been given the shitty end of this stick. When I saw the single truck pull up, I thought they must have made a mistake. We are going in with a battalion!”

  I shrugged, “We are the only commandos in Korea and the men I am going after are mine.”

  “Ah, now I understand. Well look, we will try to push east to reach you but I can’t promise anything. The powers that be want the North Korean officials. I want the POWs.”

  “Thank you, sir. My aim is to rescue the POWs and see that they are safe. We have a river we can use as well as the mountains and, as I said, this is not my first time hiding out from an enemy. Don’t risk your men coming for us. We are good at improvising.”

  “And you will need to be. Listen, I need to stay in touch with you. We both know that sending a radio signal all the way back to Seoul can be tricky. I will send my communications officer and chief radio operator to talk to your guys. That okay with you?”

  “Of course, sir, and thank you.”

  “If it is any consolation, we have been told that they have a battalion with three tanks guarding the town and there are more than three hundred POWs.” I nodded. “I know that we will get the job done but good men will die.” He shook his head, “Can’t leave our boys behind, can we?”

  “No, sir. I just wanted to come to meet you. I like putting a face to the name and when you shake a man’s hand you know something of his character.”

  “A man after my own heart.” He held his hand out and we shook. “Good luck, Major, and if we both make it back; we will have a drink in the Officers’ Club! I take it you do drink?”

  “Of course, sir. I look forward to it.”

  I strode directly to the aeroplane we would be using. Captain Waring and Lieutenant Stonebridge were with their flight sergeant examining the door trim, “Is there a problem?”

  “Not really but I don’t like the state of this door trim and we have time. We will replace it. See to it, Harry.” The Captain turned to me, “I thought they might have given you a rest, sir.”

  “The men we are going to extract are my men, Captain.”

  He nodded, “Then I understand. Your Captain Warwick said that you wanted to be dropped north of the town, is that right?”

  “Yes, and I want us to come in as low as we can. I do not want to be strung out over miles. We have canisters with important equipment in this time.”

  “The brass wanted you south of the town, sir.”

  “Where there is a road as well as a river. The road will be clogged with men and they will shoot first and ask questions later. North of the town is just a river. There is no road and that suits us.”

  “Then I will get you in as low as I can. Do your men know what to do?”

  I grinned, “I will tell them and I will be the first out. If anyone is going to hit the ground hard it will be me. Once you give us the signal make a slight slow climb. The canisters will be at the end and we can always find them.”

  “Right sir. Well, you get some rest. The days are shorter and we will be leaving as soon as the sun goes down. I guess you will need to reconnoitre “

  “That we will.”

  The men had all packed their parachutes and were organising, under the watchful eyes of Sergeant Major Thorpe, the canisters. I saw my parachute waiting on the table and, dropping my Bergen and Thompson, I went to pack it. I took all the time in the world and when I was satisfied, I laid it down. I then went to my Bergen and unpacked it before repacking it.

  Captain Warwick said, “Sir, why pack the Bergen twice?”

  “If I had time, Captain, I would pack it a third time. It is reassuring to know what you have with you and now is the time I can fetch something I have forgotten.” I had plenty of ammunition and in my Bergen were ten grenades. Four were Mills bombs. I had my silencer and my Colt. My Commando knife and sap were also on my battle jerkin. I felt like a dinosaur wearing it but it had served me well before. I then looked at Sergeant Major Thorpe, “Al Jolson time?”

  He laughed, “Aye, sir!” We knew that if Marine Harris was here, he would be singing, Mammy! I wondered if he had survived and was on the road to Sunchon.

  We both applied the camouflage make-up to our necks, faces and the backs of our hands. I smiled as I saw the section suddenly retrieve their own and begin to apply it. I waved over Jake and Sergeant Sullivan. “I want a radio operator, the machine gun and the mortar crews to come and see me. I need Lance Corporal Lake too. Fetch them would you, Barry?”

  “Sir.”

  When they arrived, I said, “You eight are our insurance policy. When we land you are going to make Fort Zinderneuf! The rest of us will be coming in hot with the prisoners. Your job will be to keep the Koreans off our backs until we can get them behind you. You will have most of the night and some of the morning to do so. Lance Corporal, can you handle it?”

  He nodded, “Aye sir!”

  “Ashcroft, the Americans are sending their radio operator. I want you to be able to talk to him as well as Seoul. They will be closer to us.”

  “Yes, sir!”

  We spent the next hour going over what we knew and the vague plan. As I stressed to them, we needed to be flexible for the aerial photographs only told half of the story. We needed boots on the ground. “The main objective is to get the prisoners out of Korean hands. When we land, we will recce and that will be when I decide on the final plan. This time there will be no barrage and no column of friendly tanks just a few miles away. The big battle is for the North Korean capital so we, to all intents and purposes, ar
e on our own. When we open fire, it will alert the enemy to our presence. From that moment on the clock is running and every Korean within ten miles will be racing to Sunchon to squash us like bugs! Colonel White has enough men to hold his town. We do not.” I saw their faces take in the seriousness of the mission.

  There was hot food for us and we all ate heartily for our next hot meal could be many days away. I had some tobacco. One of the officers I had met at Seoul had been a pipe smoker and he told me of a new American tobacco called White Rum. I had bought some. It was flavoured with rum and moist but it was not as good as my navy enriched tobacco. I had enough with me for a week and I enjoyed a pleasant pipe in the hangar as I listened to my men talk of home. We had not been together long enough for all of us to know all that there was to know about each of our lives and families. That would come but for now, the conversations remarked on the coincidences in our lives. Men discovered places and events they had both shared, albeit unknowingly. There were football teams they had in common and others which were great rivals. It would provide ammunition for banter. Much of the talk was down to nerves. Outside I saw that the sky had darkened and the predicted rain was beginning to fall. At this time of year, it could turn so easily to snow.

  Captain Warwick sat next to me while the Lieutenant and my NCOs moved around the men to check that they were prepared. “They seem a good bunch, Major.”

  “I started fighting in ‘39, Captain. By and large, the men with whom I have served were all a good bunch. I have visited the graves of many of them and told them so since the war ended.”

  He was silent, “I didn’t think there would be another war, sir. When they dropped the atomic bombs on Japan, I thought that was the way of the world and the days of the soldier and his rifle were gone. My family has a tradition of serving. I can trace the officers in my family back to Marlborough. I thought that if I was going to serve then Intelligence would give me the best opportunity to make a difference.”

  I shook my head, “Britain will always need soldiers holding a rifle. Our navy keeps the island safe but aeroplanes make it vulnerable. Look at us. We are going to fly deep into enemy territory and take a couple of towns. We need Intelligence Officers but we also need intelligent officers who can lead men and, when the going gets tough, help them out of a tight spot.”