THE letter (November 18), headed 'Heroes of the 'Forgotten War' - Korea, 1951-1952, evoked many, very sad memories for me.  

I was in the Fleet Air Arm Anti-Submarine Warfare section of the Royal Navy at the time but I had contracted TB while serving on board the battleship HMS Anson and it had developed while serving at RNAS Eglington, Northern Ireland, and at RNAS St Merryn, HMS Vulture, 796 Squadron Firefly Mark 5s, near Padstow, where I and seven other National Service volunteers had been awarded our 'Wings'.  

I had to leave the navy, but they all went to the war in Korea on an aircraft carrier off the coast there. Only three, I think, came back alive, having been shot down by Russian super-jet aircraft lent to the Chinese and North Korean forces fighting against NATO forces which were supporting the South Koreans.  

One of the survivors was Sub-Lt Anthony Kimmins, whose father had flown the bi-planes Faith, Hope and Charity in Malta during the second world war.

Incidentally, a friend of ours in the New Forest was captured by the Chinese military and was frozen by his feet into the river bordering North Korea and China, after which he was imprisoned by the Chinese in a cell where the light was left on day and night while he was being bombarded with verbiage and water, forcing him to become a communist. After the war was over he returned, tried to make us become communists and it took over one year to overcome his enforcement. Those were the horror days.

John Weeks

Mary Tavy

I FULLY agree with the gentleman whose letter you published (November 18) we do seem to be a little left out when it comes to remembering world wars and conflicts. I served with the RAMC attached to first the 5th Inniskillen Dragoon Guards and then the 1st Royal Tank Regiment.

As your previous letter said, we had to be 19 on arrival in Korea, I must have been one of the youngest to serve there as I had my birthday in transit.

In the winter months the temperature dropped to -12 degrees F the summer months it rose to 120 degrees F.

We were not heroes but just soldiers doing their duty. It must also be remembered many died in the conflict and those who were unfortunate to be captured endured torture at the hands of the Chinese.

This was the first time a war was fought under the United Nations and also the first time it was agreed the RAMC could be armed.

K F H Whitby

Drake Gardens

Tavistock