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Military campaigns fought during the Korean War. With historical information and military prints and paintings where available.
The Korean War 1950-1953 - Background information:
After their defeat during WWII, the Japanese troops above the 38th
parallel in Korea surrendered to the Soviet Union while troops below the
38th parallel surrendered to the United States. This action permanently
split Korea. The northern half of Korea was supported by China and the
Soviet Union and became the Democratic People's Republic. The southern
half became the Republic of South Korea on August 15th 1949. On June
25th 1950 the North Korean's surged across the 38th parallel. The South
Korean troops were caught by surprise. One day later the American
President Harry Truman ordered US occupation forces from Japan to assist
the South Koreans. The UN voted to provide military aid on 27th June.
For three years UN forces consisting mainly of the United States plus 15
other nations including Britain fought against the North Koreans and
later Chinese Communists. On July 27th 1953, an armistice prevailed but
peace negotiations lasted for years. This was the longest armistice in
history.
Battles fought (click heading for information):
 | Pusan Perimeter 1950
 | US 8th Army against South Korean troops under the leadership
of Gen. Walton Walker. The 8th Army stopped the Communists
attempt at conquest at the Pusan Perimeter in August 1950.
Meanwhile Gen Douglas MacArthur, supreme commander of the UN
forces, prepared a strike at the rear of the North Korean army.
On 16th September the 8th Army moved out of the Pusan Perimeter
and headed towards Seoul after it came under attack. On 26th
September the 8th Army and the X Corps came together at Osan,
Seoul was finally liberated on 28th September. |
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 | Inchon 1950
 | On 15th September 1950 the X Corps (consisting of 1st Marine
and 7th Infantry divisions) landed at Inchon (Seoul's port)
under Gen Edward Almond. 2 days before their arrival naval
bombardment took place and the 1st Marine Division of Gen Oliver
Smith managed to seize the island of Moontip or Wolmi-do, storming
the beaches later on. The marines then took control of Kimpo
Airfield after fighting off the North Korean resistance on 17th
September. Seoul came under attack as the X Corps increased its
beachhead. On 26th September the 8th Army and the X Corps came
together at Osan, Seoul was finally liberated on 28th September. |
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 | North Korea 1950
 | The American 8th Army crossed the border on 9th October and
drove onward through North Korea. The UN I Corps were ordered to
move forward along the axis Kaesong-Sariwon-Pyongyang. With the
North Korean capital Pyongyang falling on 19/20th October. The X
Corps were situated behind the South Korean forces which reached
the Yalu River on 26th October. All UN troops were ordered to
close up to the Yalu thereafter but Chinese Communist troops
sneaked through to the Chongchon River fighting the troops
of the Republic of Korea. ROK II Corps were forced back on
25/26th October and only a quarter of the ROK 7th Division's men
escaped. On 1st November MiG-15 jets flew over North Korea in a
contest with the Americans for control of the skies. General
MacArthur's decision to thrust the front on to Yalu resulted in
the loss of artillery and men as I, IX and ROK II corps fell
back under Chinese attack. Another slaughter ensued near the
Chongchon River after the ambush of the US 2nd Infantry
Division. The capital was relinquished as the retreat moved
further back towards the 38th parallel on 5th December. On 27th
November the 1st Marine Division was cut off at the Chosin
Reservoir by more Chinese troops but after fighting a retreat to
Hungnam they were evacuated on 15th December. Though the Chinese
Communists had managed to drive the UN forces back inflicting
many casualties, they themselves had suffered many losses. |
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 | Thirty-Eighth Parallel 1950-1953
 | Regrouping the new General - Gen Matthew Ridgway, deployed I,
IX and X corps along the Korean peninsula. On 1st January 1951
communist troops attacked the UN troops after mortar and
artillery fire during the night. The UN troops were forced back
and Ridgway had to evacuate Inchon and Seoul on 4th. By 24th
January the UN had established a line 75 miles south of the 38th
parallel. The next day Ridgway launched a counteroffensive and
the UN troops gained ground eventually regaining Inchon and the
Kimpo airfield on February 10th. Seoul was again taken on the
14th March and later in that month the troops recrossed the 38th
parallel. MacArthur was relieved of command by Truman and
Ridgway was made supreme commander, Gen James Van Fleet took
over the 8th Army. |
 | The Communists were building up forces to launch an offensive
from the Iron Triangle - Chorwon, Kumhwa, Pyongyang - and on
22nd they attacked the area around Seoul forcing Van Fleet back,
although he later stabilised the line. A second offensive came
on the night of 15/16th May which led to the devastation of the
ROKIII Corps and forcing UN X Corps to withdraw behind the line
of the 38th Parallel. Resistance from the 2nd Infantry and 1st
Marine divisions with 3rd Infantry Division reinforcements
allowed Van Fleet to check the offensive on 20th May. The
following day the 8th Army launched a counter offensive which
the Communists troops were unable to fend off. By 11th June the
base at Chorwon-Kumhwa was reached. |
 | Hostilities ended on July 10th as peace talks began though by
August they had collapsed and the fighting resumed. Peace talks
resumed at Panmunjon and both sides looked at defensive
operations. |
 | From 1952 and into the first hal of 1953 air attacks,
patrolling and small scale skirmishes allowed the war to drag
on. Gen Mark Clark replaced Ridgway and Gen Maxwell Taylor took
over the 8th Army. After months of negotiations sick and wounded
prisoners were exchanged in operation Little Switch between
20-26th April 1953. The armistice was eventually signed on 27th
July. |
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HMS Theseus by Ivan Berryman.
Two Fairey Firefly fighter-bombers of 810 Sqn, Fleet Air Arm, overfly the carrier HMS Theseus during the Korean War.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 12 inches x 7 inches (31cm x 18cm). Price £15.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 7 inches (31cm x 18cm). Price £40.00
ITEM CODE B0203
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The Battle of Imjin, Crash Action by David Rowlands.
On 25th April 1951, Lieutenant John Mole, in command of the remaining section of the Royal Ulster Rifles 3 inch mortars, dismounted in the open and replied with rapid mortar fire on to the slopes from which a hail of machine-gun fire swept the valley floor. The surviving tanks of C Squadron the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars kept up a heavy fire on the Chinese formations swarming down the valley slopes.
Signed edition. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £65.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £125.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM1055
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Battle of the Hook, Korea by David Rowlands.
Centurion tank of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment firing at night during the battle of the Hook.
Unsigned edition. Image size 17 inches x 12 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £30.00
Signed edition. Image size 17 inches x 13 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £40.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
**Signed edition. (3 copies reduced to clear) Image size 17 inches x 13 inches (43cm x 31cm). Price £30.00
ITEM CODE DHM0614
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Frozen Chosin, Korea, December 1950 by David Pentland.
On 27th November 1950, thousands of Chinese troops swarmed over the frozen Yalu river on the North Korean /Chinese border, cutting off US Marines in the Chosin Reservoir area. Over the next ten days the marines with air support from both the Navy and Marine Air Wings fought their way out of the trap to Hungnam and safety.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 26 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £80.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £125.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91.5cm x 61cm). Price £300.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00
Original painting by David Pentland. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91.5cm x 61cm). Price £1900.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
**Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 26 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £50.00
ITEM CODE DHM0785
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Retreat from the Yalu by David Pentland.
M19 self-propelled antiaircraft guns guns of the 82nd Battalion give cover to the M46 Patton tanks and men of the US Armys 2nd Division during their hazardous retreat south from the Yalu River, following the surprise Chinese winter offensive.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 25 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £90.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £125.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91.5cm x 61cm). Price £480.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00
Original painting by David Pentland. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91.5cm x 61cm). Price £2300.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
**Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. (Two prints reduced to clear) Image size 25 inches x 16.5 inches (64cm x 42cm). Price £50.00
ITEM CODE DHM0838
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Cavalry Sabre by David Pentland.
F86A Sabre of Col. Jack W. Hayes ex-cavalry, bomber and Mustang pilot, attempting to intercept a Russian MIG 15 flown by Soviet ace Casey Jones, over the Yalu river, Korea, February 1952.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 12 inches x 17 inches (31cm x 43cm). Price £35.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 17 inches (31cm x 43cm). Price £90.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 24 inches x 36 inches (61cm x 91.5cm). Price £480.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 20 inches x 30 inches (51cm x 76cm). Price £370.00
**Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. (2 copies reduced to clear) Image size 12 inches x 17 inches (31cm x 43cm). Price £38.00
ITEM CODE DHM0782
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Panther Pack, Korea, March 1953 by David Pentland.
Grumman panther F9F / 5s of Marine Squadron VM311 flown by Boston Redsox Baseball star Ted Williams and future Astronaut John Glenn take off from K3 Airbase Pohang, on a ground support mission.
Signed limited edition of 500 prints. Image size 20 inches x 12 inches (51cm x 31cm) Printed on high quality artist paper board.. Price £90.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 13 inches (64cm x 33cm). Price £160.00
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 16 inches (76cm x 41cm). Price £370.00
ITEM CODE DP0001
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Fly Past by Randall Wilson.
Hawker Sea Furies buzz the stern of HMAS Sydney during fleet exercises off Jervis Bay 1956.
Signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £35.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £90.00
Eric Brown signature edition of 20 prints from the limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £110.00 Signed by Eric Winkle Brown.
Eric Brown signature edition of 100 prints (Nos 501 - 600) from the signed limited edition of 1150 prints. Image size 17 inches x 10 inches (43cm x 25cm). Price £90.00 Signed by Eric Winkle Brown.
Limited edition of 50 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £370.00
Postcard size 6 inches x 4 inches (15cm x 10cm). Price £2.00
ITEM CODE DHM0725
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Korean Combat by Keith Aspinall.
On 9th August 1952, over North Korea, Commander Peter Carmichael of 802 Squadron R.N. in a Sea Fury became the first British pilot of a piston-engined aircraft to shoot down a MiG-15.
Open edition print. Image size 14.5 inches x 9.5 inches (37cm x 24cm). Price £18.00
ITEM CODE KA0006
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Sea Fury by Robert Taylor
Flying an 805 Squadron Sea Fury from H.M.S. Ocean in Korean waters, 1952, Hoagy Carmichael became the first piston engine pilot to destroy a jet aircraft when he downed a North Korean MiG.
Signed limited edition of 1500 prints. Paper size 24 inches x 20 inches (61cm x 51cm). Price £80.00 Signed by Hoagy Carmichael (deceased).
Limited edition signed. Paper size 24 inches x 20 inches (61cm x 51cm). Price £60.00 Signed by Hoagy Carmichael (deceased).
ITEM CODE DHM2093
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