Derek Godfrey Kinne
Encyclopedia
Fusilier Derek Godfrey Kinne was awarded the George Cross
for the valour he showed in withstanding torture at the hands of the Chinese Communist forces during the Korean War
.
He was serving with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
when he was taken prisoner by the communists on the last day of the Imjin River battle on 25 April 1951. He escaped twice, the first time within a day of his capture, and was held in solitary confinement in ever more brutal conditions as a result of his unbreakable defiance. His final period of punishment was for wearing a rosette to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. He was eventually released, in a prisoner exchange, on 10 August 1953.
Notice of his award was published in the London Gazette
on 13 April 1954. It ended thus
He was born on 11 January 1930. His brother, Raymond, was killed in Korea while fighting with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
in 1950, the event which spurred him to take re-join the army to take revenge for his brother
George Cross
The George Cross is the highest civil decoration of the United Kingdom, and also holds, or has held, that status in many of the other countries of the Commonwealth of Nations...
for the valour he showed in withstanding torture at the hands of the Chinese Communist forces during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
He was serving with the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally raised in 1674, the regiment was amalgamated with three other fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.-Origins:...
when he was taken prisoner by the communists on the last day of the Imjin River battle on 25 April 1951. He escaped twice, the first time within a day of his capture, and was held in solitary confinement in ever more brutal conditions as a result of his unbreakable defiance. His final period of punishment was for wearing a rosette to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. He was eventually released, in a prisoner exchange, on 10 August 1953.
Notice of his award was published in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
on 13 April 1954. It ended thus
He was born on 11 January 1930. His brother, Raymond, was killed in Korea while fighting with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
in 1950, the event which spurred him to take re-join the army to take revenge for his brother