MORE than 50 people crowded into the porch of St Laurence's Church, Ludlow, on Thursday for a short but dignified tribute to two local men who died on the same day in the Korean War.
Privates Gordon Minton and Dennis (Eddie) Pitt died on the morning of February 15, 1951, at Chuam-Ni (Hill 112) while dealing with an enemy attack. They are buried in Pusan Cemetery in South Korea.
Standing in front of the Roll of Honour on which their names are inscribed, Preb Brian Curnew led a 20-minute service, which included a wreath laying, a reading from Revelations and Laurence Binyon's poetic tribute For the Fallen.
More than a dozen members of both men's families attended, along with members of the British Korean Veterans Association. The Mayor of Ludlow, Graeme Kidd, was also present.
The service also marked the 50 years since the end of a conflict that lasted three years and is estimated to have cost the lives of more than 280,000 British, American, Korean and Turkish soldiers. Another 53,000 were missing in action. Enemy casualties, including prisoners, are estimated at more than 1,500,000.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article