War veteran looks back on 'forgotten' war

THE Korean War might be regarded as the forgotten war, but to Laidley RSL Sub-branch member John Futcher, it remains firmly fixed in his mind.

With the approach of the 59th anniversary of the war's beginning on June 25, 1950, Mr Futcher said it was something he will never forget.

As a young leading seaman aboard HMS Belfast when the war broke out, he was soon seconded to the Americans as part of General MacArthur's 1st Raider Company.

“MacArthur was looking for volunteers with explosives experience to blow up installations around northeast Korea,” he said.

“We had to spend time at Camp McGill in Japan training with American equipment and weapons.”

Mr Futcher was mentioned in Dispatches for his part in the late-1950 Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

He also took part in the landing at Inchon in 1951.

“I'll certainly never forget Chosin,” he said.

“The temperature ranged from minus 20 to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

“After Korea I was commissioned and became a Royal Navy clearance diving officer working around Scotland, northern England and Ireland.”

Mr Futcher received an MBE, personally presented by the Queen, for his services to bomb and mine disposal.

He now lives at Plainland.