Korea Medal 1950-53 (22546281 Pte. D. Goodair. K.O.S.B.)

Wounded-in-Action Second World War: Prior to his service in the Korean War, as No 1482807 Private Donald Goodair, had been 'Wounded-in-Action' on 22 May 1945, in Germany while serving with 5th Battalion Highland Light Infantry in the North West Europe campaign 1945 (British Army Casualty Lists held in file series WO 417/92 at TNA). The casualty list shows 14 x 'Other-Ranks' of the 5/HLI wounded on the same date of return

Wounded-in-Action Korean War: The War Office Casualty List No. 73 for the Korean War confirms that No. 22546281 L-Cpl D. Goodair (resident of York) of the King's Own Scottish Borderers had been wounded-in-action, and was reported in 'The Scotsman' newspaper issue dated, 15 March 1952

Victoria Cross Action 'Point 217 - Point 317': Lance-Corporal Donald 'Yorkie'' Goodair, 1st Battalion King's On Scottish Borderers, is confirmed having been present at Point 317 (Hill 317 ) during the Second Battle of - also referred to as 'Charlie Chinaman's Gunpowder Plot' - fought on 4-5 November 1951 - in which battalion action, Private William 'Bill' Speakman Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) attached to 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers earned one of only four Victoria Crosses awarded for conspicuous gallantry during the Korean War. The inspirational citation for Bill Speakman's outstanding acts gallantry, was published in a separate issue of the London Gazette dated 28 December 1951:

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‘From 0400 hrs., 4th November, 1951, the defensive positions held by 1st Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers were continuously subjected to heavy and accurate enemy shell and mortar fire. At 1545 hrs., this fire became intense and continued thus for the next two hours, considerably damaging the defences and wounding a number of men. At 1645 hrs. the enemy in their hundreds advanced in wave upon wave against the King's Own Scottish Borderers' positions, and by 1745 hrs. fierce hand-to-hand fighting was taking place on every position. Private Speakman, a member of "B" Company, Headquarters, learning that the section holding the left shoulder of the company's position had been seriously depleted by casualties, had had its N.C.Os. wounded and was being over-run, decided on his own initiative to drive the enemy off the position and keep them off it. To effect this he collected quickly a large pile of grenades and a party of six men. Then, displaying complete disregard for his own personal safety, he led his party in a series of grenade charges against the enemy; and continued doing so as each successive wave of enemy reached the crest of the hill. The force and determination of his charges broke up each successive enemy onslaught and resulted in an ever-mounting pile of enemy dead. Having led some ten charges, through withering enemy machine-gun and mortar fire, Private Speakman was eventually severely wounded in the leg. Undaunted by his wounds, he continued to lead charge after charge against the enemy, and it was only after a direct order from his superior officer that he agreed to pause for a first field dressing to be applied to his wounds. Having had his wounds bandaged, Private Speakman immediately rejoined his comrades and led them again and again forward in a series of grenade charges, up to the time of the withdrawal of his company at 2100 hrs. At the critical moment of the withdrawal, amidst an inferno of enemy machine-gun and mortar fire, as well as grenades, Private Speakman led a final charge to clear the crest of the hill and hold it, whilst the remainder of his company withdrew. Encouraging his gallant but by now sadly depleted party, he assailed the enemy with showers of grenades and kept them at bay sufficiently long for his company to effect its withdrawal. Under the stress and strain of this battle, Private Speakman's outstanding powers of leadership were revealed, and he so dominated the situation that he inspired his comrades to stand firm and fight the enemy to a standstill. His great gallantry and utter contempt for his own personal safety were an inspiration to all his comrades. He was, by his heroic actions, personally responsible for causing enormous losses to the enemy, assisting his company to maintain their position for some four hours and saving the lives of many of his comrades when they were forced to withdraw from their position. Private Speakman's heroism under intense fire throughout the operation and when painfully wounded was beyond praise and is deserving of supreme recognition.’

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The epic fighting of 4-5 November 1951, occurred in what is now referred to a The Second Battle of Maryang-san (4–6 November 1951) during which British forces, possessing a Maryang-san (Hill 317, a.k.a. Hill 315) and surrounding area (Hill 217), were overwhelmed by Chinese forces.The hill remained in Chinese hands for the remainder of the Korean War

The Yorkshire Evening Post issue of 7 September 1953, contained the below following article pertaining to Corporal Goodair's service in the Korean War, and his vigil post-war to meet and visit the widow of a close friend and comrade-in-armss who had died on Hill 217

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A promise to keep

Before the Battle of Hill 317 in Korea last year (sic), Cpl. Tom Price, of Selby, asked his best friend, Cpl. Donald Goodair, of 18, Victoria Street, York, to promise that if anything happened to him, he would go and see his wife and daughter.

Cpl. Price was killed in the battle, and now Cpl. Goodair home from Korea, is trying to find his friends relatives. All he knows is that Mrs. Price lives in the Selby district.

He and Cpl. Price served together with the King's Own Scottish Borderer's for 13 months. Cpl Price was wounded in a Chinese attack, and died after being taken to a field ambulance station behind the lines.

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Excepting the poor journalism in not checking dates, the official date of death of No 21003928 Corporal Thomas W. Prince, 1st Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers is recorded to have died in Korea on, 4 November 1951!

Another similar article - with even worse erorrs (the journalist reported the wrong surname of the deceased comrade) but with some additional details of the action at , was published in the Newcastle Journal issue of 8 September 1953

Medal(s) & Clasp Verification: The medal rolls for the Korean War are not yet in the public domain, however the recipient is confirmed wounded-in-action, and prior awarded 4 x medals and a clasp for his services during the Second World War and in post-war Palestine, per the below following sources:

- The 1939-45 Star. No clasp: British Army Second World War Medal Index Card refers. Shows medal issued 09/06/50
- The France & Germany Star. No clasp: British Army Second World War Medal Index Card refers. Shows medal issued 09/06/50
- War Medal: British Army Second World War Medal Index Card refers. Shows medal issued 09/06/50
- GSM 1918-62 inc clasp 'Palestine 1945-48': WO 100/527 No. 1482807 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Roll compiled 19/08/48
- Korea Medal 1950-53: Recipient confirmed 'Wounded-in-Action' in Korea
- United Nations. Service Medal with clasp 'Korea': Awarded to all recipients of the Korea Medal 1950-53

The recipient's Second World War campaign medals were issued to him on 9 June 1950, the card showing the recipient holding the number 1482807 and regiment as Highland Light Infantry. A second card marked 'Duplicate' is extant and includes both of the recipients Army numbers, viz 1482807 and 22546281, this latter card showing his last regiment served as K.O.S.B.

An outstanding campaign medal of type, to a hard fighting 'King's Own Scottish Borderer', who was wounded in two different wars, and confirmed present at Hill 317 on 4-5 November 1951

Condition: GVF

Code: 24891