The Glosters in the Korean War - Why is it relevant today?'

A talk by Lt Colonel Robert Dixon, at the invitation of The Friends of Cirencester Parish Church.75 years ago, the Glorious Glosters made their legendary stand at the Battle of the Imjin River.To mark this important anniversary, Lt Col Rob Dixon, former Commanding Officer of the Gloucestershire Regiment, has written a new book telling the story of the 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment in the Korean War.

His talk on 16th October will cover some of the events described in the book, including the dramatic events of April 1951, when the Glosters faced overwhelming Chinese forces along the Imjin River.

Their extraordinary resistance helped stabilise the UN front north of Seoul and earned the battalion the U.S.

Presidential Unit Citation, cementing their reputation as the Glorious Glosters.Rob Dixon grew up in Gloucestershire, was educated at Cheltenham College and joined the army aged 17.

After 2 years at Sandhurst he was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment joining them at Saighton Camp Chester a few months before a 2 year tour in Berlin at the height of the Cold War.

All his regimental service was spent with the Glosters, interspersed with tours away as an instructor at Sandhurst and Camberley.

Regimental service seems to have consisted of commuting between Northern Ireland and Germany.

His Army life culminated in taking over command of 1 Glosters for the last 6 months of their Berlin tour, and then training them and leading them through a 2 year tour in Ireland.Rob had a varied second career in industry, eventually settling down to run his own headhunting business.

He has been involved with the Soldiers of Gloucestershire Museum for many years as a trustee, including being the chairman for 5 years.

He handled all the ancestry enquiries concerning the Korean War for several years including the Covid period from which he learned a lot: hence this book and this talk.