4 British unknown soldiers killed in Korean War identified

BUSAN, Nov. 12 (Yonhap) -- The identities of four British soldiers, who were anonymously buried at the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan, have been confirmed, and Britain's defense ministry held a dedication ceremony for the tombstones inscribed with their names Tuesday.

The four previously unknown soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War are Corporal William Adair, rifleman Mark Foster, Major Patrick Arthur Angier and Sergeant Donald Northey.

Adair and Foster lost their lives in January 1951 while performing an operation to cover Seoul citizens retreating south from enemy forces. Angier and Northey, both of the Gloucestershire Regiment, were killed by enemy forces during the Battle of the Imjin River in 1951.

It is known that their identities have been confirmed thanks to war researcher Nicola Nash. She reportedly used hundreds of documents, including maps, telegrams, reports and letters, to identify the men, though she had no DNA evidence.

Britain sent 81,084 combat troops, the second-largest number after the United States, during the Korean War, and 1,106 of them lost their lives on Korean soil. Still, the identities of 72 British soldiers buried at the Busan cemetery, about 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, remain unknown.

The tombstone dedication ceremony was attended by the families and friends of the fallen soldiers, British Ambassador to South Korea Colin Crooks, and defense officials from both countries.

ycm@yna.co.kr
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