WORK is underway to provide a memorial in the Forest to the local men who were involved in one of the most significant battles in the history of the Gloucestershire Regiment.

The plans were revealed at a concert to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imjin in the Korean War.

The project is being led by the British Legion and Forest Council, among others, and has been backed by Lydney-based Mabey Bridge.

Among those present at the concert in Parkend Church was Mr Roy Mills of Cinderford who is the last surviving Forest of Dean who was involved in the four-day battle to help prevent Chinese troops getting to the South Korean capital, Seoul.

The memorial plan was revealed by Mr Roger Deeks during his introduction last Saturday (October 23) to the the world premiere of Holding the Hill by Gloucestershire composer Liz Lane, written specially to commemorate the anniversary, and performed by the Royal Forest of Dean Orchestra.

Mr Deeks said: "After today, many of the people involved in this commemoration will be working towards establishing a permanent memorial in the Forest.

"Mabey Bridge have already kindly offered £2,000 to support this - then the events in Korea will not be a forgotten war and there will be a focus for remembrance and learning about the soldiers from the Dean, what they did, what they sacrificed and the importance of freedom and democracy and, just maybe, trying to end all wars."

Mr Deeks, who is one of Gloucestershire’s Deputy Lieutenants, added: "I am particularly delighted to welcome Roy Mills, the last remaining Forest veteran of the Imjin and its aftermath.

"We also have family and descendants of the late veterans David Gardiner and Mick Turley with us, and those of Major Pat Angier and Tony Sheppard who gave their lives for their country and their comrades on the hill overlooking the Imjin River.

"We are here today because we want to remember and commemorate the sacrifices of soldiers from Gloucestershire and particularly the Forest of Dean.

"Amongst that battalion there were about a dozen men with connections to the Forest of Dean and they knew each other - they were butties who shared the same jokes and humour.

"Most of them were simply ordinary men, national serviceman called up, like Roy Mills who is with us tonight, 19-year-olds who were quickly trained and deployed to reinforce a regular army battalion on a peace-keeping mission.

"Over three days these soldiers defended two hills and were eventually fought over to the last round of ammunition before being required to lay down their arms.

"What happened on those hills was beyond anything we could understand."