Report from Nikki Hennessy

Billy Melia, a Korean veteran from Ormskirk, received the coveted Korean Peace medal in April this year while he and his grandson Jacob were attending a 'revisit'. I organised the visit for Dad - 21 when he went to war - and he took Jacob, now 21, too.

It's being shown tonight on the 'Forces TV' (Freeview channel 96) at 18:00; Billy will also be on parade this Saturday and Sunday in Ormskirk for the Remembrance services.

His granddaughter Brogan - a serving member of the RAF now based in Cyprus - was on a promotions course and had to do a presentation. She opted to do it on her 'Grandee' – see below her well researched notes for the presentation.

The Ambassador of Peace Medal

Good Morning,

I am Cpl Brogan Matthews and I am going to talk to you about the Ambassador of Peace Medal.

This presentation will cover a brief history of the Korean War, my Granddad Pte Billy Melia and his involvement, the British Korean Veterans Association, revisiting Korea, what is the Ambassador of Peace medal and the reason behind my granddad receiving the award.

The Korean War had its immediate origins in the collapse of the Japanese empire at the end of World War II in September 1945. Unlike China and the former Western colonies seized by Japan, Korea did not have a native government or a colonial regime waiting to return after hostilities ceased.

In their hurried effort to disarm the Japanese army and repatriate the Japanese population in Korea, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed in August 1945 to divide the country for administrative purposes at the 38th parallel. At least from the political perspective, this geographic division was a temporary measure; however, the Soviets began a short-lived reign of terror in northern Korea that quickly politicized the division by driving thousands of refugees south.

The Korean War was a conflict between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea, in which at least 2.5 million people lost their lives. The war reached international proportions in June 1950 when North Korea, supplied and advised by the Soviet Union, invaded the South. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal participant, joined the war on the side of the South Koreans, and the People’s Republic of China came to North Korea’s aid.

After more than a million combat casualties had been suffered on both sides, the fighting ended in July 1953 with Korea still divided into two hostile states. Negotiations in 1954 produced no further agreement, and the front line has been accepted ever since as the boundary between North and South Korea.

The Korean War never measured up to its precedent, the Second World War. It was fought in a remote, backward country of strategic interest, and it ended in a deadlock - the kiss of death for national pride and war memory.

It is also known that many soldiers returned from Korea but never mentioned to their children or wives that they served there. One in four solider who served in Korea had served in the Second World War.

My granddad William Alfred Melia was born in Liverpool 7th May 1931, he was the eldest of 6 siblings and lived with them and his parents Sally and Ben.

He met my Nan, Norah at the local dance, The Grafton where he caught her eye with his dancing skills, the Jive being the popular one at the time. After weeks of being engaged he was drafted for his National Service. My Nan recalls giving him a kiss at Lime Street Station and a man tapped him on the back and said “enough now solider, you get on that train, there’s a war to fight”. That was the last time she saw him for two years.

My Grandad completed his National Service from 1952 to 1954.

After 6 weeks basic training in the UK he was sent to Hong Kong for 3 months training in the mountains, from there he landed in Kure, Japan and was sent to a Battle Training School named Hara Mura. He was then shipped to Pu San in South Korea and put on the train to Seoul to the 38th parallel. He lost over 60% of his comrades from his unit during the height of the fighting and many more were injured.

Once the armistice happened in July 1953 the majority of the troops withdrew back to Hong Kong; for my Granddad he had to stay in the role of Rifleman in the Guard Platoon; on the Duty Prisoner Exchange dealing with all POW’s. He did this from Jul 1953 till Mar 1954.

After returning home from Korea he was drafted into the parachute regiment. He married my Nan and they have recently celebrated 62 years of marriage.

The British Korean Veterans Association are members of the International Federation of Korean War Veterans Association, whose headquarters are in Seoul, South Korea, and which promotes the interests of all who fought in the Korean War. The prime objective of the BKVA is to organise, develop, enter into and carry out or co-operate in any endeavour for the benefit of men and women of all ranks who served in the Korean War 1950-53, and subsequent Peacekeeping Forces, or for the benefit of their widows and dependants, and generally to promote their welfare and the relief of distress. The BKVA is non-political and offers comradeship to all those who served.

I’ve also include the logo for the Korean War Veteran Association, their mission statement is: DEFEND our Nation, CARE for our Veterans, PERPETUATE our Legacy, REMEMBER our Missing and Fallen, MAINTAIN our Memorial and SUPPORT a free Korea.

The KVA, started the Korea Revisit Program in 1975 which is now hosted by the MPVA, Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, for Korean War Veterans and their families. The quote of the website explains ‘The Land of Morning Calm remembers and sincerely appreciates all veterans who fought and sacrificed in securing freedom and democracy for the Republic of Korea’.

The ‘revisit programme’ allows the BKVA to invite Korean War veterans and family members to return to Korea to thank veterans for the sacrifice that saved their country from communism. This includes thousands of veterans from Allied countries such as Canada, United States and United Nations; who participated in the war from 1950-1953. The Korean Government incurs the cost of the hotel for 5 nights and the 6 days, meals and in-country tours. A Veteran is allowed to bring a family member or friend as a “travel companion”, however at a cost.

My Grandad and my brother went on this trip April 2017.

Some of the activities include; a tribute ceremony at the ‘Korean National Cemetery’, visit to the Korean War Memorial, wreath laying, a visit tour of ‘Korean Folk village’ and a banquet hosted by BKVA and KVA; among many more.

The Ambassador for Peace Medal began to be presented to veterans as a special memento for those of who returned to South Korea through the ‘Revisit Program’.

The honour has since expanded to veterans who cannot travel long journey to Korea.

To be eligible, the veterans must have served in country during the Korean War from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953. It is also available for the veterans who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations until the end of 1955.

Both men and women are eligible for this medal. The military had support positions such as nurse, clerical and administrative, and other positions that were predominantly held by women service members.

The medals may be awarded after a service person has died. The next of kin, such as the spouse or descendants may apply for the medal on behalf of a deceased veteran.

After spending the week in Korea the BKVA awards the Ambassador of Peace Medal to three veterans who have come on the trip. A Canadian solider, U.S solider and UN solider are all awarded this prestigious medal; my Grandad being the choice for the UN representative.

My brother retold a story from my granddad; when he was on the train to Pu San he had no idea what he was going to fight for, he didn’t know the cause of the war, just that China was a communist country along with North Korea and no one should be forced to live like that, and he agreed that their freedom was worth fighting for.

When he was awarded the medal they commented that my granddad had never been to Korea before, he didn’t know they people who lived there, how they lived there lives or what he was going to do once he got there. But he did know, as contradicting as it seems, fighting for peace was essential and that he had a duty to uphold.

Because he is a very modest man it has been difficult to get him to explain how he felt to be awarded the medal but as a family we are very proud of him and honoured that the BKVA saw fit to present him the Ambassador of Peace Medal.