Henry Joseph Gallagher

Henry Joseph Gallagher (31 December 1914 – 25 August 1988) was awarded the DCM for his gallantry during the epic defence of Castle Hill on the Imjin River, during the Korean War.

Early life Born in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Harry Gallagher, the third of nine children of Henry and Elizabeth Gallagher, was educated at Sacred Heart RC School. Finding himself unemployed in the depressed conditions of the city in the 1930s he joined the Gloucesters at the age of 18. During a career that spanned a quarter of a century he saw active duty in North Africa and then, at the start of the Second World War, as part of the British troops defending the Maginot Line in France. He was subsequently taken prisoner by the Germans whilst covering the retreat of the armed forces at Dunkirk. He was held captive at the Stalag 20A camp in Thorn Podgorz (Toruń), Poland, and, despite two escape attempts, was held prisoner for four years.

Details Harry Gallagher was with the Gloucesters in A Company in the Korean action and is mentioned by Battalion Headquarters Adjutant, Sir General Anthony Farrar-Hockley in his book The Edge of Sword, which covers the Battle of the Imjin River, Korea and the subsequent hardship in the prisoner-of-war camps. For his part in the action that took place on the night 22/23 April 1951 he was awarded the DCM,

Citation by Lt. Col. J.P. Carne, VC, DSO The Imjin Roll (Colonel E.D. Harding DSO ) The Edge of the Sword. (Sir General Anthony Farrar-Hockley) London: Frederick Muller. (later edition ).