The North Koreans' attack on their Southern neighbours shocked and surprised the World. The conflict rapidly escalated with China soon heavily involved on one side and the United States and United Nations on the other. The author, then a young Gunner officer, found himself in the midst of this very nasty war. He describes first hand what it was like to be at the infamous Battle of the Hook, where UN troops held off massed attacks by the Communists. Few outside the war zone realized just how horrific conditions were. As a qualified Chinese interpreter and, later, a senior military intelligence officer, Parritt is well placed to analyse why the Commonwealth got involved, the mistakes and successes and the extreme risk that the war represented. This is not only a fine memoir but a unique insight into a forgotten War. AUTHOR: Brigadier Brian Parritt CBE served for 37 years and was Director of the Intelligence Corps for five of those. A parachutist and Mandarin speaker, he was wounded in Korea, operated in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Malaya and Borneo to name but some. On leaving the army he founded International Marine Security providing anti-terrorist advice to the Cruise Industry. He is the author of The Intelligencers. SELLING POINTS: A rare and gripping memoir of the too often neglected but fiercely fought Korean War Also examines the causes, wider events and implications The ferocity of the Chinese and North Korean armies and their vast numerical superiority are alarming even with hindsight ILLUSTRATIONS: 16 pages of b/w plates *
