The Battle of the Imjin River, fought in April 1951 dring the Korean War, remains one of the greatest defensive actions of modern times. Virtually unsupported, the men of the Glosters heroically beat off successive Chinese assaults for three days and nights until, overwhelmed by human-wave attacks and with their amminition exhausted, they were given the order to fight their way out. Most of those left alive were captured by the Communist insurgents, among them the Battalion's Adjutant, Captain Anthony Farrar-Hockley. This is his account of the Gloster's famous stand and of what then befell him and his fellow POWs. The book tells of exceptional courage and fortitude but, also, of the cruelty and depravity that arises from ideologies in conflict. It covers the author's own capture, including the brutal interrogations and torture; the treatment of POWs, aimed at taking both minds and bodies; and life amidst the Chinese, inside and outside the camps. Remarkably Farrar-Hockley made no less than six attempts to escape and he describes his journeys through North Korea, all of which ended in recapture and punishment. The Glorious Glosters' defence of Hill 235 has passed into history as an epic. The Edge of the Sword, an inspiring personal account written by a legendary soldier, sits among the greatest war memories. AUTHOR: General Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley GBE KCB DSO MC MLitt (Oxon), was born on 8th April 1924. While attending Exeter School he enlisted under age joining The Gloucestershire Regiemnt. As a sergent in 1942, he was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment and saw service in North Africa, Italy, France and Greece where he won his MC. He rejoined the 'Glosters' and was their adjutant and a later a POW during the Korean War (the subject of this book). On release from captivity in 1953, he attended Staff College prior to serving in Palestine, Cyprus, Aden and Borneo. Completing a Defence Fellowship at Oxford University, he was posted to Northern Ireland as Commander Land Forces. His final appointment was Commander in Chief Allied Forces Northern Europe from which he retired in 1983. He was also Colonel Commandant of the Prince of Wales' Division and The Parachute Regiment, Colonel of The Gloucestershire Regiment and ADC General to the Queen. He wrote numerous military books and articles and was a regular broadcaster. He died on 11 March 2006 at the age of 81. 11 pages of b/w photos
