WW2 and Korean War Medal Group of Five – Commissioned Gunner (Sub Lieutenant) G. Welch, HMS Belfast, Royal Navy

A Second World War and Korean War medal group of five awarded to Commissioned Gunner (Sub Lieutenant) Geoffrey Welch, Royal Navy, who served on H.M.S. Belfast throughout the Korean War.

1939-45 Star unnamed as issued
Atlantic Star unnamed as issued
War Medal 1939-45 unnamed as issued
Queen’s Korea Medal named to Cd. Gnr. G. Welch. R.N.
UN Korea Medal unnamed as issued

The medals are in good condition and are swing mounted for wear. Comes with ribbon bar and HMS Belfast cap tally.

Geoffrey Welch was promoted to Acting Gunner (Warrant Officer) R.N. on 8th October 1948 and promoted to Commissioned Gunner (Sub Lieutenant) with the same seniority date. Welch joined H.M.S. Encore in December 1948, and cruiser H.M.S. Belfast in October 1949 and served on Belfast for the duration of the Korean War.

Belfast was in Hong Kong during 1949, sailing for Singapore on 18th January 1950. There she underwent a minor refit between January and March 1950, in June she joined the Far East Fleet’s Summer Cruise. On 25th June 1950, while Belfast was visiting Hakodate in Japan, North Korean forces crossed the 38th Parallel, starting the Korean War.

With the outbreak of the Korean War, Belfast became part of the United Nations naval forces. Originally part of the US Navy’s Task Force 77, Belfast was detached in order to operate independently on 5 July 1950. During July and early August 1950, Belfast undertook coastal patrols and was based at Sasebo in Japan’s Nagasaki Prefecture. From 19 July Belfast supported troops fighting around Yongdok, accompanied by USS Juneau. That day Belfast fired an accurate 350-round bombardment from her 6-inch guns, and was praised by an American admiral as a “straight-shooting ship”. On 6 August she sailed for the UK for a short (but needed) refit, after which she again set sail for the far east and arrived back at Sasebo on 31 January 1951.

During 1951 Belfast mounted a number of coastal patrols and bombarded a variety of targets. On 1 June she arrived at Singapore for refitting, arriving back on patrol on 31 August. In September 1951 Belfast provided anti-aircraft cover for a salvage operation to recover a crashed enemy MiG-15 jet fighter. She conducted further bombardments and patrols before receiving a month’s leave from operations (this is when Welch joined H.M.S. Pembroke on 20th November 1951), returning to action on 23 December.
In 1952 Belfast continued her coastal patrol duties. On 29 July 1952 Belfast was hit by enemy fire while engaging an artillery battery on Wolsa-ri island. A 75 mm shell struck a forward compartment, killing a British sailor of Chinese origin in his hammock and wounding four other Chinese ratings. This was the only time Belfast was hit by enemy fire during her Korean service. On 27 September 1952 Belfast was relieved by two other Town-class cruisers, HMS Birmingham and HMS Newcastle, and sailed back to the UK. She had steamed over 80,000 miles (130,000 km) in the combat zone and fired more than 8,000 rounds from her 6-inch guns during the Korean War. She paid off in Chatham on 4 November 1952 and entered reserve at Devonport on 1 December.

Welch joined H.M.S. Pembroke on 20th November 1951. On 26th August 1953 Welch joined the aircraft carrier H.M.S. Implacable, and aircraft carrier H.M.S. Theseus on 21st August 1954. Welch joined the new entry Naval Air Mechanic training establishment H.M.S. Gamecock at Nuneaton, Warwickshire on 7th November 1955 with a change of rank to Sub Lieutenant (Special Duties List) with the same seniority as Commissioned Gunner. Promoted Lieutenant (Special Duties List) on 1st April 1957 he remained at Gamecock until 1960 when he joined the cruiser H.M.S. Birmingham. Welch was appointed to H.M.S. Terror, the naval base at Singapore, in 1963 and finally to the destroyer H.M.S. Undaunted in 1964, he retired in 1965.