Memorial

Royal Ulster Rifles Korean War at Belfast City Hall

VIII Kings Royal Irish Hussars

Source: Pauline Mawdsley

1/5

Current Location

On lawn on west side of City Hall, City Hall, Donegal Square West, Belfast, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 5GS, Northern Ireland

OS Grid Reference

NW 46240 29558

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Memorial Details

Type of Memorial: Obelisk
WMR Reference Number: 6601
Description: A tapering obelisk of pink/grey polished granite, with a plinth of Ballymagrehan granite which stands on a base of Portland limestone. A bronze plaque is attached to the front face of the plinth.
Inscription: 6 O'Clock Face: IN MEMORY OF/ THE OFFICERS AND MEN/ OF/ THE 1ST BATTALION/ THE ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES/WHO LOST THEIR LIVES/IN/ KOREA/ AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE KILLED/ NEAR THIS PLACE/ ON/ 3RD - 4TH JANUARY 1951/ 83RD 86TH (either side of woman and coat of arms of Ireland) 9 O'Clock Face: THE PEOPLE/ THAT WALKED/ IN DARKNESS/ HAVE SEEN/ A GREAT LIGHT/ (...) 12 O'Clock Face: IN MEMORY OF THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF/ THE 45TH FIELD REGIMENT AND THE/ 170TH MORTAR BATTERY/ THE ROYAL ARTILLERY/ WHO LOST THEIR LIVES/ IN/ KOREA/ AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO DIED/ NEAR THIS PLACE/ on/ 3rd - 4th JANUARY 1951 Gold lettering on the plaque in front of the plinth reads: “MEN FROM MANY PARTS OF THE BRITISH ISLES, BUT PREDOMINANTLY FROM EVERY COMMUNITY AND PART OF IRELAND FOUGHT WITH THE RIR IN THE "HAPPY VALLEY" BATTLE IN DEFENCE OF SEOUL CAPITAL OF SOUTH KOREA. / THE MEMORIAL ABOVE WAS CARVED BY A KOREAN MASON DURING THE SUCCEEDING BATTLES BEFORE BEING ERECTED ON 3 JULY 1951 OVERLOOKING THE BATTLEFIELD./ AS SEOUL EXPANDED THE MEMORIAL HAD TO BE MOVED AND WAS REPATRIATED TO THE DEPOT OF THE ROYAL ULSTER RIFLES AT ST PATRICK'S BARRACKS BALLYMENA./ IT WAS MOVED TO THIS FINAL RESTING PLACE ON 24 MAY 2008 WITH THE GRACIOUS PERMISSION OF BELFAST CITY COUNCIL./ THIS RELOCATION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS DONATIOS FROM THE REGIMENTS AND VETERANS WHO FOUGHT IN THE BATTLE, INDIVIDUALS, TRUSTS, THE KOREAN GIOVERNMENT AND SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS. As Seoul expanded the memorial had to be moved and was repatriated to the depot of the Royal Ulster Rifles at St Patricks Barracks, Ballymena. It was moved to this final resting place on 24 May 2008 with the gracious permission of Belfast City Council. This relocation was made possible by generous donations from the regiments and veterans who fought in the battle, individuals, trusts, the Korean government and Samsung Electronics

Commemoration

War: Korean War (1950-1953)
Additional Information: No names included on memorial but dedicated to the gunners of 45 field regiment RA and 170 mortar battery RA and to the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars.

War MemorialsRegister

Royal Ulster Rifles Korean War at Belfast City Hall

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Royal Ulster Rifles Korean War at Belfast City Hall

Current Location

OS Grid Reference

Names listed on this memorial

Contribute to the War Memorials Register

Memorial Details

Commemoration

History

Previous Location(s)

Year of move

Reason for move

Conservation

Components

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Further Information