A FORMER prisoner of war who planted a tree last week to commemorate those who died in the Battle of the Imjin River is in fact one of three Foresters still alive in Gloucestershire.

Mr Royston Mills, of Cinderford, was quick to point out the correction to the Review as he discussed at length some of his memories of the Korean War.

"Before I was old enough to join the army I was working as a carpenter at Giles Builders. I spent two years and four months as a prisoner of war and it was when I was captured by the Chinese and taken to the camp that I met Bernard Smith of Coalway and John Sladen of Newnham, who now both live in Gloucester.

"We all have many memories of our time in Korea, the conditions at the start were awful, there were 400 British in our camp and I think 36 of them died where as there were 1,700 Americans which saw on average 36 people die a day.

"The three of us always thought about cooking up a plan to escape but we never acted on it. In fact a fellow Forester, David Haines of Littledean, did escape but was soon captured and brought back to solitary confinement.

"As the end of the war neared we were separated and taken to various companies and as Bernard was a corporal he was taken first and taken north. I came out of the war with John and a man called Dave Gardener. It's funny because although John, Bernard and I stayed close friends during the war as soon as we arrived home we went our own separate ways and have only since got back in touch in our later years. Out of all the 11 Foresters who fought in the conflict and survived, we are the last three remaining."