Leonard Nicholls
Bio
Leonard Nicholls grew up in Dagenham, England. In September 1951, the Royal Army called him up for national service. After completing basic training, he attended radio school in Germany. Soon after, eager for active duty, he volunteered for service in Korea. He traveled to Pusan aboard the Empire Ferry, a journey that lasted five weeks. Once in Korea, he transferred by train to the front lines near the DMZ. There, he served as the battery commander’s radio operator, supporting communication during combat operations. However, while on patrol, a dynamite blast injured him, forcing him to spend three weeks recovering in a Commonwealth MASH unit. Despite the setback, he completed his service. Finally, in December 1952, he returned home to England, where he transitioned to civilian life and began working for a local water company.
Video Clips
Arriving for Service.
Leonard Nicholls recounts his first impressions of Korea as he arrived by ship to Pusan in early 1952. His boat was greeted on the pier by an American band playing music. They then climbed aboard a slow train toward the front lines. He remembers flat lands and rice paddies until they reached the north.
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Front Line Duties
Leonard Nicholls served as a signaler in the Royal Army and later became the battery commander’s radio operator. Stationed near sparse shacks and hills that reminded him of England’s Cotswolds, he recalls manning observation posts and calling in artillery fire on Chinese positions. Reaching Hill 365 often meant crossing enemy lines, a traumatic experience that left a lasting impact.
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Injured by Own Side
Leonard Nicholls recalls being injured by a dynamite blast after a lieutenant told him to "walk away smartly." Panicking, he ran, and the explosion hurled debris, sending a rock into his knee. He spent three weeks recovering in a hospital run by an Indian unit, where the lieutenant visited him. The hospital’s open layout brought him into contact with fellow Commonwealth soldiers—including some mischievous Australian troops.
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Encounters with Rats and Chinese Propaganda
Leonard Nicholls recalls rats overrunning the camp during cold winters, drawn to garbage dumped in open pits instead of being buried. At the same time, Chinese forces tried to lower morale by sending Christmas cards, hoping to make the soldiers homesick and emotionally vulnerable during the holidays
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Flabbergasted!
Leonard Nicholls contrasts war-torn Seoul with the vibrant city he revisited in 2017. During the war, the city lay in ruins, but seventy years later, he was amazed by its transformation. He marveled at the Korean people’s determination and industriousness in rebuilding their nation from devastation.
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