On this day 1950 41 Independent Commando @RoyalMarines, under Lt/Col Douglas Drysdale, left Hungnam, heading for Koto-ri & Col Lewis "Chesty" Puller's 1st Marine Regiment, part of @USMC's @1st_Marine_Div fighting near the Chosin Reservoir #KoreanWar70Years

There, the @RoyalMarines & their @USMC brethren would take part in some of the hardest fighting of the Korean War in temperatures that plunged to around -36.
In the aftermath of the battle Maj/Gen Oliver P. Smith, commanding @1st_Marine_Div wrote to 41 Commando's Lt/Col Drysdale

"As Commanding General of the @1st_Marine_Div, I desire to take this opportunity to acknowledge the high qualities of leadership, heroism, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice displayed by officers and men of the 41 Independent Commando of the @RoyalMarines while serving with...

this division in North Korea.
I am familiar with the long and glorious history of the @RoyalMarines. This history records many outstanding feats of heroism, devotion to duty, and self-sacrifice by units and individuals alike. The performance of the 41 Commandos during the drive..

from Koto-ri to Hagaru-ri, during the defense of Hagaru-ri, and during the advance from Hagaru-ri to the south will, in the perspective of history, take equal rank with the past exploits of the @RoyalMarines.

I can give you no higher compliment than to state that your conduct and that of your officers and men under your command was worthy of the highest traditions of Marines."

For anyone interested in finding out a bit more about the @RoyalMarines in the Korean War @MC_UPress has Leo J. Daugherty's "Allied Marines in the Korean War: Train Wreckers and Ghost Killers." #free to download (PDF) #KoreanWar70Years https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/Train%20Wreckers%20and%20Ghost%20Killers-Allied%20Marines%20in%20the%20Korean%20War%20%20PCN%2019000410700_1.PDF