A VETERAN of Britain's bloodiest conflict since the Second World War has been honoured with a medal from South Korea's government.

Brian Maddocks, 85, was seriously injured fighting in the Korean War in 1951.

He was hit by shrapnel storming a hill with his unit, the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, in what became known as the Second Battle of Maryang San.

He has already had two medals recognising his service in the war but he has unexpectedly received a further medal from South Korea, expressing the country's "everlasting gratitude" for his contribution towards preserving its freedom and democracy.

The citation accompanying the latest medal is from South Korea's minister for patriots and veterans' affairs.

Mr Maddocks, of Knowle Park, Keighley, said: "It arrived in the post in a presentation box but I hadn't been expecting it at all. I feel rather shocked, but also pleasantly surprised."

Mr Maddocks was born in Keighley and before joining the Army for his National Service worked as a labourer for Summerscales Washing Machines in Parkwood Street.

Once in the Army, having only just turned 19, he found himself sent to the other side of the world to support South Korea's bitter struggle against Communist North Korea and its ally China.

After reaching South Korea in October 1951 he and his regiment were deployed to help another British unit which was under attack on a position called Hill 317.

Mr Maddocks said: "As we went up this valley the enemy started shelling us.

"We got to the trenches of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, stayed there for a short while, then launched our attack.

"We were getting shelled, mortared and hit with hand grenades and I was struck by shrapnel in my right foot.

"I could hardly walk. Me and a friend had to make our own way back from the fighting but we got lost and had no idea where we were. I don't know how we made it back to our own positions.

"The Indian Red Cross picked me up, put me in a wagon, and then in a helicopter which flew me to the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH).

"I'd never been in a helicopter before, and the helicopters then were nothing like now. I was very scared."

Mr Maddocks was evacuated to a military hospital in Japan where he remained for two months. He was sent back to Korea in early 1952, only to be injured again, this time in a non-combat accident.

Following a second spell of recovery in Japan he finally returned to England in September 1952.

After being discharged from the Army he initially went back to Summerscales, then spent ten years sailing the world as an engine room worker in merchant navy ships.

On returning to Keighley he worked as a plasterer and also as a machine moulder in a foundry.

Mr Maddocks, a father of three and a supporter of the Soldiers Sailors Airmen Families Association, said his experiences had made him staunchly anti-war.

He said Korea had effectively been a "forgotten war", with few people in Britain today remembering the 1,100 British troops who died there.

"I've never been back to Korea since the war," he said. "I'd liked to have gone back to visit the graves of some of my friends who are buried there, but it was too expensive."