The Fire Brigade

David Allison is at the National Army Museum on Friday 20 November, talking about the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade during the opening months of the Korean War. He's drawing on his recent book for the session, so it's a good chance to hear the story straight from the person who's spent the time digging into it.

The talk starts with the invasion of South Korea in June 1950, when Seoul fell within days and British troops were hurriedly redeployed from Hong Kong into the action. From there, Allison traces the Brigade's journey from an improvised deployment through to the defence of the Naktong Perimeter and a dramatic breakout. He doesn't gloss over the harder parts either, including the friendly-fire incident on Hill 232.

What makes the story work is the multinational side of it. Contingents from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and India turned the Brigade into a genuinely Commonwealth formation, and the troops earned the nickname 'the Fire Brigade' for the way they were thrown into the thick of it. It's a particular slice of military history that doesn't always get much airtime, so if you've got an interest in the Korean War, this is a solid place to start.

The talk is at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, a five-gallery home to the British Army from the 1600s to the present day, with uniforms, medals, weapons, artworks and immersive displays — including the skeleton of Napoleon's horse Marengo and the world's largest private collection of Victoria Crosses. It runs from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, and entry is free.