James Power Carne

Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment

VC
Register No.
186 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel all Lieutenant-Colonels →
Unit
Commanding 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment all Gloucestershire Regiment VCs →
Date of action
22–23 April 1951 on this day → all of 1951 →
Conflict / campaign
Korean War
London Gazette
27th October, 1953 on this day → all of 1953 →
Born
11th April 1906 at Falmouth, Cornwall
Died
19th April 1986 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Memorial / grave
not known

Digest of citation

On 22nd/23rd April, 1951 near the Imjim River, Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Carne's Battalion was heavily and incessantly engaged by vastly superior numbers of the enemy. Throughout this time Colonel Carne moved among the whole battalion under very heavy mortar and machine-gun fire, inspiring the utmost confidence and the will to resist among his troops. On two separate occasions, armed with a rifle and grenades, he personally led assault parties which drove back the enemy and saved important situations. His courage, coolness and leadership was felt not only in his own Battalion but throughout the whole brigade

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

CARNE, James Power. (reg No. 186)

Lieutenant Colonel. Commanding 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment.

London Gazetted on 27th October, 1953.

Born on 11th April 1906 at Falmouth, Cornwall.

Died on 19th April 1986 at Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

Memorial not known.

Digest of Citation reads: On 22nd/23rd April, 1951 near the Imjim River, Korea, Lieutenant Colonel Carne's Battalion was heavily and incessantly engaged by vastly superior numbers of the enemy. Throughout this time Colonel Carne moved among the whole battalion under very heavy mortar and machine-gun fire, inspiring the utmost confidence and the will to resist among his troops. On two separate occasions, armed with a rifle and grenades, he personally led assault parties which drove back the enemy and saved important situations. His courage, coolness and leadership was felt not only in his own Battalion but throughout the whole brigade.

Additional information: Colonel Carne also holds the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) of the United States of America. He was also the Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Gloucester. Whilst a prisoner of war, he carved a cross from stone which was used for religious services inside the prison camp. The stone cross rests and is preserved in Gloucester Cathedral.

Additional information

Colonel Carne also holds the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) of the United States of America. He was also the Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Gloucester. Whilst a prisoner of war, he carved a cross from stone which was used for religious services inside the prison camp. The stone cross rests and is preserved in Gloucester Cathedral.

Visit the grave or memorial

Alf recorded the memorial as: not known

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