Fifty years after they clashed with the might of the Chinese Army in an unknown and far off land, proud veterans of the "forgotten war" will meet up in North Yorkshire this weekend.

Korean War veterans will join their comrades at Eden Camp, near Malton, on the anniversary of one of the most desperate battles of the conflict - the battle of the River Imjin.

Among those taking part in Sunday's parade will be Ron Murphy, of Fulford, York.

Ron saw action with the Royal Ulster Rifles during the three-day carnage which left more than 1,000 British troops dead, injured or missing in action. "I'm 70 now but I still haven't forgotten it, and I still can't sleep after we've had get-togethers, even after 50 years," he said.

"I give thanks that I'm still around - I lost a lot of friends who didn't get to grow up."

Of the 700 soldiers in his regiment, more than 200 died.

But the odds had been stacked against the British and the Belgians who fought alongside them; they totalled fewer than 2,500 against a Chinese force numbering in the tens of thousands.

"There were 10,000 in their first attack, then 40,000 and then after that you were talking telephone numbers," said Ron, who was a vehicle mechanic with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

The aim of the Chinese was to push south towards Seoul. Despite gaining some ground during the battle, which raged from April 22 to 25, they were so weakened that they could not reach their objective.

Sunday's parade, which will be attended by Korean War veterans from around the country, will be led by the Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band. An inspection and salute will be taken by the national president of the British Korean Veterans' Association, Major General AC Birtwistle.

Meanwhile, another group of Korean War veterans gathered for a half-century reunion in York to commemorate the finale of the Battle of the River Imjin.

More than 90 people attended a special lunch at the Jarvis International Hotel, Skelton.

The veterans, who now live all over the country, were members of the 8th Kings Royal Irish Hussars.

The regiment has links with York's Imphal Barracks and decided to hold its special celebrations in the city.

Updated: 11:24 Friday, April 27, 2001