Private Arthur Judge - Korean Hero

Privat Arthur judge

Over the next few years you are going to hear a tremendous amount about our Soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars but what about our brave men who fought in the Korea War (June 1950 – July 1953). Arthur Judge is one of those men who fought in the Second World War only to be killed in Korea. He was born in 1920, went to Laindon High Road School, worked for several local firms before joining the boy service in the Army at 16. He was following in the footsteps of his father who was a war veteran of the First World war and his two older brothers who were also in the Army. He had joined the Middlesex Regiment and fought in many of the theatres of the Second world War. He had come through Dunkirk safely, served throughout the Middle east, landed at Anzio and finally reached Rome before being posted back home, released from the army and placed on reserve. He got married, moved to Dorset and had two young children before being called back in September 1950 and sent to Korea. The local Laindon Recorder reported his death as follows: He fought with the gallant Gloucesters  Laindon man killed in Korean battle.  ‘When the Gallant Gloucester regiment fought their desperate battle of the Imjin River in Korea against overwhelming Red Troops, suffering heavy losses, one of the soldiers killed in this great struggle against Communist aggression was a Laindon man – 31 year old Private Arthur Judge. His parents, Mr and Mrs W R Judge, whose home is at Gladstone Road, Laindon (Langdon Hills), first heard the news of his death last Thursday. The father told reporters that Arthur was the youngest of his three sons. They all served in the Army either during the First or Second World War and between the four of them had 52 years’ military service and held 22 campaign medals. “We are proud of our record”. “The news that Arthur had been killed came as a terrible blow to us. We are still trying to confirm the manner of his death with the war office”. The Basildon Heritage group are compiling a Roll of Honour of those killed in the First and Second World War and hopefully the First World War will be complete later this year and the Second World War next year. The information will be supplied to all Basildon Libraries in a loose leaf binder format so any names that have been missed can be added at a later date. It is also the group’s intention to compile a Roll of Honour of those killed in subsequent conflicts. Arthur is our first – if you know of any others perhaps you will kindly let the group know. (www.basildonheritage.org.uk).  Eventually complete Rolls of Honour for the Laindon and District will appear on our web site.

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  • I’m trying to reach David Judge and Mrs Forge. And I didn’t know Arthur had brothers! I’m Shane O’Byrne – Arthur’s grandson.

    By Shane O’Byrne (14/12/2022)
  • ARTHUR G JUDGE:

    Arthur was my uncle, l am proud of him more than mere words l can say! If Angela Howard or Cark Edwards would like to make contact, Ken Porter has my phone number and email address.
    Kindest Regards to both Angela and Carl. David W Judge

    By David W Judge (25/02/2022)
  • This is my grandfather who was killed on Hill 235 in the Korean war on 23rd April 1951. Regards Angela Howard.

    Editor: Angela has supplied her email address, should anyone wish to contact her’.

    By Angela Howard (08/05/2020)
  • Hello Carl
    I’d love to hear some of the stories and memories from your great-grandmother about Arthur. My uncle, Dave Gardiner, fought with him on Castle Hill. I have widely researched the details of the Imjin Battle and spoken with survivors. Maybe you have some details that would fill some gaps or vice versa. Kind regards.

    By L Lambert (18/10/2019)
  • This is my great grandfather. A true hero who I have looked up to all my life. I never got to meet him but heard so many stories from my great grandmother Muriel.

    By Carl Edwards (05/06/2019)
  • I am Arthur Judge’s nephew, the son of the elder of the 3 brothers. The oldest surviving (male) of the Judge family l believe. David.W.Judge

    By David W Judge (29/08/2018)
  • This is my grandfather. I have just found this article after searching for information on his death. Thank you.

    By Mrs Forge (07/02/2017)
  • I deeply apologise in respect of my previous comments when I referred to Arthur as John and hope his family will forgive my error.

    Editor: I have corrected William’s error and apologise for publishing his comment without checking the details.

    By W.H.Diment (16/01/2014)
  • I was interested and saddened by the story of Arthur Judge, although some of the historical comment with regards to the Anzio Landings, (Operation Shingle) do not within my memory appear to be consistent with war at this time.         The initial landings took place on 22nd January 1944 and were to have been a thrust into the country to cut off Monte Cassino. Regretfully the overall command of the project had been given to an American Major Gen John Lucas who was totally devoid of any such overall command and although the landing was probably the most successful in the history of war with minimal losses Lucas did not advance and decided to consolidate on the beach which allowed Kesselring to rush 3 armoured divisions to the area and destroyed the opportunity cutting off Cassino.  It was many months of heavy fighting causing large nos of casualties until the breakout came in May. It was American A5 which entered Rome unopposed 5/6 June 1944 as it had been declared an open city. The british had swung north east into central Italy. I consider it was most unlikely that Arthur had been repatriated from Rome to Britain and placed on the reserve at a time when we had just committed our forces to the D Day landings.   Quite obviously time lines and events have become blurred and Arthur would have faced another year of battle before being returned to Britain. 

    By W.H.Diment (15/01/2014)
  • The Korean War called the Forgotten War – ‘The Glorious Glosters’. The 29th Brigade created from battalions of the Gloucestershire Regiment and others. I am reading the book called ‘To the Last Round’ by Andrew Salmon, the full story told in the words of veterans; if of interest, I can recommend it.

    By Chris Ash (14/01/2014)

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