Title: Derek Kinne Content: Derek Godfrey Kinne GC (born 11 January 1930) was a British soldier. He is best known for receiving the George Cross because of his actions in the Korean War.The London Gazette, No. 40146, p. 2205, 9 April 1954; retrieved 2012-12-17. ==Early life== Kinne was born in Nottingham and raised in Leeds. ==Soldier== In 1950, he joined the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. He was taken prisoner by the North Koreans on 25 April 1951. He was not released until 10 August 1953. His name was His name was recommended for the George Cross because of his actions during the time he was a prisoner of war. According to Lord Ashcroft, he arguably went through more suffering that any of the 159 individuals to have been awarded the George Cross.Lord Ashcroft, "The Man They Couldn't Break," Express (UK). 13 January 2011; mirror at LordAshcroft.com; retrieved 2012-12-17. Notice of his award was published in the London Gazette on 9 April 1954. He became one of the very few living holders of the George Cross."27th Reunion of Victoria Cross and George Cross holders" at VictoriaCross.org; Hardman, Robert. "The heroes given a front-row seat at the royal party," Daily Mail (UK). May 30, 2012: excerpt, "... all 28 living holders of the Victoria Cross or the George Cross ...."; retrieved 2012-12-17. ==George Cross citation== Kinne' George Cross recognized his endurance as a military prisoner who was held in Korea in 1951-1953. Hughes received his decoration from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The words of Hughes' citation explain: > In August, 1950, Fusilier KINNE volunteered for service in Korea. He joined > the 1st Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, and was captured by > Chinese Communist forces on the 25th April, 1951, the last day of the Imjin > River battle. From then on he had only two objects in mind; firstly to > escape, and secondly by his contempt for his captors and their behaviour, > and his utter disregard for the treatment meted out to him, to raise the > morale of his fellow prisoners. The treatment which he received during his > period of captivity is summarised in the succeeding paragraphs. Fusilier > KINNE escaped for the first time within 24 hours of capture but was retaken > a few days later while attempting to regain our own lines. Eventually he > rejoined a large group of (prisoners being marched North to prison camps, > and despite the hardships of this march, which lasted a month, rapidly > emerged as a man of outstanding leadership and very high morale. His conduct > was a fine example to all his fellow-prisoners. In July, 1952, Fusilier > KINNE, who was by now well known to his captors, was accused by them of > being non-co-operative and was brutally interrogated about the other P.W. > who had unco-operative views. As a result of his refusal to inform on his > comrades, and for striking back at a 'Chinese officer who assaulted him, he > was twice severely beaten up and tied up for periods of 12 and 24 hours, > being made to stand on tip-toe with a running noose round his neck which > would throttle him if he attempted to relax in any way. He escaped on 27th > July but was recaptured two days later. He was again beaten up very > severely, and placed in handcuffs (which could be and frequently were > tightened so as to restrict circulation), from which he was not released > until 16th October, 1952, a period of 81 days. He was accused of > insincerity, a hostile attitude towards the Chinese, "sabotage" of > compulsory political study, escape, and of being reactionary. From the 15th > to the 20th August, he was confined in a very small box cell, where he was > made to sit to attention all day, being periodically beaten, prodded with > bayonets, kicked and spat upon by the guards, and denied any washing > facilities. On 20th August, 1952, he was made to stand to attention for > seven hours and when he complained was beaten by the Chinese guard commander > with the butt of a submachine gun, which eventually went off and killed the > guard commander. For this Fusilier KINNE was beaten senseless with belts and > bayonets, stripped of his clothes, and thrown into a dank rat-infested hole > until the 19th September. He was frequently taken out and beaten, including > once (on 16th September), with pieces of planking until he was > unconscious.On 16th October Fusilier Kinne was tried by a Chinese military > court for escape and for being a reactionary and hostile to the Chinese, and > was sentenced to twelve months' solitary confinement. This was increased to > eighteen months when he complained at his trial of denial of medical > attention, including that for a severe double hernia which he had sustained > in June, 1952, while training to escape. On 5th December, 1952, he was > transferred to a special penal company. His last award of solitary > confinement was on 2nd June, 1953, when he was sentenced for defying Chinese > orders and wearing a rosette in celebration of Coronation Day. He was > eventually exchanged at Panmunjom on 10th August, 1953. As late as 8th and > 9th August he was threatened with non-repatriation for demanding an > interview with the International Red Cross Representatives who were visiting > prisoner-of-war camps. > > Fusilier Kinne was during the course of his periods of solitary confinement > kept in no less than seven different places of imprisonment, including a > security police gaol, under conditions of the most extreme degradation and > increasing brutality. Every possible method both physical and mental was > employed by his captors to break his spirit, a task which proved utterly > beyond their powers. Latterly he must have been fully aware that every time > he flaunted his captors and showed openly his detestation of themselves and > their methods he was risking his life. He was in fact several times > threatened with death or non-repatriation. Nevertheless he was always > determined to show that he was prepared neither to be intimidated nor cowed > by brutal treatment at die hands of a barbarous enemy. > > His powers of resistance and his determination to oppose and fight the enemy > to the maximum were beyond praise. His example was an inspiration to all > ranks who came into contact with him.