When Gloucester born, Darcy Sansom was killed in action during the Korean War, it sent shock waves through the community.
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Private Sansom was born on November 13, 1927. He saw his duty and joined 2nd Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) on March 17, 1953. He had served 51 days on active service when he was killed in action. He was 25 years old.
The 2 RAR first arrived in Korea on March 21, 1953 and relieved the 1 RAR, which was homeward bound. The 2nd regiment had spent a thorough period of training working to improve the defences of the 'Kansas line' when they received the call to relieve the Royal Fusiliers on Hill 159 on May 5, 1953.
During their training, 2 RAR had established an aggressive patrolling program, and it was on May 6, 1953, the day after they arrived that Darcy was killed in action.
News of his death reverberated around the Sansom clan in Gloucester. It was learned that Darcy had been killed in Korea at a RSL Gloucester Sub Branch meeting. There was a sense of disbelief that one of their mates had been killed whilst on service.
We believe that the branch president made a short comment about Darcy and the ode was beautifully said. I am sure there was an outpouring of the words, "we will remember them," by mainly former WWII serviceman who still had memories of the war just eight years before.
Darcy is buried with his fellow comrades in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery at Pusan, South Korea. His name will be projected onto the exterior of the Hall of Memory on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at 11.39 am.
He name is recorded at three sites at Gloucester; the Memorial Clock Tower, the RSL commemorative board inside the foyer of the Gloucester Soldiers Club and on the entrance gate of the Gloucester Anglican Church.
Lest We Forget
The RSL Gloucester Sub Branch will be holding a small Remembrance Day service, due to COVID restrictions, on November 11 at the Gloucester Memorial Clock Tower at 11am. Members of the sub branch and the Women's Auxiliary will be around town throughout the day and evening on Friday November 6 selling badges and pens.