Inverness veteran of the Korean War receives thanks from a grateful embassy
A former soldier has received a letter of thanks and a supply of face coverings from the South Korean embassy.
Along with others who fought in the war in the 1950s, William MacKintosh Beaton (90), who lives at Inverness’s Isobel Fraser Care Home, is a recipient of the gift by the embassy, eager to make a gesture in difficult times.
Mr Beaton was a baker by trade who went on to serve with the Queen’s Own Highlanders regiment and then the Black Watch.
During the Korean War he fought in the Battle of the Hook, near the Imjin river in South Korea, and was subsequently awarded the Korea Medal as well as the United Nations Service Medal.
Before Korea he was based at Fort George as well as Edinburgh Castle and Redford Barracks.
His daughter, Louise Shield, said: “It was my husband who found out that the South Korean government was sending veterans facemasks as a thank you. I sent an email to the embassy in London and subsequently received the facemasks.”
Mrs Shield said her father had told them stories of his time in Korea.
“He gave his long johns to a Korean woman who was working in the paddyfields, as it was very cold there,” she said. “She ended up wearing them over her dress and he was invited to have dinner with her family.
“On introducing himself to the Americans that were stationed in Korea they were taken aback as his regiment was the Black Watch and he was white. He was subsequently known as ‘the white boy from the Black Watch.’”
After being badly injured by barbed wire he even managed to spend some time in Japan when he was sent there to recuperate.
Unable to visit her dad during the coronavirus lockdown, Mrs Shield (62), a medical secretary who worked at Raigmore Hospital before her retirement, said that was upsetting but she knew he was being well taken care of.
“The staff at Isobel Fraser have gone beyond and above the call of duty in keeping the residents safe,” she said.
“I am so glad he is there. The care is excellent.”
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