A GROUP of veteran soldiers who fought in the Korean War in the 1950s have met in Bolton for the final time.

The members of the Greater Manchester branch of the British Korean Veterans’ Association have been meeting annually at Christ Church, Egerton, for more than 20 years, to mark the end of the war in 1953.

However, a dwindling membership has made them decide to stop meeting so from this year.

At the final meeting, about 20 veterans met and listened to a commemorative service honouring the men who died during the conflict which began in 1950.

The war saw the United Nations support the Republic of Korea, now known as South Korea, in a conflict with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, which has since become known as North korea.

After the service, a plaque was revealed at the church to display the names of all the soldiers from what is now the Greater Manchester area, who died in the war, including the names of Ronald Southworth, James Smith and George Riding who all came from Bolton.

Brian Hough, aged 80, who lives in Tameside, was aged 18 when he went to fight in the war.

He said: “It was a very moving service and I think it is worth remembering what happened back then. This was actually the first war that was fought under the banner of the United Nations.”