THE first Bicester soldier to die in the Korean War was honoured for his sacrifice yesterday as a relative was presented with a medal.

Private Herbert Clifton, of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, died serving his country during the Korean War in 1951.

The 20-year-old, who lived in Bucknell Road, was killed in an ambush on Friday, June 1 and is buried in the United Nations Cemetery in Busan, South Korea.

Until yesterday, his contribution to the war and his country had gone unnoticed.

At a ceremony at Bicester Garrison Officers’ Mess, his niece Valerie Busby received the Elizabeth Cross on his behalf.

The award is presented to soldiers who die fighting for their country and to recognise the sacrifice made by soldiers and their families.

In a purple dress, with Pte Clifton’s posthumous United Nations and Korean War medals pinned to her chest, Mrs Busby collected the cross from the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson.

Mrs Busby, 68, who lives in Graham Road, Bicester, said: “I am so proud and pleased that people have gone to all this trouble to recognise him and what he did.”

Herbert Clifton was born on May 30, 1931, in Spring Gardens, Bicester, to Ada and Edward Clifton.

The family later moved to Bucknell Road and Herbert attended Bicester Primary School before going to what was then Bicester Secondary Modern in St Edburg’s Road.

He enlisted into the army on September 15, 1949 aged 18, after having worked at the MoD depot in Arncott and was dispatched to the Far East on February 23, 1951. On June 1, while crossing the Imjin River, his unit came under enemy mortar fire from North Korean soldiers and he died at the scene.

It was not until Mrs Busby last year started clearing out the house of her mother Winifred May, who was Herbert’s sister, that his story came to light. In April Mrs Busby and her partner, Thomas Selwood, travelled to Korea to lay a bouquet of lilies at Herbert’s grave.

She received the Elizabeth Cross yesterday in place of her mother, who is 90 and was too ill to attend the ceremony.

Presenting the medal to Mrs Busby, Mr Stevenson, said it was a privilege to attend the presentation on behalf of the Queen.

Mrs Busby said: “The family were never really told that much. All they knew is that he got killed – they never knew the details.

“But my mother is really, really proud.”

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