The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)

'Sans Peur'       Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders red and white dicing       'Ne Obliviscaris'

MUIR, Kenneth

1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

Victoria Cross (posthumous) awarded 23rd September 1950



The Victoria Cross is the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross
"for valour"

Name (50980) MUIR, Kenneth
Rank Major
Service The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
Theatre where VC won Hill 282, Sonju, Korea, 23 September 1950
Recorded in London Gazzette 5 January 1951
Place & Date of Birth Chester, Cheshire, 6 March 1912
Place & Date of Death Korea (killed in action), 23 September 1950,
Burial Ground UN Memorial Cemetery, Pusan, Korea
Current Location of VC Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Museum, Stirling Castle


Scene of Action

Songju, South Korea - 'B' and 'C' Companies of the 1st Battalion attacked and held an enemy position on Hill 282. Stretcher bearers were called for, to evacuate the wounded. The position came under heavy mortar and artillery fire. Under cover of this fire, the enemy were able to penetrate the Argylls left flank.

Continued enemy mortar and shell attacks caused both Argyll Companies to sustain more casualties and to experience disruption to their chains of command and communication.

Major Kenneth Muir, who was only visiting the Companies' position at that time, took command of what was a worsening situation. He directed the evacuation of the wounded and continuously encouraged the men to make determined efforts to hold the position, even though ammunition was running short and he was at great personal risk from enemy fire.

A call for air support was made. Recognition panels were placed on the ground, but the air strike hit the Argylls position by mistake. A hail of fire bombs and machine gun fire from the air strike caused even more casualties to the Argylls and they had to withdraw from their hard-won position to a level 50 feet below the Hill crest.

Only 30 fighting fit men remained, but the enemy were unaware of this and did not press their advantage by seizing the Hill top. Major Muir rallied the remaining 3 officers and men and personally led a counter-attack on the Hill top.

Despite the demoralising effect of the strike by 'friendly fire', the scale of the casualties and the continued enemy bombardment, the troops responded to Major Muir's courageous and determined leadership, regained the Hill top initiative and consolidated their position.

All this time Major Muir continued to move among the troops, sharing out the fast-diminishing ammunition resources and continually giving them words of encouragement. Eventually his own weapon ran out of ammunition, so he grabbed a 2 inch mortar and continued to bombard the enemy with shells.

It was at this point that he sustained 2 bursts of enemy machine-gun fire from which he fell, mortally wounded. With his last conscious breath he defiantly uttered these words, "The Gooks will never drive the Argylls off this Hill!"

As a result of his courageous and determined actions, all of the wounded were successfully evacuated, the Hill top position was held and very heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.

For valour in the face of the enemy, Major Kenneth Muir was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross.


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