THE brother of a North Yorkshire soldier who was killed in Korea, has been presented with a medal in his honour.

Private Edwin Lawrence Wilson, 19, died on October 31, 1953, when the truck he and two others were travelling in, crashed into a ravine.

Private Wilson, of the Royal Pioneer Corps, had only enlisted in the army 16 months previously.

His younger brother Rodney has now been presented with the Elizabeth Cross by Lord Crathorne, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire.

Mr Wilson, now 68, said: “I feel very proud to receive the Cross in Edwin’s memory. It brings it all back. Not a day goes by when I don’t think of him.

“He was the oldest one and one of my last memories of him was when he grabbed me jokingly by the scruff of my hair before he left for Korea and told me I had to look after the family when he was gone. I was nine at the time, and really looked up to him. I never thought I wouldn’t see him again.”

The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll were introduced in 2009 to give recognition to bereaved families of soldiers killed on operations, or as a result of terrorist actions, since January 1, 1948. Each cross carries the name of the soldier, sailor or craftsman who died serving his or her country.

Lord Crathorne presented the cross to Mr Wilson at a private ceremony at Crathorne House in Yarm, North Yorkshire, along with a memorial scroll, and Mr Wilson was joined by his wife Ann and two children Louise and Edwin, who was named after his late uncle.

Mr Wilson and his wife were recently invited by the Korean Veterans Association to visit Edwin’s grave at the United Nations Military Cemetery in Tanggok, Korea, close to where Edwin died.

He said: “It was an experience I will never forget. The respect and kindness they showed us was marvellous. They made us feel so welcome and regularly place flowers on Edwin’s grave.”