A 92-year-old war hero who spent much of his life in Stanmore was recently invited to Buckingham Palace to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korean War.
Born in Whitechapel in 1932, Alan Katz moved to Edgware when he was a teenager and then moved to Stanmore, where he remained until recently.
Alan was conscripted into the army in August 1950 and served as the battalion barber for the Gloucestershire Army regiment. He was posted to Korea for two years.
After serving in the war, Alan stayed in North London to continue his developing career as a successful hairdresser and salon owner.
He is now a resident at Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House care home in Redbridge.
Alan’s past only came to light when his children discovered old photographs and documents in a memorabilia box dating back to 1950.
Although Alan was unable to recall much about his service, his family searched through various official certificates and army discharge forms to understand a little more about his time spent in the army.
Alan’s son Phil said: “Everything was all just lying in a tin. There were medals and photographs from his time in Korea. We knew he went to Korea, but that was about it; he never spoke about it.”
The reception at Buckingham Palace marked the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice and was attended by more than 200 veterans. It was hosted by Anne, Princess Royal, and the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Phil added: “It was a very special moment for dad. It’s not every day you get invited to Buckingham Palace and I felt it was a monumental way for him to finally be acknowledged and honoured for putting his life on the line all those years ago.”
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