Terence Edward Waters was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire on 1st June 1929. Educated at Bristol Grammar School he entered Sandhurst in 1948 being commissioned the following year into the West Yorkshire Regiment. Initially posted to his Battalion in Austria, he volunteered for service with the Northumberland Fusiliers in Korea in December 1950 and was immediately seconded to the Gloucestershire Regiment.

As commander of 2 Platoon, A Company 1 Glosters he was in action at the Battle of the Imjin River 22-25 April 1951. The Company was the left forward sub-unit covering a vital river crossing and facing the Chinese 187 Division. Outnumbered six to one they inflicted huge casualties on the enemy but, by dawn on the 23rd, were surrounded with 3 Platoon Commander, Lt John Maycock and 1 Platoon Commander, Lt Philip Curtis dead (the latter would subsequently be awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross) and Waters wounded in the leg. By mid-morning, down to their last few rounds of ammunition and with the Company Commander Major Pat Angiers also dead, Waters shepherded the remaining 53 men back to the main Battalion position.

The battle continued and by dusk on the 24th The Glosters were completely encircled. Waters was wounded in the head and dragged unconscious to safety by his Sergeant. After making a final stand, by which time the remnants of A Company had three rounds per man, the Commanding Officer ordered the Companies to break out towards allied lines if they were able. Having held off 11,000 Chinese, only 46 men from the Battalion escaped.

Over the following weeks, the surviving Glosters were separated into smaller groups and marched into captivity. Finally, after a forced march of 200 miles, Waters and several other soldiers arrived at a POW camp known as ‘the caves’. Held in atrocious conditions the exhausted and starving men began to die off as Waters did his best to keep up their morale. Eventually a North Korean Colonel visited them and offered better conditions in a ‘Peace-Fighters’ indoctrination camp. Waters refused but urged his men to accept the offer saying “It’s different for me – I am an officer and I cannot go.” Eventually the British, and several Americans were moved - and all survived the war. Waters refused a further four offers of a transfer to safety.

As the Glosters Adjutant, Capt (Later General) Anthony Farrar-Hockley wrote in his book The Edge of The Sword: “Terry was a young subaltern, not long out of Sandhurst yet irrespective of his service and youth he was, he saw clearly, an officer representing the British Commonwealth in enemy country and by his actions the Commonwealth reputation would be judged. Quite simply he was given a choice, life and agreement to reject the principles for which he was fighting in Korea or a steadfast adherence to those principles, and death. Terry chose death.”

Waters was also recommended for a Military Cross for his actions during the battle but, as the award could not, at that time, be awarded posthumously, this was downgraded to a Mention in despatches. His Posthumous George Cross was presented to his parents at Buckingham Palace on 6th July 1954.

His medals sold at auction on Wednesday 17th February 2021 for £360,640, a world record for a George Cross.