A HUDDERSFIELD man travelled halfway around the world to pay respects to his brother who was killed in the Korean War.

Mick Kelly, from Fartown, was with a party of 13 people from across the UK and Ireland who were at a service which marked 50 years since the end of the conflict.

The event was held at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in the southern port city of Pusan - home of the only UN cemetery in the world.

Mr Kelly's Huddersfield brother Paddy was just 19 when he died in one of the most bitterly fought battles of the Korean conflict - the Battle of the Hook.

After the ceremony, Mr Kelly, a 57-year-old decorator and father-of-four, said he had a feeling of relief.

"Relief because none of my family have been here in 50 years and it makes me feel as if my brother thinks someone has come to see him at last," he said.

Paddy's death came when the Chinese launched a night-time attack on May 28, 1953, on a ridge a few miles from the west coast of Korea.

He was with men from the Duke of Wellington's Regiment who took the brunt of intense mortar and artillery bombardment followed by all-out infantry assault.

Paddy, a private with the Wellingtons, was guarding an ammunition dump that night when it blew up. He died instantly.

His brother said he could still remember when someone came to the family home in Huddersfield to tell them Paddy was dead.

He said of his trip to the cemetery in Pusan: "It's all been very, very emotional and moving.

"I can't describe it really."

It was the first time the Seoul government, which has held annual services for veterans of the war since 1975, has invited families of the fallen to attend.

The group was joined at the service by 19 Australian, Canadian and Turkish relatives of those who died in the Korean War.

Under cool blue autumn skies, many wept as the Republic of Korea Army brass band broke the silence of the 14-hectare cemetery with a set of solemn and stirring songs.

Teenage Paddy was one of 29 soldiers from the Dukes who died in the Battle of the Hook.

The regiment incurred another 120 casualties that night.

Ambassadors of Britain, Turkey, the Netherlands and New Zealand joined a host of Korean officials and dignitaries at the United Nations Day commemorative service.