| Location |
WIA |
KIA |
| Taegu |
|
2 |
| Kyamipo |
1 |
|
| Yongju |
10 |
|
| Pakchon
B/B |
16 |
8 |
| Pakchon - Chongju |
1 |
|
| Chongju |
35 |
9 |
| Pakchon, 5.11.50 |
32 |
14 |
| Uijongbu |
|
1 |
| Tokchon |
2 |
1 |
| Seoul |
3 |
|
| Ichon |
2 |
1 |
| Chuam-ni |
16 |
4 |
| |
5 |
1 |
| |
1 |
|
| Hill
614 |
12 |
3 |
| Hill 587 |
1 |
|
| Hill
410 |
31 |
12 |
| Chisan |
15 |
3 |
| Hill 760 |
4 |
|
| Salmon
- Sardine |
8 |
|
| Prior To Kapyong |
196 |
59 |
| Kapyong |
58 |
33 |
| Entire Korean War |
1,240 |
291 (plus 39 MIA) |
*Note:- The earlier battles were of the short and sharp variety
and in duration not much more than half a day, whereas Kapyong
casualties are shown for April 23, 24, 25.
Who did have the fiercest battles ? We should not forget those early
"skirmishes."
Max J. Eberle.
Australia in the Korean War, 1950-53 -
Extracts
'Australia's involvement in the war was much more
significant at the level of policy formulation than at the level of
combat operations.'
'The Defence Committee was prepared to sanction the immediate transfer
to Korea of that part of the Battalion already in Japan, if the
Government considered that great political urgency was attached to the
move.'
'For much of the Korean War period, even when combat was at its most
intense, planning for the future defence of Malaya and its maritime
environs occupied a higher place in the deliberations of Cabinet and the
Defence Committee than did the Korean War.'
|
Re:-
The casualty list on this Page.
I recently attended a luncheon at Paddington Woollahra R.S.L. There were
many friends there and all had a good time.
However, I must disagree with the remarks of the guest speaker when he
mentioned that Kapyong was the first major battle in which the
Australians were involved in Korea.
I feel I should mention the Apple Orchard when our youngest troops,
those young fellows in C Company who, in their first encounter, went
"up the Guts" with fixed bayonets. It was fortunate there were
so few casualties, very fortunate. When the bullets are flying they are
all big battles.
Then there is the Battle of Broken Bridge, 16 wounded and 8 Killed in
action. How many have to die to qualify for a big battle? How about
Chongju with 35 wounded and 9 Killed and again Pakchon on November 5
when there were 32 wounded and 14 killed.
After a couple of other minor skirmishes there was Hill 410 with 31
wounded and 12 killed. Another skirmish?
The early battles were attacks against North Koreans dug in on the top
of hills and our boys had the task of climbing those hills in open
ground. Most of the early battles were won in about half a day or a
little more and for such a short time I would consider the casualty
lists quite horrendous.
However they were only' skirmishes' in the minds of some who were not
there, those that can only see the situations they were in as being of
any great importance. Unfortunately the men who lost their lives in
those early "skirmishes" are just as dead as those who were
killed at Kapyong.. "Lest we forget".
This is not to denigrate those who served in the Kapyong battle, they
fought a tremendous action and were well worthy of the Honour bestowed
upon them by various governments. The young diggers who had their
baptism of fire at the Apple Orchard, when they went in with a bayonet
charge without the support of artillery or mortars, also deserve high
praise, not eo be forgotten entirely.
There is a tendency today to speak of the Korean War as if it commenced
on April 23 1951 and there are those who scoff and say it started at
Maryang-san or The Hinge. Anything that went before is not worth
mentioning.
I am sorry to say, you will always get an argument from myself, Charlie
Green, and the 255 casualties which preceded Kapyong. I guess it all
depends on when one heard the "Call of the Bugle".
Max J. Eberle |
