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The Royal Australian Regiment in Korea |
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A Digger circa 1952, Korea |
Sub category index
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The Nominal Roll of Australian Veterans of the Korean War honours and commemorates the men and women who served in the Royal Australian Navy, |
In June 1950 the armed forces of communist North Korea streamed south to invade the Republic of Korea. The Australian Government responded promptly to the UN Security Council's appeal for support in repelling the communist invasion by ordering her ground, air and naval forces based in Japan as part of British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) to mobilise immediately.
The first element of the Australian ground forces contingent - the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) - arrived in Korea on 28 September 1950. At that point in the war the United Nations forces had been forced back to the Pusan Perimeter where they were fighting a desperate battle for survival; it was not long before the Australians were in the thick of the fighting as part of the newly formed Commonwealth Brigade. Over the next few weeks the Battalion played it's part in the United Nations' counter-offensive and on 17 October it scored a notable victory at the battle for Sariwon where nearly 2000 North Koreans were captured. The Chinese counter-attack was as much a surprise for the Australians as it was for the other UN forces, and on 5 November the 3rd Battalion fought its first encounter the Chinese Army. As part of the general withdrawal southward, during the winter of 1950-51 the dogged resistance displayed by the Australian troops won the respect of friend and foe alike. Once the UN line stabilised the Australian infantry were engaged in a defensive role, safe guarding the UN positions against Chinese attacks. The communist spring offensive in April 1951 saw some of the toughest fighting of the war. and in the battle north of Kapyong the 3rd Battalion - with other British and Commonwealth units - particularly distinguished itself, to the extent of winning a coveted US Presidential citation for outstanding gallantry. From the summer of 1951 the fighting settled down to a static war of trenches and barbed wire. The rough terrain and bitter climate did little to aid morale, but as an all-volunteer force the Australian contingent was able to maintain its battle efficiency. The men were drawn from sections of the regular Australian Army and from recently demobbed veterans of World War 2. As in other armies, the weapons used were those of World War 2, which for the infantry were Bren light machine guns, Lee Enfield rifles and the distinctive Australian Owen sub-machine guns.
By July 1951 the numbers of Commonwealth troops had increased so that the 3rd Battalion became a part of the Commonwealth Division. The previous month the Australian contingent had itself been reinforced by the arrival of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, (1RAR) which like its sister battalion was involved in the positional fighting that characterised the latter stages of the Korean War. In March 1953 the 1st Battalion (1RAR) was replaced by the newly arrived 2nd Battalion, (2RAR) though "Old Faithful" 3RAR still continued to fight on in the line. At this stage the war was drawing to a close and on 27 July the armistice agreement was signed. During the course of the war a total of 10,557 Australian ground troops had been deployed in Korea and had suffered 1396 casualties. As in World War 2, the Australians proved themselves to be an effective and successful fighting force, achieving results out of all proportion to the numbers engaged. |
| Campaign & Service Medals awarded to Australian troops engaged in the Korean War |
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| Australian Active Service Medal, with Korea clasp |
Korea Medal front and back |
United Nations Korea Medal | |
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(awarded to 3RAR for the battle of Kapyong) 1. Description: The Presidential Unit Citation emblem worn to represent award of the Presidential Unit Citation 2. Criteria: The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units of the Armed Forces of the United States and co-belligerent nations for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed enemy occurring on or after 7 December 1941. The unit must display such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing its mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set it apart and above other units participating in the same campaign. The degree of heroism required is the same as that which would warrant award of a (US) Distinguished Service Cross to an individual. 3. The emblem is worn by all members of a cited organization and is considered an individual decoration for persons in connection with the cited acts and may be worn whether or not they continue as members of the organization. Other personnel may wear this decoration while serving with an organization to indicate the unit has been awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. |
US Presidential
Unit Citation (Army) |
Distinguished Unit Citation The Distinguished Unit Citation was redesignated the Presidential Unit Citation (Army) 3 November 1966. 3d Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (23 and 24 April 1951) 2d Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (24 and 25 April 1951) Company A, 72d Heavy Tank Battalion (United States) (24 and 25 April 1951) The above units are cited for extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance of combat duties in action against the armed enemy near Kapyong, Korea, on the dates indicated. The enemy had broken through the main line of resistance and penetrated to the area north of Kapyong. The units listed above were deployed to stem the assault. The 3d Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment moved to the right flank of the sector and took up defensive positions north of the Pukhon River. The 2d Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, defended in the vicinity of Hill 677 on the left flank. Company A, 72d Heavy Tank Battalion, supported all units to the full extent of its capacity and, in addition, kept the main roads open and assisted in evacuating the wounded. Troops from a retreating division passed through the sector which enabled enemy troops to infiltrate with the withdrawing forces. The enemy attacked savagely under the clangour of bugles and trumpets. The forward elements were completely surrounded going through the first day and into the second. Again and again the enemy threw waves of troops at the outer defences, but each time the courageous, indomitable, and determined soldiers repulsed the fanatical attacks. Ammunition ran low and there was no time for food. Critical supplies were dropped by air to the encircled troops, and they stood their ground in resolute defiance of the enemy. With serene and indefatigable persistence, the gallant soldiers held their defensive positions and took heavy toll of the enemy. In some instances when the enemy penetrated the defences, the commanders directed friendly artillery fire on their own positions in repelling the thrusts. Toward the close of 25 April, the enemy break-through had been stopped. The seriousness of the break-through on the central front had been changed from defeat to victory by the gallant stand of these heroic and courageous soldiers. The 3d Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment; 2d Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry; and Company A, 72d Heavy Tank Battalion, displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit-de-corps in accomplishing their missions under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set them apart and above other units participating in the campaign, and by their achievements they brought distinguished credit on themselves, their homelands, and all freedom loving nations. |
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Australian soldiers are standing to attention in their snow covered camp during the Korean War in 1951. The Australian flag is being hoisted by W.J. Harrison. |
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British 1st Commonwealth Division |
| The British 1st Commonwealth Division was a formation that took part in the Korean War. It was formed in July 1951 from British, Australian, Canadian and other Commonwealth units involved in the conflict. It was deactivated in 1954 as part of the draw-down of forces in Korea in the aftermath of the war. |
Commanding Officer
Divisional Artillery Commanding Officer
Order of Battle
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Canada in Korea |
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Canadian infantry units first went into action in Korea in February 1951, when 2 Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) joined 27 Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. This unit remained with 27 Brigade until May, when it was withdrawn to join 25 Canadian Brigade on its arrival in Korea. The new all-Canadian formation fought for the remainder of the war, and included, in rotation, the following units: 1, 2, and 3 Battalions, The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR); 1, 2, and 3 Battalions, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI); 1, 2, and 3 Battalions, Royal 22e Regiment; 2 Battalion The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada; 2 Battalion The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and 4 Battalion, The Canadian Guards. A, B and C Squadrons of Lord Strathcona's Horse (2 Armoured Regiment, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps) and D Squadron The Royal Canadian Dragoons (1st Armoured Regiment, Royal Canadian Armoured Corps) also served in the brigade, as well as artillery, engineer, signals and service corps units. The Canadian forces suffered some 1471 casualties during the war. |
