2. The Forgotten War
Korea – The Forgotten War - KOREA 1950-53
Saluting their Service - Grahame Old
Prelude to the Korean War.
The origins of the Korean War can be traced back to the end of the Second World War, the United States and the Soviet Union had accepted mutual responsibility for the control of the country after 35 years of Japanese occupation. The US supported the South whilst the USSR supported the North. By 1950 two hostile armies had built up along the 38th Parallel. In the pre-dawn hours of 25 June 1950 the Korean People’s Army (KPA) launched a massive offensive across the 38th Parallel into South Korea. They drove the Republic of South Korea’s (ROK) forces down the peninsula, capturing the capital, Seoul, within a week.
Australia commits (‘K’ Force)
Within two days of the war’s beginning, the US President committed navy and air force units to aid South Korea. By the end of the month, he had authorised US ground forces to also be deployed to the peninsula. The United Nations Security Council asked its members to assist in repelling the North Korean invasion. Australia became the second nation, behind the United States, to commit personnel from all three armed services to the war. On 28 June Prime Minister Robert Menzies committed elements of the RAN and RAAF and the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment to the Korean War. Australia, with its commitment to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan, already had military in the region. Two RAN Ships, HMAS Shoalhaven and Bataan, and No. 77 Fighter Squadron, RAAF. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, although under strength and ill prepared, was also available for a combat deployment.
On 28 June Prime Minister Robert Menzies committed Australia’s RAN assets to the Korean War, followed several days later by No. 77 Squadron. On 27 September, after being reinforced, 3RAR embarked from Kure, Japan, and arrived at Pusan the following morning. The Australian battalion was taken on strength of the British 27th Brigade, joining the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Southerland Highlanders, and 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment. The brigade was renamed the 27th Commonwealth Brigade.
Only five years after the end of the Second World War, Australian forces were again at war, they would serve for the next three years in the defence of South Korea. As in all previous War’s ‘Collie Boys’ would serve with distinction until the Armistice in July 1953, and as part of the multi-national peacekeeping force until 1957.
The Cost
Over 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War, of which 340 were killed and over 1,500 were wounded. A further 29 had become prisoners of war. 35 ‘Collie Boys’ served in Korea.
Collie Boy - Killed in Action;
The first Australian soldier killed in Korea was a ‘Collie Boy’;
5673 Pte 3rd Bn RAR, Kenneth George SKETCHLEY.
20 year old Pte Sketchley arrived in Korea on the 28th Sep 1950. He was Killed in Action four days later on the 3rd Oct 1950 when his Bren Gun Carrier tripped a landmine. Pte Sketchley’s listed next of kin was his mother, Mrs V Sketchley, Colliefields Hotel Collie. He is buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery, Busan (Pusan), South Korea.
Collie Boy – Distinguished Service;
A ‘Collie Boy’, Flt/Lieutenant John Joseph O’DONNELL DFC, already awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for actions during WW2, was awarded the USA Air Medal, for meritorious actions in aerial combat.
Nominal Roll ‘Collie Boys’ – Korean War
28 Collie Boys served during the Korean War, (a further 7 served with the peacekeeping force);
Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Arthur CLARK. Able Seaman, HMAS Warramunga, Stanley Raymond COLLINS. Pte, AACC, 3rd Bn, RAR, Colin David EDE. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, John Raymond GODDEN. L/Cpl, 3rd Bn, RAR, Dudley Charles GOODWIN. Able Seaman, HMAS Shoalhaven, Gordon HARDMAN. Able Seaman, HMAS Anzac, Maurice Kenneth HARGREAVES. Pte, 1st Bn, RAR, Malcolm HUME. Able Seaman, HMAS Sydney, David William MCCREATH. Lieutenant, Aust Staff Corps, Kenneth David McGREGOR. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Ronald Edward NUNN. Flt/Lieutenant, 77 Fighter Sqn, John Joseph O’DONNELL, DFC Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Jack OLSEN. Pte, Aust Ancillary Unit Korea, Ronald Keith PEARCE. Sgt, Aust Ancillary Unit Korea, Jack Charles RILLSTONE. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Robert Rebertram RONEY. Pte, 3rd BN, RAR, Kenneth George SKETCHLEY. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, James THOMSON. Pte, 1st & 3rd Bn, RAR, Lomas Wentworth TYLOR. Leading Aircraftman, No 77 fighter Sqn, Stanley Lionel WALTERS. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Ernest Hyrum WHITEAKER. L/Cpl, 3rd Bn, RAR, William John WHITEAKER. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, William Frederick WILLOUGHBY. Leading Seaman, HMAS Murchison, George Spencer WILSON. Pte, AACC, 3rd Bn, RAR, Francis Peter WINTERS. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Frederick William WOOD. Pte, 3rd Bn, RAR, Neil Francis WOOD. Cpl, RAEME, Thomas Edward WREN.
Their names are remembered forever at the Collie Cardiff RSL Sub Branch.
Korean War Conditions
Australian forces were exposed to harsh conditions during the Korean War, in particular the freezing temperatures. A media report on a ‘Collie Boy’ during the peacekeeping period highlights these conditions;
“Even sand freezes hard in Korea. Private (Pte) Bill Smith of Collie, WA, has had to cut through the six inch frozen crust and start a sort of sand mine to get at the material he is after. He knew how to go about this task however, as he was a miner at Western Collieries No.2 at Collie before joining the army. Pte Smith is a newcomer to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, and asked his first impressions of Korea, he replied in two words, one censorable, the other cold”.
‘Lest We Forget’