INteresting facts
Australia was the second nation behind America (out of 21 nations) to commit personnel from all 3 armed services to the Korean War.
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A total of 17,000 Australians fought in the Korean War and 340 were killed
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A total of 30 Australians became prisoners of war and only 1 of those died in captivity
"The lives of prisoners of war after they returned is almost never discussed, never explores" Gideon Raff |
important Australian units in the war
At the start of the war, Australia already had a readily deployable RAN vessel (HMAS Bataan) who contributed greatly throughout the war. Australia also had an air force unit No.77 Squadron (See royal Australian air force page) and a 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) that fought in the war.
Members of the 3rd Battalion royal australian regiment, 3RAR |
During mid July, General Douglas MacArthur was appointed Supreme Commander of the United Nations and immediately requested the the deployment of 3RAR, Australia agreed but stated clearly that it would only deploy once fully ready. 27th September 3RAR left Kure, Japan and arrived at Pusan the following morning. 3RAR joined the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment and as a part of the 27th Brigade, 3RAR advanced north Pyongyang (After the fall of the city) to assist the US 187th Regimental Combat team. On the morning of 22 October 1950, 3RAR had it's first battle when it left the town Yongju and came under heavy fire from nearby enemy troops. 3RAR only suffered 7 wounded after the swift and brutal battle. In the following 2 weeks 3RAR fought 2 more battles including the battle of the broken bridge (at Kujin) and the battle at Chongju. During the course of the next few years, 3RAR participated in many more important battles such as the battle of Kapyong. |
June 1950, Bataan had been heading for Japan for her fifth post war tour of duty. 21 June, she arrived in Hong Kong and had been in the Far East waters when the Korean War broke out 25 June 1950. 1 July she arrived at Okinawa and reported for duty. Bataan was temporarily attached to a United States Service Group until 6 July where she was transferred to the United States Escort Group for convoy escort duties. 13 July she joined Task Force 90 for the landing of UN forces at Pohang Dong, she detached 21 July ending her first hostile operational patrol. Over the next few months, Bataan's duties consisted of routine patrolling, enemy bombardments, screening other vessels and acting as a unit of blockading forces. 1st December 1950, Bataan departed Sasebo for the Yalu River; at the time Chinese forces had halted the UNC offensive. Because of this an enforcement of the blockade as far north as possible was imperative, so Bataan began operations 12 miles from the Yalu entrance. Throughout the months, Bataan was hard at work screening other vessels, bombardments, patrols and acting as a blockading unit in order to support the UNC'S retreat from North Korea. After 11 months of service, 29 May 1951, Bataan departed Hong Kong for Australia. 8 January 1952, Bataan departed from Sydney for her second tour of duty in Korea and 4 days later she began her first patrol. Once again her duties consisted of blockade enforcement, shore bombardment, screening and escort duty. |
HMAS Bataan13th February, Bataan carried out her first air spot bombardment to shell enemy troops encampment outside the village of Pakchon. Later that same day, a brief duel between Bataan and 75mm shore batteries ending in victory for Bataan.
Over the next few months, Bataan carried out many patrol continuing with the usual enemy bombardments, escort duty, screening and blockading duty. 17th August, Bataan began her last patrol for the Korean War with the patrol ending Saturday 30 August 1952. The ship was presented South Korean flags by Korean leaders thanking the ship for it's part in preserving the island from invasion. 64, 840 kilometres were steamed in total during her operations. |