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Home , Battle of Kapyong, Jamestown Line, Operation Commando, Vivian Bullwinkel

BRISBANE WATER (NSW) LEGACY CLUB MONTHLY BULLETIN 2020

PRESIDENTS REPORT

As everyone appreciates, our Club activities have been turned upside down over the last month. We have had many restrictions imposed upon us as individuals, groups and as an organisation. As a consequence, the Board, committees and working groups have been very limited in what they could do for our Beneficiaries and for our Legatees. Our planned social activities were cancelled by necessity and visits to our Beneficiaries have been somewhat restricted. Having said that, our CEO and staff have continually gone the extra mile to fill the gap as best they have been able; I know you will all want to thank them for that and I have done so on your behalf.

April 20 Board Meeting

The traditional board meeting was held remotely using email conversations. The agenda was of course limited but the essentials were covered. The Finance Director satisfied the Board that we are well positioned financially and while our investments have taken a bit of a hit we are in very good shape. Tony has provided an overview in his Bulletin.

Crisis Management

During the pandemic crisis period, our CEO, Peter Lawley, has been driving the ship like the experienced Captain he is. Unlike the Ruby Princess our ship remains Coronavirus free with staff being very careful and very professional in carrying out their duties and responsibilities. Together they came up with alternative ways of doing things without losing sight of their number one priority: the welfare of our Beneficiaries. This included:  Preparation and dispatch of food and household essentials hampers to those most in need. These were very well received as you might imagine.  A more active telephone contact regime with our Beneficiaries. The staff enlisted support from Legatees with this programme and it was very successful. We have probably contacted more of our Beneficiaries than would be normal in such a short time. The feedback has been very positive.  Arranging transport for our Beneficiaries to ensure they were able to get to critical appointments.  Ensuring our Beneficiaries had a shoulder on which lean; reassuring them that the crisis would pass and things will get back normal.

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I would like, on your behalf, to once again thank our dedicated staff for their untiring commitment, initiative and resolve in placing our Beneficiaries ahead of their own needs in times of crisis that affects us all. I am conscious that some of our staff have young children of their own, and perhaps even ageing parents yet, to them, Legacy always comes first. We could not wish for a better Team.

Village Redevelopment During the month I attended, as a member of the Village Redevelopment Committee chaired by Legatee Max Davis, a series of interviews with builders who had expressed an interest in working with us through the next phase of the development project. Legatee Max has provided a separate report on these interviews. Suffice for me to say I thought Peter Lawley did an outstanding job identifying these organisations. We witnessed some very professional and encouraging presentations. The interesting thing was that the members of the Committee were unanimous in their assessments and in selecting the preferred contractor.

This continues to be an exciting Project. There is little doubt the National economic position will impact across the wider community and we are not exempt. However, the Board is convinced we must continue with the current phase of the Project which takes us up to Development Approval. This has been funded and approved by the Club membership and there is no valid fiscal or economic reason to step back from this at this time. The Board accepts, however, that we will need to review our position before proceeding to the next phase and to justify to members funding for the next phase. This was always intended and is 12 months away. By this time we hope things are pretty much back to the pre-pandemic norm, including our fiscal situation. Right now, it’s business as usual with the Project.

Getting Back to Normal When will we get back to normal; when will the Coronavirus crisis end? I wish I could give us the answer but as you might expect, I can’t. My guess is though, it will start easing off with a lifting of restrictions within a month after Easter; that seems to be the popular feeling about town. Let’s hope its turns out that way.

As far as legacy activities go, we will just have to wait and see. Peter is monitoring the situation very closely. He is in close contact with the relevant authorities and will give the Board a heads- up once he thinks it’s safe for us to start ramping up again. Rest assured we want to get back to doing the things we normally do as quickly as possible. We will certainly have some sort of function for our beneficiaries and our Family Dependents as soon as we possibly can.

In the meantime we soldier (sorry sailors and airmen) on as best we can.

Our Very Own Ruby Princess ‘Ambassadors’ It seems we have our very own Ruby Princess ‘Ambassadors’ here in BWLC. Long serving Legatees Denis and Jean Foster decided to have one of those ‘holidays of a lifetime’ and sailed on the good Ship’s most recent cruise. The rest is history: here they are in recovery mode at home having both tested positive to the virus. They are both recovering well I understand so hopefully when all is normal again, they will join us and give us a brief on their trip, plus their experience with the dreaded ‘made in ’ virus. In the meantime we wish them well in their recovery.

Legatee John George President

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ARTICLE OF INTEREST Lieutenant Colonel Vivian Bullwinkel Service number F31029, VFX61330

Ranks Held Captain, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Colonel

Birth Date 18

Birth Place : , Kapunda

Death Date 03 July 2000

Death Place Australia: ,

Final Rank Lieutenant Colonel

Service

Units Australian Army 2/13 Australian General Hospital

Places Perth, Banka Island, Kapunda

Conflict/Operation Army organisation period 1961-

Gazettes Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1947- 03-06 Published in London Gazette in 1947-03-06

Description Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of the 1942 Banka Island massacre, was born on 18 December 1915 at Kapunda, South Australia. She trained as a nurse and midwife at , , and began her nursing career in Hamilton, Victoria, before moving to the Jessie McPherson Hospital in in 1940.

In 1941, wanting to enlist, Bullwinkel volunteered as a nurse with the RAAF but was rejected for having flat feet. She was, however, able to join the Australian Army Nursing Service; assigned to the 2/13th Australian General Hospital (2/13th AGH), in September 1941 she sailed for . After a few weeks with the 2/10th AGH, Bullwinkel rejoined the 13th AGH in Johor Baharu. Japanese troops invaded Malaya in December 1941 and began to advance southwards, winning a series of victories and, in late January 1942, forcing the 13th AGH to evacuate to Singapore. But the short-lived defence of the island ended in defeat, and, on 12 February, Bullwinkel and 65 other nurses boarded the SS Vyner Brooke to escape the island.

Two days later, the ship was sunk by Japanese aircraft. Bullwinkel, 21 other nurses and a large group of men, women, and children made it ashore at Radji Beach on Banka Island; they were joined the next day by about 100 British soldiers. The group elected to surrender to the Japanese, and while the civilian women and children left in search of someone to whom they might surrender, the nurses, soldiers, and wounded waited.

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Some Japanese soldiers came and killed the men, then motioned the nurses to wade into the sea. They then machine-gunned the nurses from behind. Bullwinkel was struck by a bullet and pretended to be dead until the Japanese left. She hid with a wounded British private for 12 days before deciding once again to surrender. They were taken into captivity, but the private died soon after. Bullwinkel was reunited with survivors of the Vyner Brooke. She told them of the massacre, but none spoke of it again until after the war lest it put Bullwinkel, as witness to the massacre, in danger. Bullwinkel spent three and half years in captivity; she was one of just 24 of the 65 nurses who had been on the Vyner Brooke to survive the war.

Bullwinkel retired from the army in 1947 and became Director of Nursing at Melbourne's Fairfield Hospital. She devoted herself to the nursing profession and to honouring those killed on Banka Island, raising funds for a nurses' memorial and serving on numerous committees, including a period as a member of the Council of the , and later president of the Australian College of Nursing.

In the decades following the war, Bullwinkel received many honours and awards, including the Florence Nightingale Medal, an MBE and the AM. She married in 1977 and returned to Banka Island in 1992 to unveil a shrine to the nurses who had not survived the war. Vivian Bullwinkel died on 3 July 2000.

AUSTRALIANS IN THE (Extract from Wikepedia)

The military during the Korean War was very eventful. Japan's defeat in World War II heralded the end to 35 years of Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula. The surrender of Japan to the Allied forces on 2 September 1945 led to the peninsula being subsequently divided into North and South Koreas, with the North being occupied by troops from the Soviet Union, and the South, below the 38th Parallel, being occupied by troops from the .

The Soviet forces entered the Korean peninsula on 10 August 1945, followed a few weeks later by the American forces who entered through Incheon. US Army Lieutenant General John R. Hodge formally accepted the surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th Parallel on 9 September 1945 at the Japanese General Government Building in .[1]

Although both rival factions tried initially to diplomatically reunite the divided nation, it was the Northern faction that eventually decided to try and do so with military force. Troops from the Soviet backed Korean People's Army (KPA) crossed the 38th Parallel on 25 June 1950 beginning a civil war.

The invasion of came as a surprise to the . The same day the war had officially begun (25 June), the United Nations Security Council immediately drafted UNSC Resolution 82, which called for:[2] 1. all hostilities to end and to withdraw to the 38th Parallel; 2. a UN Commission on Korea to be formed to monitor the situation and report to the Security Council; 3. all UN members to support the United Nations in achieving this, and refrain from providing assistance to the North Korean authorities.

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The Liberal government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Robert Menzies, immediately responded to the UN resolution by offering military assistance. 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War between 1950 and 1953, and they suffered 339 dead, and 1200 wounded.[3]

With the commitment of Australian forces to the Korean War, the Australian government called for 1000 men who had prior military experience in World War II[4] to enlist in the army for three years, with one year of overseas service in Korea. They were called Korean Force or K- Force.[5] A portion of the force were recruited in Great Britain.[6] At the end of their enlistment, personnel recruited from the could elect to be discharged in Australia, or returned to the UK.[7] Their previous military experience would facilitate rapid deployment to Korea.

Background When the KPA crossed into South Korea on 25 June 1950, they advanced for Seoul, which was captured in less than a week. The lightly-armed (ROK) was no match for the KPA.

KPA forces continued south toward the port of Pusan, a strategic goal. In two days, the United States offered assistance and the UN Security Council asked its members to help repel the attack under the auspices of the headed by the US. Australia promptly contributed No. 77 Squadron RAAF and the 3rd , Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), both of which were stationed in Japan under the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF).

No. 77 Squadron converted to P-51D Mustang fighters before arriving in Japan in February 1946 to participate in the British Commonwealth Occupation Force. Occupation duties proved uneventful, and No. 77 Squadron was preparing to leave Japan for Australia when the Korean War broke out. 77 Sqn was quickly dispatched to Korea, where they became the first UN air unit to enter the war, primarily in ground support, combat air patrol and escort missions.

3 RAR was rapidly committed as Australia's main land force contribution to the UN forces. After a period of intensive training and reinforcement in Japan, the battalion arrived in South Korea in late September 1950. The battalion formed part of the 27th Commonwealth and took part in the UN offensive into North Korea and the subsequent UN retreat from North Korea following the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) offensive in the winter of 1950–51. It was one of three units to receive the Presidential Unit Citation (US) after the .

In addition to combat personnel, the Australian military provided the majority of supply and support personnel to BCOF, which was superseded in 1952 by British Commonwealth Forces Korea (BCFK). Australian, British, Canadian, Indian and units were part of BCFK. Australia's military involvement.

By the time 3 RAR arrived in Pusan on 28 September, the KPA was in retreat. Under UN Supreme Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, UN forces conducting a successful amphibious assault at Inchon and breakout from the Pusan Perimeter on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula. A steady advance began, driving the North Koreans northwards towards the 38th Parallel. In October the UN forces began their advance into North Korea and 3 RAR was involved in its first major action near Pyongyang.

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Australian soldiers firing a . By 21 October, the US 24th Infantry , with the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade leading, crossed the Taedong River at Pyongyang and headed north. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were in the van, and by nightfall the Brigade halted on the outskirts of Yongyu, 21 miles (34 km) north of Pyongyang. A patrol from the Argylls entered the town and made contact with elements of the US 3rd Battalion, 187th Regimental Combat Team. The KPA attack on Yongyu came from the general direction of the road running southwest of the town. The Argylls met the fringe of the attack and beat it off. The attack on 3/187 RCT was stronger, and the KPA succeeded in entering the town before breaking off and moving away at 03:00. Next day the Australians of 3 RAR were to take the lead in the advance, and C was to be the leading company. The orders given in the early evening stressed the urgency to link up with the US Airborne. The company was not to be distracted at Yongyu, they were to press as quickly as possible as the Argylls continued to clear the town. The noises of the Airborne battles to the north were very close and could be heard clearly throughout the night.

C Company 3RAR was the only company to remain largely intact as the battalion hastily absorbed reinforcements from the rest of the regiment and K Force and came to strength. This, the newest 3 RAR company had been formed in late 1949 and early 1950 from the young men who joined the Regular Army after World War II. By the standards of the other companies C Company was very young and untested. Much of the banter within the battalion was directed at them. Good humoured as it was, when it continued once the battalion commenced operations the young regulars became all the more determined to show their mettle. C Company was a well trained sub unit and, unlike the other sub units still shaking down, was a cohesive team. The Non-Commissioned Officers and senior soldiers were experienced, competent leaders who had raised and trained the Company. As an unexpected luxury, a handful of K Force reinforcements joined the C Company during the advance and took it over strength; a state never to be attained again by any unit in the campaign. The platoon commanders were young and inexperienced, all from the 1948 graduating class from Royal Military College, Duntroon, the Company Commander, who arrived only weeks before the battalion sailed, was an experienced battle leader.

Battle of Yongju Main article: Battle of Yongju At 07:00 on 22 October 1950, C Company 3RAR advanced with 7 Platoon leading mounted on tanks of D Company, US 89th Tank Battalion followed by the rest of the company in US troop carrying vehicles. At 09:00 and 1 mile (1.6 km)north of Yongyu, C Company came under fire from the apple orchard on the slopes of Hill 163 in YD 2354 (map grid location). It became apparent that C Company had driven into the KPA who were in the process of forming up to attack the Americans. At 09:30, 7 and 8 Platoons attacked the high ground east of the road, with 9 Platoon in reserve holding the road and northern flank.

The attacking platoons went in hard, uphill through the apple trees. Although outnumbered, the Australians pressed their attack fiercely. The platoons pushed on and in a stride were through to the vital ground. Even a bunker which threatened 8 Platoon provided only a momentary delay as the young men grenaded it and pressed forward. C Company's sudden arrival, even though it must have been expected to some extent, and the speed with which the KPA outposts were brushed aside, had completely surprised the enemy. They were caught with all their attention

Page 6 of 18 directed north to a final frenzied effort to break out past the American forces. Thereafter the KPA were incapable of presenting organised resistance to the vigorous thrust from the south.

The Australians reported approximately 150 KPA had been killed, 239 wounded and 200 captured as a result of its action at a cost of seven wounded. The operations in Sunchon had achieved much more. The American 187 RCT claimed, 3818 KPA prisoners, 805 KPA killed and 681 wounded for the loss of 46 jump casualties and 65 battle casualties. Despite heavy casualties several hundred KPA remained in and around the battlefield. However, with the link up complete, re-deployment for the continuation of the advance commenced. Within the British Commonwealth Brigade, 1st Battalion of the British passed through and assumed the lead in the drive towards the Yalu River. The Americans reassembled and drove north to rejoin their regiment which returned to Pyongyang by the other route.

Chinese entry Troops from C Company, 3 RAR, watch for the enemy while a village in the valley below burns in November 1950. The UN offensive greatly concerned the Chinese, who worried that the UN forces would not stop at the Yalu River, the border between North Korea and China, and extend their rollback policy into China. Many in the West, including General MacArthur, thought that spreading the war to China would be necessary and that since KPA troops were being supplied by bases in China, those supply depots should be bombed. However, Truman and the other leaders disagreed, and MacArthur was ordered to be very cautious when approaching the Chinese border. Except on some rare occasions, UN bombers remained out of Manchuria during the war. China warned American leaders through neutral diplomats that it would intervene to protect its national security, however the American hierarchy felt these to be empty threats.

Despite this, on 8 October 1950, the day after American troops crossed the 38th Parallel, Chairman ordered the People's Liberation Army's North East Frontier Force to be reorganised into the Chinese People's Volunteer Army.[8] Mao ordered the army to move to the Yalu River, ready to cross. Mao sought Soviet aid and saw intervention as essentially defensive: "If we allow the U.S. to occupy all of Korea... we must be prepared for the U.S. to declare... war with China," he told . Premier Zhou Enlai was sent to Moscow to add force to Mao's cabled arguments. Mao delayed while waiting for substantial Soviet help, postponing the planned attack from 13 to 19 October. However, Soviet assistance was limited to providing air support no nearer than 60 miles (97 km) from the battlefront. The Chinese were angered by the Soviets not offering more support, but Soviet MiG-15s provided many problems for UN forces. The Soviet role was known to the US, but it was kept quiet so as to avoid the possibility of escalating the conflict into nuclear war.

The PVA first engaged UN troops on 25 October 1950, with 270,000 PVA troops under the command of General , in the Battles of Onjong, Unsan and Pakchon much to the surprise of the UN, which had disregarded evidence of such a massive force. Following their initial intervention the PVA withdrew. UN confidence returned and the offensive was renewed on 24 November in what was called the Home-by-Christmas Offensive. This triggered PVA Second Phase Offensive which pushed the UN forces back in the west while in the east the UN forces were defeated at Chosin Reservoir. The UN forces began a retreat from North Korea and by Christmas held a line north of Seoul. On the east coast UN forces were evacuated by sea from Hungnam. The PVA

Page 7 of 18 launched their third Offensive on 31 December, pushing back the UN forces and recapturing Seoul on 4 January. The UN began a series of counteroffensives beginning with Operation Thunderbolt on 25 January, recaptured Seoul on 16 March in Operation Ripper and advancing the UN lines north of the 38th Parallel in Operation Rugged and Operation Dauntless.

The PVA began a new Spring Offensive in April 1951 as the weather improved, also referred to as the Fifth Phase Offensive, with the intention of recapturing Seoul. The PVA launched a major assault between 22 and 25 April that resulted in a victory in the Battle of the . At the same time, the UN repelled PVA forces at Kapyong. Members of 3 RAR move forward in 1951

Battle of Kapyong Main article: Battle of Kapyong PVA forces of the 118th Division attacked the Kapyong Valley in force, and pushed ROK and New Zealand troops into retreat. Under heavy pressure, the ROK 6th Division broke, and the line collapsed. ROK soldiers poured through a gap under protective covering fire from Australians who were holding their section of the line despite heavy pressure.

Chinese soldiers captured by Australians, 24 April 1951.Australian troops from 3 RAR, and Canadian troops from Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were ordered to halt this PVA advance. The mission of the men of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was to block the two approaches to Kapyong. In only a few hours, they managed to prepare defensive positions.

The PVA 118th Division engaged their two forward on 23 April. In the early part of the battle the 1st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment and the 16th Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery were all but cut off. The resistance of forward positions, held by the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), and 3 RAR, permitted the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment to withdraw. It moved into place to provide a reserve.

The initial PVA attack at Kapyong engaged 3 RAR on Hill 504. The PVA then struck at the Canadian front. Wave after wave of massed PVA troops kept up the attack throughout the night of 23 April. After a night of fierce fighting Major Bernard O'Dowd, Officer Commanding, A Company, 3 RAR, managed to get through on a radio phone to a general of the . The general was incredulous, thinking it was an enemy agent speaking. He told O'Dowd that the unit no longer existed, that it had been wiped out the night before.[9] The PVA had managed to infiltrate the brigade position by the morning of 23 April. The Australians and Canadians were facing the whole of the PVA 118th Division. Throughout 24 April the battle was unrelenting. It devolved, on both fronts, into hand-to-hand combat with charges. The Australians, facing encirclement, were ordered to make an orderly fall back to new defensive positions late in the day of 24 April.

2 PPCLI was completely surrounded. Captain Mills, in command of D Company, 2 PPCLI, was forced to call down artillery fire on his own positions on Hill 677 several times during the early morning hours of 25 April to avoid being overrun. It had to be resupplied by air drops during this desperate time.[10] By dawn the PVA attack on the Canadian position had abated, and in the afternoon of 25 April the road through to the Canadians had been cleared of PVA, at which time the 2nd Battalion was relieved. The 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, also managed to withdraw and link up with the US Army's 72nd Heavy Tank Battalion. These units provided close heavy gun support.

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During the withdrawal of the Australians, 4 men from B Company, 3RAR, formed a rearguard to hold off any flanking attacks. The four Australians held off three waves of PVA soldiers, killing at least 25 and wounding many more. After two days and two nights of fighting, the Australians had recaptured their positions, at the cost of 32 men killed and 53 wounded. For this contribution of stalling the PVA advance, 3 RAR received a United States Distinguished Unit Citation.

US General inspects members of 3 RAR after awarding a Presidential Unit Citation to the Battalion in December 1952. Despite their enormous advantage in numbers the PVA troops had been badly outgunned. Their courage and tenacity could not overcome the well-trained, well-disciplined and well-armed Australians and Canadians.[9] The battlefield was littered with the of PVA soldiers, a testament to the discipline and firepower of the defenders. For their conduct of this engagement, Lieutenant-Colonel Bruce Ferguson of Australia, and Lieutenant-Colonel James R. Stone of were each awarded the Distinguished Service Order.[11][12] For Stone, it was the second bar to the DSO he had first won during Operation Olive in Italy in 1944.[13][14]

Battle of Maryang San () Main article: First Battle of Maryang San The second major battle the Australians fought in 1951 was Operation Commando. Operation Commando was the last major UN offensive thrust of the Korean War. It was an attack on a PVA salient in a bend of the Imjin River, designed to prevent the PVA/KPA from interdicting the UN supply lines near Seoul.

By July 1951, 3 RAR had come under the control of the 1st Commonwealth Division. Objectives of the 1st Commonwealth Division during Operation Commando, including the Australians, were Hill 355 and Hill 317. The attack began on 3 October 1951 with the US I (including four US Divisions, the 1st Commonwealth Division and the ROK 1st Division) seizing the destroying elements of the PVA 42nd Army, 47th Army, 64th Army and 65th Army, and after five days of intense combat, eventually forcing the PVA into retreat. The operation was a success, and ended on 15 October, with a few hills south of the line still in PVA/KPA hands, requiring a follow-up operation (Operation Polecharge).

Men from the Royal Australian Regiment, June 1953.

The official historian for the Korean War, Robert O'Neill, wrote of this battle: "In this action 3RAR had won one of the most impressive victories achieved by any Australian battalion. In five days of heavy fighting 3RAR dislodged a numerically superior enemy from a position of great strength. The Australians were successful in achieving surprise on 3 and 5 October, the company and platoon showed high courage, tenacity and morale despite some very difficult situations, such as that of D company when the mist rose on 5 October and those of B and C Companies when the weight of enemy fire threatened their isolation of Hill 317 on 7 October ... The victory of Maryang San is probably the greatest single feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War".

Australian casualties during Operation Commando were 20 dead and 89 wounded. Page 9 of 18

Digging in After 1951, both sides were in a type of combat comparable to the Western Front in World War I in which men lived in tunnels, redoubts, and sandbagged forts behind barbed wire defences. From 1951 to the end of the war, 3 RAR held trenches on the eastern side of the Commonwealth Division's positions in the hills northeast of the Imjin River. Across from them were heavily fortified PVA positions.

As the war continued, several other nations grew less willing to contribute more ground troops. Australia, however, increased its troop strength in Korea,[15] by sending 1 RAR. This battalion arrived in Korea on 6 April 1952 and experienced its first major combat during Operation Blaze on 2 July.[16] In March 1953, they were replaced by 2 RAR.[17]

RAN in Korea

HMAS Sydney, which served off Korea during 1951. Royal Australian Navy vessels had been stationed in Japan following the Japanese surrender ending World War II. Following North Korea's invasion of the South, RAN vessels stationed in Japan were put on immediate alert.

On 29 June Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that the frigate HMAS Shoalhaven, stationed in Japan, and the destroyer HMAS Bataan, in Hong Kong would be placed under UN command in Korea. On 1 July, one day after President Truman committed American ground forces to Korea, the first Australian operation in Korea took place; HMAS Shoalhaven moved from Japan to Pusan escorting an American ammunition ship. On 27 July 1950, the destroyer HMAS Warramunga was also deployed.

During the landing at Wonsan on 26 October 1950, HMAS Warramunga provided gunfire support during the landing of US X Corps, however the landing was unopposed as ROK forces had already capture the area on 11 October. During the mass evacuation of troops and refugees in the city of Hungnam in December 1950, HMA Ships Bataan and Warramunga assisted in the evacuation. In October 1951, HMAS Sydney arrived in Korean waters to replace HMS Glory for a three-month tour. Sydney carried two squadrons of Sea Furies – 805 Squadron RAN and 808 Squadron RAN, and 817 Squadron RAN equipped with Fireflies. Sydney returned to Japan having lost only 9 aircraft, with 3 pilots killed, and having launched over 2,700 missions from her flight deck. Later in the war, 9 ships of the RAN participated in the naval blockade of North Korea.[18]

RAAF in Korea

No. 77 Squadron pilots and Meteor aircraft in Korea. RAAF veterans of the Korean War participated a ceremony in Seoul, 2012. The Royal Australian Air Force was heavily involved in the Pacific War during World War II. Following the Japanese surrender, No. 77 Squadron was selected as part of Australia's contribution to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force and, after converting to P-51D Mustang fighters, arrived in Japan in February 1946. Occupation duties proved uneventful, and No. 77 Squadron was preparing to leave Japan for Australia when the Korean War broke out in June 1950. No. 77 Squadron was committed to action over Korea as part of the UN forces, and flew its first ground attack sorties on 2 July 1950, making it the first UN unit to see action. No. 30 Communications Flight, No. 491 (Maintenance) Squadron, and No. 391 (Base) Squadron were attached to the

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UN Command in Korea and grouped into No. 91 (Composite) Wing in October 1950. No. 91 Wing was based in Iwakuni, Japan.

No. 77 Squadron fully deployed to Korea in October to support the UN advance into North Korea but was withdrawn to Pusan in November in response to the PVA counter-attack. The Squadron was withdrawn to Japan in April 1951 to re-equip withGloster Meteor jet fighters and returned to action with these new aircraft in July, where they met with greater success against the Soviet MiG-15 pilots. However, the MiGs were still far superior to the Meteor. Following heavy losses from MiG-15 fighters, No. 77 Squadron operated in the ground attack role from December 1951 until the end of the war; it remained in South Korea on garrison duties until returning to Australia in November 1954.

Battle of Sunchon Main article: Battle of Sunchon (air) The Battle of Sunchon was an air battle fought near the city of Sunchon on 1 December 1951, 12 Gloster Meteor jets of the RAAF's No. 77 Squadron were attacked by 40–50 Chinese MiG- 15s. Despite their Meteors having inferior manoeuvrability to the Soviet-built MiGs, the Australian pilots managed to score their first victories of the Korean War, for the loss of three aircraft. Accounts vary, with the Australians claiming at least 10 MiGs shot down, but Chinese and North Korean sources stated it was only one.

Airfields used  Taegu  Pohang 10/50 11/50  Yonpo Airfield, North Korea 11/50 12/50  Pusan East (K-9) Air Base 12/50 04/51  Kimpo 7/51 03/54  Kunsan 3/54 10/54

Cessation of hostilities On 29 November 1952, US President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower fulfilled a campaign promise by going to Korea to find out what could be done to end the conflict. The Korean Armistice Agreement is signed on 27 July 1953, by the UN, North Korea and China, President of South Korea refused to sign the agreement.[19] When the Armistice Agreement was signed and the ceasefire came into effect he front line was back around the proximity of the 38th Parallel. Under the terms of the armistice a demilitarised zone (DMZ) was established along the front line, presently defended by North Korean troops on one side and by South Korean, American and UN troops on the other. The DMZ runs north of the parallel towards the east, and to the south as it travels west.

After the war ended, Australians remained in Korea for four years as military observers. Australia gained political and security benefits, the most important being the signing of the ANZUS Treaty with the United States and New Zealand.[20]

Out of 17,000 Australians who served in Korea, casualties numbered more than 1,500, of whom 339 were killed.

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Timeline of Australian involvement in Korea  25 June 1950 – Korean People's Army crosses 38th Parallel, invading South Korea.  25 June 1950 – United Nations drafts UNSC Resolution 82 calling for cessation of hostilities, and withdrawal of North Korean forces. Australia endorses resolution and offers military assistance.  29 June 1950 – RAN frigate HMAS Shoalhaven and destroyer HMAS Bataan, are dispatched to Korea.  2 July 1950 – RAAF P-51D Mustangs begin their first ground attack sorties in Korea.  28 September 1950 – 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment arrive in Pusan, South Korea to provide Australia's main land force contribution, and is attached to the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. 1950  26 October 1950 – During the landing at Wonsan HMAS Warramunga provided gunfire support during the landing of US X Corps.  October 1950 – UN forces drive the KPA back beyond the 38th Parallel, and continue to pursue them.  19 October 1950 – UN forces capture Pyongyang.  19 October 1950 – Chinese forces enter North Korea, joining the war on North Korea's side.  25 October 1950 – First engagement between UN and Chinese forces.  5 November 1950 – Battle of Pakchon involving 3RAR is fought, resulting in a UN victory.  2 – 24 December 1950 – UN retreat from North Korea  April 1951 – No. 77 Squadron RAAF is withdrawn to Japan to be refitted with Gloster Meteor jet fighters.  22–25 April 1951 – Battle of Kapyong involving 3RAR is fought, resulting in a decisive UN victory.  July 1951 – No. 77 Squadron RAAF returns to air combat duties in Korea with Meteor jet fighters.  July 1951 – Commonwealth forces in Korea form the 1st Commonwealth Division.  October 1951 – Aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney arrives in Korean waters where she will 1951 launch over 2,700 sorties over Korea, losing 9 aircraft with 3 pilots killed.  October 1951 – First Battle of Maryang-san involving 3RAR is fought, resulting in UN victory.  December 1951 – Meteors from No. 77 Squadron RAAF are involved in heavy dogfighting during the Battle of Sunchon, claiming between 1–10 enemy, and losing 3 Meteors.  December 1951 – No. 77 Squadron RAAF is withdrawn from air combat duties, unable to compete with better performing Soviet MiG-15 jets.  March 1952 – 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR) arrives in Korea, boosting Australia's troop commitment. 1952  July 1952 – British Commonwealth Forces Korea supersedes the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.  March 1953 – 1RAR's 12-month tour ends, replaced by 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR).  24–26 July 1953 – 2RAR and 3RAR hold off a concerted Chinese attack against the 1953 Hook during the Battle of the Samichon River.  27 July 1953 – Korean Armistice Agreement is signed, ending hostilities in the Korean War.

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BOOK REVIEW

Beyond the Call: Three Women on the Front Lines in Iraq and Afghanistan

Author(s): Eileen Rivers Release Date: November 6, 2018 Publisher/Imprint: Da Capo Press Pages: 288

Reviewed by: Thomas McClung Women have always struggled to obtain their due in and from this country, from the Revolution right through to today. One of the more-well publicized during the 20th century was the fight for veteran qualification status by the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), entitling them to all of the benefits available to those already so qualified.

Now, in this century, has come the women’s struggle to access all combat positions in our military in order to provide them with not just equal status but also open up to them faster and better opportunities for promotion and additional pay and benefits, especially to those who are military career-minded.

As there were women who were put in harm’s way (killed, wounded, and captured) in Operation Desert Storm and the following counter-insurgency operations in Iraq, the fact or reality of women in combat has at least been implied and not really acknowledged officially, particularly where real, obvious front lines have been obscured or are non existent.

In addition to acknowledging the absolute combat capabilities of women, it was also a long road for the military to come to the conclusion, in our conflict in Afghanistan, and admit that Female Engagement Teams (FET) were not only necessary in a war where actionable intelligence was vital but also one where cultural norms and restrictions demanded their presence where indigenous females were concerned.

These FETs were not only involved in firefights and subject to improvised explosive devices (IEDs) but also were able to make inroads in winning hearts and minds of Afghan women. They were tasked, when necessary, in searching these women for weapons and explosives but also ferreting out insurgents concealing themselves as such under burqas.

By operating according to Muslim cultural restrictions and gaining Afghan women’s trust through empathy, the provision of food, clothes, and child care, support for voting rights, education and employment, and countering second class status in such areas as child marriage and domestic Page 13 of 18 violence, America’s women soldiers were able to obtain critical intelligence for use against insurgents in the effort to establish a stable Afghan nation.

Not that they were always successful, as there weren’t any real front lines and one couldn’t trust everyone all the time, but real progress was made in Afghanistan and also in the American military as policy now dictates that women be considered qualified for any and all positions open to men.

This publication details the struggle of three women who served in Afghanistan among the initial FETs: one of whom, a non-commissioned officer, was wounded by an IED while the other two were officers who led teams in action as mentioned above.

These women dealt with the same problems as men when it came to their deployments. They suffered from PTSD, left children who might never see their mother alive again, and felt the ongoing stress of such deployments on personal relationships and marriages.

The format of this book initially summarizes a chronology of the history of women in the military, author Eileen Rivers’ own military experience serving in Desert Storm and search for appropriate subjects about whom to write in exposing the fact that women have been serving more often in combat than the Pentagon would like to admit.

Part One covers the story of one Afghan activist woman’s fight to improve conditions in her country and then tells the individual experiences of the three American soldiers. Part Two is the women’s own struggle against the military, even to the extent of a lawsuit, to change government policy to open and official acknowledgement of their contributions and qualification for all combat positions.

The Epilogue details the efforts of women in the last few years to take advantage of the policy change. There have been female Marine deployments in the same FET configuration in the Middle East and two women actually met all of the requirements to become Army Rangers, something never easily accomplished even by men.

Author Eileen Rivers, besides being an Army veteran herself, is now a USA Today editor and has been reporting on veteran affairs for 15 years, so it is evident that she knows whereof she speaks.

In spite of any previous official acknowledgement from our military, it is gratifying to know that things can change for the better and women are finally getting their due. As with all who serve, especially in combat, we hope that they receive all the honor and respect they deserve.

Stuart McClung holds a Master of Arts in Military History and has written reviews for the Journal of America's Military Past and Humanities and Social Sciences Online. He is a recognized long- time living historian and interpreter at Gettysburg National Military Park and various state and local venues. He is also a member of the Society for Military History, the Council on America's Military Past, and the Civil War Trust.

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER / COMPANY SECRETARY 1. COVID 19 Coronavirus Since the initial Commonwealth Department of Health recommendations commenced in early March 2020, regular updates have been circulated to all Legatees: For a record purpose, these emails were sent: 12th March 2020, 18th March 2020, 20th March 2020, 23rd March 2020, 25th March 2020, 30th March 2020 (which was when current social distancing recommendations commenced).

On 16th March 2020, letters were sent to all Legacy Beneficiaries, which has proved to be most fortuitous.

On 1st April 2020, a request from L/George was sent to a number of Legatees for their support in telephone calls to Beneficiaries. As of Thursday 9th April 2020, 731 contacted, plus 250 assessed as vulnerable and contacted by staff. A data analysis is being prepared on the Database (eg: Wrong telephone number) and will be completed by mid-April. At the moment there are 267 in aged care that we didn’t contact, and 52 with wrong/no number. Staff have followed up all requests for further support, and the Hamper Packs as at Thursday 9th April 2020 have been delivered to 8 beneficiaries.

As outlined in emails, staff have been working in a Social Distance manner, with this being very affective.

All Village residents are being regularly checked on, some having moved out with family for a short time, and the small group shopping trips successful (4 per bus trip), run in a ‘loop’ manner to and from shops.

2. Cancellation of Events As at 9th April 2020, the following has been affected. a. 17/03/2020 Members Monthly Meeting with MAJGEN Mark Kelly, AO, DSC b. 18/03/2020 Widows Social Groups with Julie Goodwin c. 27/03/2020 Torchbearers Thank you lunch. d. 30&31/03/2020 National Legacy Welfare Conference. e. 21/04/2020 Members Monthly Meeting f. 7&8/05/2020 Mother’s Day High Tea

The following events are to be determined in the near future. g. Christmas In July Family Beneficiaries 08/07/2020, Widows 09 & 10/07/2020 h. Future Members Meetings and return of Guest Speaker i. Badge Week/Day 04/09/2020.

3. Annual Management Audit. Fortunity commenced this Audit on 6th April 2020, with a teleconference link and Audit Plan. The advantage of our Cloud Based XERO Finance/payroll system has allowed this to progress as normal, and the Annual Accounts will be able to be completed as per normal.

Any Legatees with questions are encouraged to contact the office via telephone or email.

Peter Lawley Chief Executive Officer Page 15 of 18

ADVOCACY 1. Summary of Meeting held 7 April 2020 Teleconference held with Chair (L/Ward), M. Parsons, S. Groom, P. Lawley, P. Groom Minutes). Email responses received and noted from Legatees Taylor, Bourchier, Graham, Harris, Smith and Lord. i) Business Arising matter – K. Bolton moved into Village Unit 22 March 2020 ii) Endorse Laptop PC for Junior Lachlan Hill. iii) Total program requests (Dental CDM, podiatry) iv) Noted, Welfare Staff Visits, Pension Committee reports v) Noted Enrolments, transfers In/out, Eligibility vi) Noted Junior Vocational reports and recommendations. Review Hill Family Income taking in to account DVA support.

ALL ENDORSE ADVOCACY REPORT

Legatee Elizabeth Ward Chairman

FUNDRAISING 1. Public Relations (L/Davis) Since last Board meeting a media campaign utilising radio has been in effect using the theme “Legacy spends its money where it is needed” In April 160 BWL commercials are being aired on Coast FM and Elizabeth Ward, John George , Peter Lawley and myself have given 5 minute interviews assuring the public that monies raised have been spent where needed and that current situation virus wise not withstanding we are still looking after our beneficiaries. 2. Chatterbox (L/Davis) April issue of Chatterbox will go out as scheduled. 3. Badge Week (L/Taylor) Directors to consider if the 2020 Legacy Week campaign be cancelled – A decision can be made at the next formal Board meeting.

ALL ENDORSE FUNDRAISING REPORT

MEMBERSHIP

LEGATEE LEAVE LEGATEE FROM TO Bourchier 6 July, 2020 15 July, 2020 George 29 April, 2020 20 May, 2020 Lord 4 May, 2020 31 May, 2020

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MAY BIRTHDAYS

Saresa Andrews Rick Cranna

Barrie Hepworth

VALE

Aileen Allard POINT CLARE Dora Dwyer CHARMHAVEN Maria Knight WYOMING Jean Makepeace UMINA Patricia Morrissey UMINA Phyllis O'Leary KANWAL Merle Penniall BUDGEWOI Bettina Taylor EAST GOSFORD Aileen West GREEN POINT Betty Wilson WOY WOY

LEGACY ON FACEBOOK

For those who have Facebook, keep up to date with our news at: https://www.facebook.com/Bwleg or search Brisbane Water NSW Legacy .

1. Our ‘Covid-19’ hamper packs. 2. Peter and Michael delivered a hamper to Dorothy. 3. Michael delivered a hamper to Mavis.

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