Vol. 50, No. 3 (New Series) SPRING 2020

THE GALLIPOLI GAZETTE

OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE GALLIPOLI MEMORIAL CLUB LTD

Edward 'Teddy' Sheean VC

We review the history of Australia’s latest Cross winner who died defending his crewmates as HMAS Armidale sank near Timor.

The news from Governor- two years at sea when he died and his wife Mary Jane. Soon that Queen while serving on the minesweeper afterwards the family moved to Elizabeth II had approved the HMAS Armidale when it came Latrobe. posthumous awarding of the under heavy attack from Japanese In his teenage years Teddy took to Edward 'Teddy' aircraft off the coast of Timor-Leste casual work on farms between Sheean marked the end of a long in 1942. Latrobe and Merseylea. In campaign to gain the award for this Sheean is recorded as helping on 21 April 1941 he enlisted in the Australian World War Two hero. launch life rafts before returning to Royal Australian Naval Reserve as The announcement followed fire at enemy aircraft, despite the an ordinary seaman, following in Prime Minister order having been given to aban- the steps of five of his brothers recommending the Ordinary don ship. who had joined the armed forces. Seaman be awarded Australia's Edward Sheean was born on After his initial training, he was highest military honour. 28 December 1923 at Lower sent to Flinders Naval Depot, The 18-year-old had less than Barrington, , fourteenth Westernport, Victoria, in February child of James Sheean labourer, 1942 for further instruction.

Dale Marsh's painting of hangs in the . (Australian War Memorial)

Continued page 11.

1

Editorial

This edition of the Gazette when the nation backed Hurley that Queen Elizabeth II commemorates two anniver- President Truman in standing up had approved the posthumous saries, the 75th anniversary of the to the invaders of South Korea. awarding of the Victoria Cross to signing of the war in the Pacific Another 340 lives were to be lost Edward 'Teddy' Sheean whose and the start of the Korean War from among the 17,000 who story of World War Two heroism five years later. served. has been carried in a previous Australia rejoiced when Japan The Pacific also gives us the edition. announced its surrender, as we story of Anzac Day commem- The 18-year-old Tasmanian had done three months earlier orations in the Tahitian capital, died while shooting at Japanese when Germany surrendered. The Papeete, which centre on the aircraft swooping to attack the signing of the official documents graves of two Australasian minesweeper HMAS Armidale off ending the happened soldiers who were buried from the coast of Timor-Leste in 1942 in early September, officially hospital ships that docked in the and its struggling crew members as they climbed into escape craft. ending six years of horror that harbour during World War One. In addition, our President claimed over 27,000 Australian We also look back to the John Robertson updates military lives worldwide and Pioneers who served with members on the Club and the devastated the families and distinction in World War One. progress of building works for our friends of the deceased. It was a pleasure to start the new premises. A feeling of gloom settled edition with the announcement over Australia five years later by Governor-General David

THE GALLIPOLI MEMORIAL CLUB LIMITED Patron: Major General Arthur Fittock AO

Board of Directors:

President: John Robertson Senior Vice President: David Ford Junior Vice President: Ted Codd Hon. Treasurer: John Brogan

Directors:

Stephen Ware, Glenn Tetley, Scott Heathwood, Marc Higgins, Greg Hanchard

Editor: Bob Lawrence Secretary Manager: John Robertson

Club Ph: 9235 1533 Email: [email protected] www.gallipoli.com.au

2

Australia marks the end of World War II

On August 15, Australia celebrated the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific.

Japan surrendered uncondit- from hosting a large public com- General Angus Campbell, reflected ionally to the Allied forces, ending memoration on August 15. on the moment when the terrible the deadliest conflict in history, However, a small ceremony of conflict finally ended. World War II, with the documents invited guests, including the “Seventy-five years ago, a weary officially signed on September 2 on Governor General, David Hurley, Australia laid down its arms and felt board the US war ship Missouri in Prime Minister Scott Morrison and a the first, joyous stirrings of peace. Tokyo Bay. handful of surviving veterans, was In the forests of Borneo, the This year, the coronavirus broadcast live so the nation could soldiers finally laid their arms and pandemic prevented the memorial join in. had pause to listen to the songbirds The Chief of the Defence Force, in the trees.

The Official Surrender

High-ranking military officials of the Allied Powers met aboard the Missouri on September 2, including Australia’s General Sir Thomas Blamey, British Admiral of the Fleet Sir Bruce Fraser, New Zealand Air Vice Marshall Leonard Isitt, Chinese General Hsu Yung-Ch’ang, Soviet Lieutenant-General Kuzma Nikolaevich Derevyanko, Canadian Colonel Lawrence Moore Cosgrove, French General d’Armee Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, Dutch Vice Admiral Conrad Helfrich, US Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and US General Douglas MacArthur who was the Supreme Commander for the Allies. The Japanese representatives, headed by Foreign Minister Mamoru Shigemitsu arrived at 8.56am. At 0.902 am General MacArthur stepped before a battery of microphones and opened the 23-minute surrender ceremony to the waiting world by stating "It is my earnest hope—indeed the hope of all mankind—that from this solemn occasion a better world shall emerge out of the blood and carnage of the past, a world founded upon faith and understanding, a world dedicated to the dignity of man and the fulfillment of his most cherished wish for freedom, tolerance, and justice." Unconditional surrender documents were signed and by 09:30 the Japanese emissaries had departed.

3

Ships across the Pacific spliced Fewer than 3,000 Australian The soldiers of the 2nd AIF the mainbrace and an extra ration WW11 veterans are alive today”. were deployed across Europe, of rum warmed a sailor's heart. The Australian War Memorial's Africa and the Middle East — and The engines of Kittyhawks, head of military history, Dr Karl closer to home as Japanese forces Boomerangs and Beaufighters James, told the ABC that said the launched direct attacks on were quiet, even if their crews were nation's armed forces were "tiny" Australia's mainland. not. in 1939. More than one million Aus- At home, telegrams bearing the Dr James said, “We had a very tralian men and women served in saddest of news slowed to a trickle small army — the Militia — we had the war. and eventually stopped. a very small navy and we had a About 40,000 of those never An entire country had been tiny air force. returned home, killed or dying as called to serve what was right and So when the war broke out, one war prisoners. good. of the things that Australia did Globally, more than 50 million A great victory had been won contribute to this global effort was soldiers and civilians were killed — at great cost to all. men. just a generation after the so- called ‘war to end all wars’.”

USS Missouri (BB-63) an Iowa class battleship, was the third ship of the United States Navy United States Navy to be named after the U.S. state of Missouri. Missouri was the last battleship commissioned by the United States and is best remembered as the site of the surrender of the , which ended World War II. Missouri was ordered in 1940 and commissioned in June 1944. In the Pacific Theatre of World War II she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and shelled the Japanese home islands. Later she fought in the Korean War (1950-1953). She was decommissioned in 1955 into the US Navy Reserve Fleets (the "Mothball Fleet"), but reactivated and modernized in 1984 as part of the 600-ship plan on President Reagan, and provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm (January/February 1991). Missouri received a total of 11 battle stars for service in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf, and was finally decommissioned on March 31, 1992 after serving a total of 17 years of active service, but remained on the Naval Vessel Register until her name was struck in January 1995. In 1998, she was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbour.

4

70th Anniversary of the start of the Korean War

In June this year, Australia commemorated the seventieth anniversary of the start of the Korea War.

A mere five years after as they were forced further down Council was aided by Russia Second World War ended, the Korean peninsula, which boycotting the UN over its lack of Australia became involved in the allowed defensive positions to be recognition of the communist Korean War. The Royal Australian set up around the port city of Chinese government. With the Navy (RAN), Royal Australian Air Pusan. Russian delegate absent and Force (RAAF), and the Australian Within two days of the war’s unable to veto any resolution, Army became involved soon after beginning, US President Harry S. the UN was able to act decisively the war began and would serve Truman committed US navy and and commit forces from willing for the next three years in the air force units to aid South Korea. nations to the aid of South Korea. defence of South Korea. Australia became the second In all, 21 nations committed The origins of the Korean War nation to commit personnel from troops, ships, aircraft, and stem back to the end of the all three armed services to the medical units to the defence of Second World War, when the war with Prime Minister Robert South Korea. Allies were entrusted with Menzies committed Australia’s Australia, with its comm- control of the Korean peninsula RAN assets to the Korean War on itment to the British Common- following 35 years of Japanese 28 June, followed several days wealth Occupation Force in occupation. The United States later by No. 77 Squadron. It Japan, had two readily de- and the Soviet Union accepted wasn’t until 26 July that 3RAR ployable RAN vessels, HMAS mutual responsibility for the was committed to ground Shoalhaven and HMAS Bataan country, with the Soviets taking operations in Korea. (which was on its way to Japan to control north of the 38th Parallel By the end of June, Truman relieve Shoalhaven), as well as and the Americans taking the had authorised US ground forces No. 77 Squadron, RAAF. The 3rd south. Over the next few years, to be deployed to the peninsula. Battalion, Royal Australian the Soviet Union fostered a The United Nations Security Regiment (3RAR) was also communist government under Council asked its members to available, although understrength Kim Il-Sung and the US supported assist in repelling the North and ill-prepared for a combat the provisional government in Korean invasion. The Security deployment. the south, headed by Syngman Rhee. By 1950 tensions between the two zones had risen to the point that two increasingly 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. South Korean and hastily deployed United States Army units fought delaying actions Map of Korea

5

On 1 July HMAS Bataan and calling for volunteers to serve a was taken on strength of the HMAS Shoalhaven left Japanese three-year period in the army, British , joining the 1st waters escorting US troop ships to including a year in Korea. In early Battalion, Argyll and Southerland Pusan. The following day, No. 77 September, Lieutenant Colonel Highlanders, and 1st Battalion, Squadron, led by Wing Comm- Charles Green took command of Middlesex Regiment. The brigade ander Lou Spence, flew the first the battalion and put his men was renamed the 27th ground support operations over through an intensive training Commonwealth Brigade to reflect Korea, becoming the first British program. its Antipodean addition. Commonwealth and United In a brilliant master stroke, Nations unit to see action in the General MacArthur Korean War. Over the next few landed marines weeks, No. 77 Squadron flew of the 1st Marine numerous sorties against KPA Division at Inchon on forces and, along with other allied 15 September. Two air units, greatly assisted in slowing days later, South the North Korean advance. Korean, US and British In mid-July General Douglas troops took part in the MacArthur was appointed breakout from the Supreme Commander of United Pusan perimeter. One Nations forces in Korea and wasted week later, Seoul had no time in requesting the been recaptured and deployment of 3RAR to the UN units began their peninsula. The Australian advance towards the government agreed but stipulated North Korean border. that the battalion would deploy On 27 September only when fully ready. The 3RAR embarked from battalion was brought up to Kure, Japan, and strength over the next six weeks arrived at Pusan the with reinforcements from K Force, next morning. The an Australian government initiative Australian battalion Lt Col. Charles Green

Continued page 13.

Spring 2020 Presidents Report

Members, there is not a lot to Bean’s “Major Smith’s Petrichor” Due to restrictions on non- report for this Spring edition. Once and the Margaret Hadfield’s employees entering the building the restrictions were partially lifted portrait of “Weary” Dunlop site we have been unable to view and the clubs and pubs could open painted on a hospital stretcher. progress on the old club house and again, we were able to proceed Our club purchased the other museum space, so no update with the art exhibition in real life. commended painting Lori Pensini’s there. The building committee are This was much to the relief of “The Telegram” and Philip hopeful of a site inspection in the Merrylands RSL. The exhibition was Meatchem’s portrait of “Ivor Hele middle of September. But there a resounding success both actually War Artist”. are no guarantees that will go and virtually. Merrylands We were of course not able to ahead. Our progress meetings have purchased one of the highly commemorate the battle of Lone been via Zoom and Teams with the commended paintings Deirdre Pine this year. usual technical issues.

Continued page 15.

6

ANZAC DAY IN PAPEETE

By Colin Randall, President, Friends of Australia Association, Tahiti French Polynesia.

Anzac Day is commemorated In recent years the Friends of defence and the freighter each year in Tahiti, French Australia Association has assisted Walküre before bombarding the Polynesia, with locally based in translation for the service town's fortifications. French Australians and New Zealanders while also laying a wreath on the shore batteries and a gunboat overseeing the major event at Australian grave. resisted the German intrusion the grave sides of an Australian In 2015, on the centenary of but were greatly outgunned. The and New Zealand soldier from the ANZAC landing, the Rotary main German objective was to WWI. Club of Tahiti organised for the seize the coal piles stored on the The Australian soldier, Private relatives of the two soldiers to island, but these were destroyed Robert William Fuhrstrom from attend the ceremony. An ex- by the French at the start of the Main Lead, Victoria, joined the hibition was also organised. action. 58th Battalion and fought in In 2018 Captain Bernadette The German vessels were France where he caught trench Kerrigan (Army Reserve retired) largely undamaged. Several of pneumonia. After several stays in laid a wreath on behalf of the Papeete's buildings were hospitals in Scotland, he was RSL. destroyed and the town's being repatriated to Australia In Tahiti, since September economy was severely disrupted. when he passed away on board 2014, numerous events have paid The main strategic consequence the hospital ship Marathon in tribute to World War One and of the engagement was the Papeete Harbour on May 29, ensure that future generations disclosure of the cruisers' 1918. never forget that Papeete was positions to the British Admiralty. The New Zealander soldier, bombed on September 22, 1914 The depletion of Roy John Leslie, of the by the German armoured cruisers Scharnhorst's and Gneisenau's New Zealand Field Artillery SMS Scharnhorst and SMS ammunition at Papeete also survived Gallipoli and then fought Gneisenau. contributed to their subsequent on the western front where he They entered Papeete port destruction at the Battle of the was wounded. He was being and sank the French gunboat Falklands the following repatriated to New Zealand on a Zelee, a key to Tahiti’s naval December. hospital ship when he died in Papeete on September 5, 1917. The French governor based in Tahiti, provided the grave sites for both soldiers in the military section of the Uranie Cementery in Papeete, promising the graves would be looked after by the locals. The honorary consuls for Australia and New Zealand alternate as the organiser of ANZAC Day in Tahiti. The French military provide the guard of honour and the head chaplain for the French Military in the Pacific leads the service. French military veterans also provide flag bearers for the service. The grave on 29 May 1918 at the time of the burial of Robert William Fuhrstom

7

8

The Tough, Hardworking Pioneers By Bruce McEwan

Although vital in warfare, the work of the Pioneers is often overlooked by historians but the exploits of the Australian Pioneer Corps at the western front in World War 1 stood out for their spectacular efforts in the battlefield.

Among mundane duties exceeded it. As many as 10,000 defended German positions, associated with trench digging, German soldiers were killed and destroying four machine gun posts hygiene and engineering works, the crater it caused was hundreds and killing more than 30 German the Australian Pioneers were of metres across and at least a soldiers during the fight. among those responsible in WWI hundred deep. for having excavated deep beneath Australian pioneers mostly the opposing German trenches and were recruited from mining, placing huge volumes of high farming construction and engin- explosives in them. For example, at eering professions. the start of the Battle of Messines One outstanding pioneer corps they loaded the nine tunnels they recipient of the VC from WW1 in excavated with 455 tons of Europe was the Australian, Walter ammonal nitrate explosives (TNT). "Wally" Peeler, VC, BEM (9 August The mining of enemy trenches 1887 – 23 May 1968) who was by teams digging in silence and decorated following his actions mostly in total darkness was during the Battle of Broodseinde in commonplace on the western front October 1917 where he served in by both sides the infantry. The detonation at Messines is Then a in the considered the largest human- Australian Imperial Force, he made explosion of the pre-nuclear repeatedly took the lead in the Captain Walter Peeler era. Only the atomic bomb 37th Battalion's advance on well-

The crater caused by the Messines explosion that killed 10,000 German soldiers was the biggest man-made explosion until the Atomic Bombs in 1945

9

Born on 9 August 1887 at during the battle of Messines on returned to his unit on 17 May Barker's Creek, near Castlemaine, 7 June 1917. Peeler was one of and was promoted corporal two Victoria he was the eighth twenty-four Lewis-gunners of the weeks later and sergeant on 30 surviving child of William Peeler, 3rd Pioneers who were attached July. a farmer and miner from for anti-aircraft duties to the 37th Following the armistice with Tasmania, and his English-born Battalion for the assault on 4 Germany, he arrived back in wife Mary Ellen (née Scott) October on Broodseinde Ridge, Australia and was honourably Peeler. His education is not Belgium. He joined in the first discharged on 10 December. He recorded but he worked on his wave, leading an attack against worked with the Victorian parents' orchard at Barker's three enemy posts which were Department of Lands for six years Creek, then at Thompson's picking off the advancing and then took up an orchard, but Foundry, Castlemaine, and in the Australians and then turned on a returned to Melbourne to work Leongatha district. He married machine-gun post. He accounted on the staff of the Sunshine Emma Hewitt, on 10 July 1907 at for thirty of the enemy and for Harvester Works. He was the Congregational parsonage, his fearlessness and fine example appointed custodian of Victoria's Castlemaine. They had five was awarded the Victoria Cross. Shrine of Remembrance in 1934. children and although they Peeler remarked in 1966: “I The design of the shrine was separated in the early 1920’s never saw the faces of those I chosen in a competition in which they were never divorced and killed. They were just men in an 83 Australian artists and she predeceased him in 1964. enemy uniform. It was simply architects competed. The deputy He worked at various jobs in them or me”. chairman of the organising his hometown and in the Exploitation of the Australian committee was the renowned Melbourne area before enlisting success that day was hampered wartime Australian military as a private in the Australian by heavy rain. The 3rd Pioneers leader Sir John Monash who Imperial Force on 17 February next attacked in shocking favoured the kind of structure 1916 and embarked with the conditions on 12 October in the eventually built. Designed by two machine-gun section of the 3rd 2nd battle of Passchendaele; former digger architects, Phillip Pioneer Battalion. Peeler was wounded in the right Hudson and James Wardrop, the In June of 1917 he was arm. While recuperating he shrine was inspired by the promoted to lance corporal. He received his Victoria Cross from mausoleum at Halicarassus -- one was slightly wounded by shell-fire King George V at Buckingham of the seven wonders of the Palace on 8 January 1918. He ancient world.

Shrine of Remembrance. Melbourne

Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne

10

The public service must have returned to Australia in October cemetery. His medals are on been lacking in excitement 1945 to learn that his son Donald display in the Hall of Valour at the because during the Second World had been killed on Bougainville in Australian War Memorial. War Peeler, understating his age December 1944 while serving The common thread among by fourteen years, enlisted in the with the 15th Battalion. VC recipients seems to be their 2nd A.I.F in 1940 and saw service Repatriated back to Australia capacity for decisive action when in the Syrian campaign as at war’s end Wally Peeler re- under stress. They seem to know, company quartermaster sergeant sumed duty as custodian of the instinctively, what is needed to of 'D' Company, 2/2nd Pioneer Shrine of Remembrance and was be done and have the capacity to Battalion. In June 1941 he led a an early member of the Victorian do it – providing leadership when patrol to recover four Australian Corps of Commissionaires. He necessary. wounded. His battalion was part was awarded the British Empire Modest in demeanor and rarely of a small Australian force hastily Medal in 1961 and retired in boastful, these brave men usually landed in Java in February 1942 1964. From the early 1920s he did not stand out until after their to assist the Dutch against the lived with Kathleen Emma Peeler outstanding courage was recog- rapid Japanese advance. After and they had four children. nised by their commanders. the island's surrender to the Survived by two of his children Thankfully, the media gives them Japanese he survived a long from his first marriage and by the public recognition they period on the Burma Railway. He Kathleen (d.1969) and three of deserve by highlighting their was one of only three WW1 V.C. their children, he died at South deeds and describing their winners then serving overseas, Caulfield on 23 May 1968 and personalities. the others being Walter Brown was buried in Brighton and Arthur Blackburn. He

Continued from front page.

In May, Sheean was posted to along the eastern Australian where he was billeted at coast and in waters. Garden Island in the requis- In October, the Armidale itioned ferry Kuttabul, prior to sailed for Darwin, arriving there joining his first ship as an in early November. Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun-loader. On 29 November Armidale Teddy was not on board headed for Japanese-occupied Kuttabul when Japanese midget Timor along with the submarines raided the harbour H.M.A.S. Castlemaine to land and sank her on 31 May as he soldiers to reinforce Dutch was on granted home leave. guerrillas on the island and to Eleven days later he returned to withdraw exhausted Australian Sydney to help commission the soldiers along with about 150 new corvette H.M.A.S. Armidale, Portuguese civilians and 190 which carried out escort duties Dutch troops.

Edward "Teddy" Sheean

HMAS Armidale (J240), was one of 60 Bathurst-class constructed during World War II, and one of 36 initially manned and commissioned solely by the (RAN). Launched in early 1942, and initially assigned to convoy escort duties, Armidale was transferred to Darwin in October 1942. The corvette was attacked by 13 Japanese aircraft on 1 , and sunk off Betano Bay (Coordinates: 9°9′52″S 125°43′30″E9.16444°S 125.72500° )

11

Arriving off Betano before Sheean was mentioned in for a young Australian sailor who dawn on 1 December, the ships dispatches for his bravery. In paid the highest price to save his rendezvoused with the naval 1999, one of the Collins-class shipmates from certain death". tender H.M.A.S. Kuru, which had submarines was named after Sheean's VC was "the first for the civilians on board. When him. It is the only Australian navy a member of the Royal Australian these people were transferred to ship named after an ordinary Navy," he said. the Castlemaine, she sailed for seaman. "Teddy Sheean's story of Darwin, leaving the other two The Governor-General said he bravery is well known within our vessels to finish the operation. had relayed the news to Sheean's Navy and we have long rec- From 12.28 p.m. Armidale and nephews before announcing the ognised his heroic and gallant Kuru came under repeated attack award, describing it as a actions. from Japanese aircraft. The ships momentous occasion for the "This account is the stuff of separated. No air cover was family. legend. Sheean's actions on that available despite requests. In the The Governor-General called day, December 1, 1942, were early afternoon of 1 December Teddy Sheean's story ‘inspiring’ absolutely among the most 1942 Armidale, by then sep- and said it was of "A young man conspicuous and most gallant arated from Kuru, was attacked serving his nation who chose we've seen in our Navy." by at least thirteen aircraft. certain death over the Armidale manoeuvred chance of survival to try frantically but about an hour later to save his mates who a torpedo struck her port side were in the water. Many and another hit the engineering of us have really been spaces, before a bomb struck. As taken back by his courage, the vessel listed heavily to port his commitment to his and the order was given to mates and his sacrifice. abandon ship. The story is inspiring and Survivors leapt into the sea should inspire us all." and were machine-gunned by the "In remembering Japanese. Sheean helped release Teddy, acknowledging his a life-raft, then scrambled back to service and honouring his his gun as the ship sank. courage, we also preserve Wounded in the chest and back, the legacy of a generation Sheean shot down one bomber that has served and and kept other aircraft away from shaped our nation," he his comrades in the water. He said. was seen still firing his gun He said a ceremony as Armidale slipped below the would be held in the waves. Sadly, 100 of the 149 coming months. people on board died in the Australia's Chief of sinking or during the following Navy Michael Noonan days in life-rafts. said it was "a great day for our Navy, our nation and Book by F. B. Walker, HMAS Armidale (Budgewoi, NSW, 1990)

12

Continued from page 6.

3RAR’s first battle

As UN forces neared the North The battle of Pakchon marked the last formation out of Seoul Korean border, China warned them the furthest point that the Aus- before the city once again fell to not to cross into North Korean tralians reached into North Korea. Communist forces in January 1951. territory, and that such an in- It was also the first time Chinese At the UN headquarters in New cursion would not be tolerated. forces were encountered in large York ceasefire negotiations be- General MacArthur received numbers. Unbeknown to UN tween the UN and the Communist permission to pursue the fleeing intelligence sources, Chinese coalition broke down before any North Korean forces and shortly troops had been infiltrating North real progress could be made. after crossed into North Korea. The Korea across the Yalu River, and in The Chinese sought to renew capital, Pyongyang, fell soon after. late October they began an off- their advance in February, but As part of the 27th Common- ensive which annihilated several were halted and forced to retreat wealth Brigade, 3RAR advanced UN divisions and badly mauling by UN troops. Seoul was recap- north of Pyongyang to assist the US others before seeming to melt tured by UN forces in March and 187th Regimental Combat Team, away. The ensuing weeks saw an the Chinese were pushed back which had encountered heavy eerie quiet settle over the battle- towards the 38th Parallel. Opinions resistance after being dropped field. were divided amongst the UN behind enemy lines in an attempt In November, buoyed with a commanders whether to pursue to rescue American prisoners of false sense of security, UN forces Chinese forces across the 38th war. On the morning of 22 October under MacArthur’s direction once Parallel or to push for a ceasefire 1950, 3RAR was the lead battalion again began to advance north at the border. General MacArthur leaving the town of Yongju when it towards the Yalu River. On 25 pushed for the advance to con- came under fire from enemy November the Chinese launched tinue and on 11 April 1951 he was troops within a nearby apple the next phase of their offensive relieved of command by President orchard. and by January 1951 had pushed Truman. The ensuing fight was swift and the UN forces back across the 38th No. 77 Squadron, RAAF, flew brutal, with the Australians routing Parallel. During the retreat, the their last operations in Mustangs in a numerically superior force and 27th Commonwealth Brigade had early April, after which they re- suffering only seven wounded. It fought many rear-guard actions, turned to Japan to begin con- was the first combat action fought allowing formations from the US ersion to the Gloster Meteor F8. by a battalion of the Royal and South Korea to pass through Four RAF pilots had been sent to Australian Regiment and the men their positions. The brigade was Japan to train the Australians of 3RAR had acquitted themselves well. In the following week those men would fight two more battles - at Kujin, known as the Battle of the Broken Bridge, and Chongju. At the beginning of November, 3RAR’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green DSO, was mortally wounded by shrapnel as he rested in his tent. Several North Korean artillery rounds had been fired into 3RAR’s position but Green was the only casualty. He died of his wounds two days later.

Nearly 4000 Gloster Meteors served in the Korean war

13

and were taken on strength of the suffered heavy casualties, with 32 days of heavy fighting the Chinese squadron. In all, 37 RAF pilots killed, 53 wounded, and three were forced to withdraw off both would fly on operations with the taken prisoner. objectives, and on repulsing sev- squadron, six of whom were killed Following the battle, the 27th eral counter-attacks the men of and another of whom was shot Brigade was withdrawn from Korea 3RAR were firmly in control of Hill down and taken prisoner. The and 3RAR was taken on strength of 355, known as Maryang San. The squadron returned to combat the 28th British Commonwealth Australians suffered 20 men killed operations in July and after some Brigade, part of the newly formed and a further 89 wounded during disastrous air-to-air battles with 1st Commonwealth Division. the fighting. MiGs the squadron reverted to its former role of ground attack, Negotiating the peace HMAS Sydney commences carrying out many successful operations operations during the next two On 10 July peace negotiations years. began between the warring HMAS Sydney arrived in Korean powers in the town of Kaesong. waters in early October and began Kapyong Negotiations were suspended in operations immediately. On board August after the building used was the carrier were three squadrons On 22 April, the Chinese reportedly bombed. Talks did not of the RAN Fleet Air Arm, Nos 805 launched their spring offensive, resume until October, and from and 808 squadrons, flying Hawker routing the South Korean 6th then on were held in the village of Sea Furies, and No. 817 Squadron, Division and driving them back Panmunjom. flying Fairey Firefly aircraft. The down the Kapyong Valley. The 27th Sydney undertook numerous Commonwealth Brigade advanced Maryang San patrols in Korean waters during its forward of the town of Kapyong. deployment and its aircraft flew The 1st Battalion, Princess On 3 October, as a part of over 2,000 sorties, including Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Operation Commando, a large UN ground attacks, artillery spotting, and 3RAR dug in on the high offensive against a Chinese salient, and escort missions. It incurred the ground on either side of a seven- 3RAR advanced north of the Imjin loss of three crew and 13 aircraft. kilometre wide valley. The next River, attacking two key high The Sydney returned to Australia in day, the Chinese were engaged by points: hills 317 and 355. After five January 1952. the Australians and Canadians as well as a troop of US Army Sherman tanks and New Zealand Artillery. Two nights and days of close fighting followed and on the evening of 24 April the Australians were forced to withdraw from their positions and, with the support of the Canadians and New Zealand artillery, fought their way down a ridge, rejoining the majority of the brigade in the Kapyong valley. The Chinese were stopped in their tracks and Seoul was saved from being attacked once more. The men of 3RAR

The aircraft carrier, HMAS Sydney, was built for the Royal Navy and launched as HMS Terrible in 1944, but was not completed before the end of WWII. The carrier was sold to Australia in 1947, completed and commissioned into the RAN as Sydney in 1948. Sydney was the first of three conventional aircraft carriers to serve in the RAN, and operated as the navy’s flagship during the early part of her career. From late 1951 to early 1952, she operated off the coast of Korea during the Korean War, making her then the first carrier owned by a Commonwealth Dominion, and the only carrier in the RAN, to see wartime service.

14

Static war April 1953 and quickly established The armistice was signed at 10 itself as a formidable patrolling and am on 27 July 1953. Sporadic Following the Chinese retaking raiding force. fighting continued throughout the of Maryang San in a bitter en- On 19 July an agreement for an day, but as evening fell the guns counter with the Kings Own armistice between the UN and the fell silent. The armistice came into Scottish Borderers, the fighting Communists was reached. The effect at 10 pm, ending three became static. Trenches, tunnels, date for the signing was set for the years, one month, and two days of and redoubts reminiscent of the 27th of July. war in Korea. The end came so Western Front became the norm. suddenly that some soldiers took Patrols and trench raids became The Samichon some convincing that the fighting commonplace, as did set-piece was really over. The former be- artillery battles. The last three days of the lligerent nations each withdrew In April 1952, 1RAR arrived in Korean War saw the Chinese two kilometres in accordance with Korea and joined 3RAR as part of mount one last offensive on the armistice agreement, forming the 28th Brigade. During its Australian and US Marine positions the Demilitarized Zone which still service, 1RAR took part in many in the Samichon Valley. The exists today. Australian Forces patrols of no-man’s land and Chinese attacked in waves with remained in Korea as part of the several operations against Chinese heavy artillery support. However, multi-national peacekeeping force positions. The Australians’ the combined arms of the US and until 1957. reputation for patrolling and Commonwealth forces halted the Over 17,000 Australians served raiding from both the First and Chinese attacks with heavy losses. during the Korean War, of which Second World Wars was further This final battle cost 2RAR six killed 340 were killed and over enhanced by the efforts of the men and 24 wounded. The Marines 1,216 wounded. A further 30 had of 1RAR and 3RAR during 1952. suffered 43 killed and 316 become prisoners of war. 1RAR was replaced by 2RAR in wounded.

Continued from page 6.

As most of you are aware we the Gallipoli Club and the ANZAC beverage outlet and members’ have at times leased out various legacy. lounge is also proposed. parts of the club to tenants; The committee is very close to I would again like to thank Bryn Restaurants, Cafes, and at one finalising the Development Miller, Jane Smith and the staff at time the Commonwealth Bank. Application for the museum space. Merrylands RSL for their assis- The board is currently investigating This will include multi-function tance, patience and enthusiasm. the possibility of again entering high technology aspects as well as Spring is a time of hope and into some sort of leasing arran- our memorabilia collection, our art renewal. I sincerely hope that is gements. This would achieve a collection and of course our the way it turns out for all our guaranteed income stream to Gallipoli VC busts. A food and members. Stay well and stay safe. ensure the long term viability of

John Robertson President

15

16