Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people please be advised that the following contains the names, images and objects of people who have died.
When: 25 June, 1950 – 27 July, 1953
Where: Republic of South Korea & Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Why: At the end of World War II with the expulsion of the Japanese from Korea, the United States and the Soviet Union were entrusted with looking after the country. Korea was divided in two at the 38th Parallel, with the United States taking control of the south, and the Soviet Union taking control of the north.
In the north, the Soviets supported a communist Korean government. In the south, the Americans supported a provisional democratic government. By 1950 tensions between the two zones were running high, with both sides amassing armies along the 38th Parallel.
In the early morning of 25 June, 1950, just five years after the end of World War II, the Korean People's Army (KPA – of North Korea), launched an attack into South Korea. They swiftly took the capital, Seoul, while the US and South Korea scrambled to deploy units to fight back.
Once the United States committed troops, Australia was not far behind in providing support.
Fighting went back and forth with territory gained and lost and gained again; peace talks commenced and failed, until in July 1953 an armistice between the United Nations and Soviet Union/China was finally reached. The agreement stipulated that the dividing line between the warring North & South Korea at the 38th Parallel – exactly where the border had been prior to the war - would maintain a 2km Demilitarised Zone on either side. This zone still exists today.
Who: Supporting South Korea was the United States & United Nations. (Australia fought as part of the United Nations force).
Supporting North Korea was the Soviet Union and China.
The Townsville Connection
Korean winters are bitterly cold, which must have been quite a shock for military personnel coming from Townsville!
13 January, 1955. Korea: 38th Parallel. Photographer: Donald Albert (Tim) Meldrum
Photographer's Description: Finding the Korean winter a bit rough after the warmth of his native Queensland, 28027 Private (Pte) Roy Mansfield 'Curley' King of Aitkenvale, Townsville, Qld, wears his combat cap in the 'flaps down' position. Now a mortar man with D Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), this is Pte King's second period of service life. He was with the RAAF from 1950 to 1952 and served as a plant operator at the famous atom bomb island of Monte Bello, WA. In civilian life he was a keen cyclist and was the 1947 champion of the Townsville Professional Cycling Club.
28 January, 1955. Korea: 38th Parallel. Photographer: Donald Albert (Tim) Meldrum
Original British Commonwealth Forces Korea (BCFK) Public Relations caption: With the temperature often well below zero, the bitter winter conditions in Korea plays havoc with exposed skin. As well as providing all sorts of special clothing the Australian Army goes a step further to protect the men who must train and work out of doors in all weathers, and provides Lanolin ointment to be rubbed into exposed skin. Applying the anhydrous preparation to his paint covered hands is Private (Pte) Andy Deving of Townsville, Qld, and the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). Before joining the Regular Army Pte Deving worked at Bruce Small's Cycle Shop, and rode for the Townsville Professional Cyclist Club. [Pte Andy Deving is probably 12615 Andrew Roy Devine.]
October 1953. Korea: 38th Parallel. Photographer: Phillip Oliver Hobson
Photographer's Description: Informal portrait of Owen gunner Private Ken Williams, 2nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), of Townsville, Qld, in his camouflaged winter fighting gear, as he takes time off from battle training in Korea for a refreshing drink from a can of chocolate flavoured Toddy.
Want to Know More?
Anzac Portal ''United Nations Forces in the Korean War"
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/korean-war-1950-1953/korean-war/armed-forces/united-nations-forces-korean-war
Australian War Memorial “Korean War, 1950 – 53"
https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/atwar/korea
Britannica “Korean War"
https://www.britannica.com/event/Korean-War
Khan Academy “The Korean War"
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/postwarera/1950s-america/a/the-korean-war
National Geographic “Jun 27, 1950 CE: U.S. Enters Korean War''
https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/us-enters-korean-war
National Museum Australia ''Korean War''
https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/korean-war#:~:text=Australia%20was%20one%20of%2021,ended%20in%20a%20difficult%20stalemate.
Northern Beaches State High School wishes to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we live and work, the Wulgurukaba and Bindal people. We pay our respects to their elders, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.