POST-ARMISTICE KOREA
Ceremonial parade on the occasion of the official birthday of HM Queen Elizabeth II, and the departure from Korea of the 1st Battalion The Royal Sussex Regiment, 13 June 1957
The Armistice Agreement ending the Korean war was signed on 27th July 1953. The text of the agreement can be found here http://www.kdvamerica.org/Agreements.html.
The following British Army infantry combat units were deployed in Korea in the post-Armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 26 July 1957.
1st Bn Royal Fusiliers*; 1st Bn Durham Light Infantry*; 1st Bn King's Regt*; 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt; 1st Bn Royal Scots*; 1st Bn King's Own Royal Regt*; 1st Bn North Staffordshire Regiment*; 1st Bn Essex Regt; 1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regt; 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt; 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers; 1st Bn Dorset Regt; 1st Bn Queens Own Cameron Highlanders - and lastly, 1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt.
* The tours of these regiments spanned the pre and post-Armistice periods.
The following elements of British Army supporting units were also deployed in Korea, in some cases spanning the pre and post-Armistice periods:
Royal Tank Regiment; Royal Artillery; Royal Signals; Royal Army Service Corps; Royal Army Catering Corps; Royal Army Pay Corps; Royal Army Ordnance Corps; Royal Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps; Royal Military Police; Royal Army Chaplains' Department - and Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers.
Unlike Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, Great Britain has not awarded a medal for post-Armistice active service and according to a senior member of the Secretariat at the Ministry of Defence: "There are no plans to institute any new medals for past military service or to extend the qualifying period for any existing medals which recognise service performed and completed more than five years previously".
Furthermore, United Nations, under whose flag British, Commonwealth and armed forces personnel of other contributing nations served under UN command after 27 July 1954, has also not awarded a medal for service in Korea post 27 July 1954 and does not intend to do so.
By contrast, the following medals for service in post-Armistice Korea have been retrospectively instituted by Australia, Canada and New Zealand:
Instituted: 1995
 | The Australian Service Medal 1945-1975 was established to recognise a large number of Australian service personnel who did not receive any award for their non-warlike operational service in the period 1945-1975. The creation of this award was one of the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into Defence Awards that reported to government in 1994. The award's aim is to recognise service in prescribed peacekeeping or non-warlike operations during the period 1945-1975 where recognition had not been extended previously through an award. The Australian Service Medal with Korea clasp is awarded for 30 days cumulative service in Korea with British Commonwealth Forces. To date 12 clasps have been approved, including: Korea, Berlin, Germany, SE Asia and Middle East. |
In both cases, the eligibility criterion for former Australian Defence Force personnel who served during operations in South Korea in the post-Armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956 is 30 days participation in operations in South Korea. This includes any location within 161 kilometres seaward from the coast of South Korea. This is consistent with the recommendations of the 2005 report. The cut-off date of 19 April 1956 was chosen because it was on that day the last Australian combat troops were withdrawn from Korea. The last British combat troops, 1st Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, were not withdrawn until 26 July 1957.
About the medal, Dr Kelly said:
"The conditions under which these people served were at least as arduous and dangerous as the many subsequent operations which have attracted similar recognition, and 18 members lost their lives while engaged in this service."
"These proud servicemen deserve the gratitude of our nation for their contribution to world peace in one of the more dangerous international situations since World War II, which had the potential to escalate into a nuclear confrontation. I salute them and am delighted that the Rudd Labour Government has been able to help them achieve resolution to their cause, which should have happened long before now."
The following press release was issued by the Australian Government on 12 February 2010 regarding the Australian General Service Medal, Korea:
| Friday, 12 February 2010 | 005/2010 |
The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today announced that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the official regulations and design for the award of the Australian General Service Medal for Korea.
"The establishment of this award is consistent with the Rudd Labor Government's election commitment to fully implement the recommendations of the Post-Armistice Korean Service Review," Dr Kelly said.
"The Australian General Service Medal for Korea is being struck to recognise former Defence Force personnel who completed 30 days participating in operations in South Korea. This includes any location within 161 kilometres seaward from the coast of South Korea during the post-armistice period from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956."
It is expected that the medal will be available for dispatch to some eligible recipients before ANZAC Day 2010.
Former Defence Force personnel who served in South Korea during the post-armistice period are encouraged to submit their application to the following address:
Directorate of Honours and Awards
Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610
People who have previously applied for the award do not need to reapply but should contact the Directorate of Honours and Awards if their address details have changed since applying.
Further Information:
Please call the Directorate of Honours and Awards on 1800 111 321 (toll free within Australia) or +612 6266 1050 (from outside Australia), or visit http://www.defence.gov.au/medals/
Media contacts:
Elyse Gatt (Dr Mike Kelly): 02 6277 4840 or 0437 502 246
Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
Instituted: 2000
 | The prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to all United Nations Peacekeepers in 1988 in recognition of their collective efforts in the cause of peace. This inspired the creation of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM) to acknowledge the unique contribution to peace that Canadian peacekeepers have made since 1947. Thousands of Canadian personnel have served in peacekeeping missions over the past 53 years. An incredible record, and this tradition in the "Service of Peace" continues to this day. To be eligible for the CPSM, a minimum of 30 days cumulative service is required in a UN or international peacekeeping mission. Authorised missions, of which there are many, include: United Nations Command in KOREA July 28th, 1953 to June 27th, 1957. |
Instituted: 1992
 | The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 was issued in bronze to recognise service in non-warlike operations for which no separate New Zealand, British Commonwealth, United Nations or NATO campaign medal issued. Thirteen clasps have been issued for non-warlike (peacekeeping) operations since 1954 in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific. In 2002, the NZGSM 1992 was replaced by the New Zealand General Service Medal 2002. The medal is awarded with a clasp to describe where an individual served. It is worn as a war medal, in order of date of qualification. The New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 has also been issued in silver for warlike operations. |
Eligibility Requirement: 30 days cumulative service in Korea, its adjacent waters or Japan from 27/7/54 to 31/12/57 while part of British Commonwealth Forces attached to the United Nations Unified Command. Clasps include:
- Korea 1954 - 57. (28 July 28 1954 and 31 December 1957)
- Korea 1958 - 2000 (1 January 1958 to 31 December 2000)
The webmasters of Britain's Small Wars, and the author would appreciate any additional details of units and any specific events during the armistice period when British troops were deployed in Korea. If you have any information to contribute, please email james@britains-smallwars.com
The following information concerning the units that were deployed in Korea in the post-Armistice period has been provided to us prior to this page going live and we would like to thank all of our contributors for their efforts.
GREAT BRITAIN
Ground Forces
1st Commonwealth Division
Major-General A.R. West (Sept 1952 to Oct 1953)
Major-General H. Murray CB, DSO (Oct 1953 to Aug 1954)
1st Commonwealth Division was formed in July 1951, taking over the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade the 29th Infantry Brigade and the Canadian 25th Infantry Brigade. Artillery, engineers armour and some other support units were centralised under Division control. However, the Division attempted to have national units continue to support their Brigades as much as possible. The Division was disbanded in November 1954 in Korea, at which point the remaining forces became the Commonwealth Contingent, Korea.
1st Royal Tank Regt - Dec 1953 to Dec 1954 (replaced Royal Irish Dragoon Guards).
5th Royal Tank Regt - Dec 1953 to Dec 1954 (replaced 1st Royal Tank Regt).
59th (4th), and 3rd Field Squadrons Royal Engineers - Mar 1953 to Mar 1954 and Mar 1954 to Nov 1955 respectively (the 59th was renumbered Oct 19 1953 as the 4th).
28th Commonwealth Brigade
Brigadier J.G.N. Wilton, OBE (Aus) Mar 1953 to Feb 1954).
Brigadier I.T. Murdosch, OBE (Aus) Feb 1954 to Aug 1954).
28th Brigade was disbanded in August 1954 in Korea.
1st Bn Royal Fusiliers - Aug 1952 to Aug 1953 (replaced 1st Bn King's Own Scottish Borderers).
1st Bn Durham Light Infantry - Sept 1952 to Sept 1953 (replaced 1st Bn King's Shropshire Light Infantry) [CO Lt. Col R.C. MacDonald DSO, OBE]
29th Infantry Brigade
The 29th Infantry Brigade came out from the UK in Oct 1950. It was disbanded in November 1954.
1st Bn Kings Regt - Sept 1952 to Oct 1953 (replaced 1st Bn Royal Norfolk Regt).
1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt - Oct 1953 to Nov 1953 (replaced 1st Bn Welch Regt).
1st Bn Royal Scots - Jul 1953 to Nov 1954 (replaced 1st Bn Black Watch).
1st Bn King's Own Royal Regt - Sept 1953 to Nov 1954 (replaced 1st Bn King's Regt).
1st Bn North Staffordshire Regt - Sept 1953 to Nov 1954 (replaced 1st Bn Duke of Wellington's Regt).
Commonwealth Contingent
The Commonwealth Contingent was formed in Dec 1954 upon disbandment of the 1st Commonwealth Division.
Brigadier V.W. Barlow DSO, OBE, (1956/57).
1st Bn Essex Regt - August 1953 to August 1954 (Ex 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, replaced 1st Bn Royal Fusiliers) [CO Lt. Col. P.S.C. Smith].
1st Bn Royal Warwickshire Regt - Sept 1953 to Aug 1954 (Ex 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, replaced 1st Bn Durham Light infantry).
1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt - Nov 1954 to Dec 1955, Tochon [CO Captain Erskin Tulloch].
1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers - Nov 1954 to Dec 1955.
1st Bn Dorset Regt - Dec 1955 to Feb 1956 (replaced 1st Bn Royal Irish Fusiliers and was based at Kohima Camp, near Solma-ri). This date may be incorrect, possibly they were in Korea Septemebr 1954 to August 1955. If anyone can confirm this, we would be grateful.
1st Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders - Dec 1955 to Aug 1956 (replaced 1st Bn Northamptonshire Regt and was based at Kohima Camp, near Solma-ri)
.1st Bn Royal Sussex Regt - Aug 1956 to July 1957 (replaced 1st Bn Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The Regiment formed part of the US 24th Infantry 8 Division and was based at Kohima Camp, near Solma-ri). [CO Lt. Col. R.B. de f. Sleeman OBE, MC; Senior Major and 2i/c Major J.B.A. (“Jack”) Glennie DSO, OBE].
61st Light Regt Royal Artillery - Nov 1954 to? (The Regiment was reorganised in Jan 1955 when the 42nd light and 15th Location Btys left Korea. It then gained 170th Field Battery RA [the former 170th Independent Mortar battery RA] in Feb 1955. In June 1955, 248th Light Battery RA was placed in ‘suspended animation' so as to resuscitate 182 Light Bty RA. In Aug 1955 the Regt was re-designated 61 Field Regt RA, with 15th Location Bty RA and the 42nd, 120th, 170th, and 182nd Field Btys RA. This non-standard organisation suggests it might still have been in Korea at that time).
55 Field Squadron Royal Engineers - Nov 1954 to Jul 1957.
Naval Forces
HMS Warrior - Cease fire monitoring (relieved HMAS Sydney, May 1954).
AUSTRALIA
2nd Bn Royal Australian Regt - Mar 1953 to April 1954 (replaced 1st Bn Royal Australian Regt)
1st Bn Royal Australian Regt - Apr 1954 to Apr 1956 (Ex 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade) [CO Lt. Col. M. Austin].
3rd Bn Royal Australian Regt -? to Nov 1954.
Australian Signals (Contingent) -? to Aug 1957.
Air Force
77 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force -? to Oct 1954.
Naval Forces
HMAS Sydney - Cease fire monitoring, relieved by HMS Warrior, May 1954.
CANADA
25th Canadian Infantry Brigade:
The 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Departed Korea in Dec 1954 (although some units left in Nov 1954).
3rd Bn Princess Patricia's Canadian light Infantry - Oct 1952 to Oct 1953 (replaced 2nd Bn PPCLI).
3rd Bn Royal Canadian Regt - Mar 1953 to Mar 1954. (Replaced 1st Bn of Regt).
3rd Bn Royal 22nd Regt - Apr 1953 to April 1954 (replaced 1st Bn of Regt).
2nd Bn Black Watch (Royal Highland Regt) of Canada - Oct 1953 to Nov 1954 (replaced 3rd Bn PPCLI).
2nd Bn The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada - Mar 1954 to Dec 1954 (Replaced 3rd Bn Royal Canadian Regt).
4th Bn Canadian Guards - Apr 1954 to Nov 1954 (replaced 3rd Bn Royal 22nd Regt).
Service and Support Units (normally operated in support of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade and Commonwealth Contingent)
No 3 Transport Coy RCASC - Mar 1954 to Nov 1954 (replaced 56 Coy).
No 3 Field Ambulance - Mar 1954 to May 1956.
No 25 Canadian Field Dressing Station - Jul 1951 to Nov 1954.
No 23 Canadian Infantry Workshop, RCEME - Apr 1953 to Apr 1954 (re-designated: No 40 Infantry Workshop Dec 1953).
No 42 Canadian Infantry Workshop, RCEME - Mar 1954 to Feb 1955.
No 38 Canadian Mobile Ambulance Coy - May 1951 to Nov 1953.
No 56 Transport Coy - Mar 1953 to Apr 1954.
No 38 Field Ambulance - May 1953 to May 1954 (re-designated: No 4 Ambulance Dec 1953).
Canadian Medical Detachment - Apr 1956 to Jul 1957.
No 20 Canadian Field Dental Detachment - Sep 1951 to Nov 1954 (re-designated: No 25 Canadian Field Dental Unit Jan 1952).
Canadian Army Ordnance Elements, 1st Commonwealth Division - Sep 1951 to Jan 1955.
No 25 Canadian Provost Detachment - May 1951 to Dec 1954.
No 25 Canadian Field Punishment Camp - May 1951 to Nov 1954 (re-designated: 25 Field Detention Barracks - Sep 1951).
Canadian Postal Corps - Nov 1950 to Sept 1955.
1st Commonwealth Division
'A' Sqn Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (2nd Armoured) - May 1953 to May 1954.
'D' Sqn Royal Canadian Dragoons - May 1954 to Nov 1954 (replaced 'A' Sqn Lord Strathcona's Horse).
INDIA
Ground Forces
60th Indian Field Ambulance - Left 28 Commonwealth Brigade to Join 190th Indian Infantry Brigade in Aug 1953. This unit won a Meritorious Unit Citation from the Commander UN Forces in Korea.
NEW ZEALAND
1st Commonwealth Division
Ground Forces
16th Field Regt Royal New Zealand Artillery - Jul 1951 to Oct 1954 [COs Lt Col Burns and Lt. Col. J. A. Pountney MBE].
|
|