Melbourne Korean War Memorial (Footscray)

Located in Maribyrnong's Quarry Park, the Korean War Memorial is the first significant public memorial in Victoria to specifically honour Australians who served in the Korean War, and the Koreans who fought alongside them.

About the Memorial

The Korean War Memorial honours and commemorates the service and the sacrifices of Australians who served in the Korean War from 1950-53.

The pathway, a key feature of the Memorial, represents the strong connection between the peoples of Australia and of the Republic of Korea that was evident during the Korean War and beyond. It is modelled on the national symbol of Korea, the taegeuk, composed of two interlocking semi-circles as featured on the Korean flag.

The pathway consists of Bluestone pavers, quarried locally in Victoria, and valley stone pavers, quarried in Gapyeong (formerly called Kapyong), the site of a key battle in the War, and donated by the Republic of Korea.

The Memorial features the national flora of Australia and the Republic of Korea - the golden wattle (Acacia Pycnantha) and the hibiscus (Hibiscus Syriacus) - representing the enduring relationship between the two nations.

The Korean War

Following World War II, the Korean Peninsula was entrusted to the control of the Allies after 36 years of Japanese occupation.

The United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (now called 'Russia') accepted responsibility for the country. The Korean Peninsula was divided at the 38th parallel of latitude into two parts (South Korea and North Korea), each with a different form of government.

Tensions arose between the Provisional Government in the South (supported by the United States of America) and the Communist Government in the North (supported by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - now called 'Russia').

On 25 June 1950, the North Korean People's Army invaded the Republic of Korea by launching an offensive across the 38th parallel of latitude and capturing the capital, Seoul.

The United States of America deployed troops to protect the port city of Busan.

The United Nations Security Council requested its members to assist in repelling the North Korean invasion. In all, 21 nations committed troops, ships, aircraft, and medical units to the defence of the Republic of Korea. The 21 nations were Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Australia became the second nation, after the United States of America, to commit personnel from all three armed services to the Korean War.

The Stages of the Korean War

STAGE 1
The Korean War began when North Korean forces invaded South Korea on 25 June 1950.

The North Korean army advanced quickly, capturing Seoul and sweeping through the rest of the Peninsula. After two months of fighting, the United Nations Forces were pushed back to form a defensive perimeter around the port of Busan.

STAGE 2
In immediate response to the invasion of the Republic of Korea, the United Nations mobilised an international force from 21 nations under the leadership of the United States of America.

Under the command of US General Douglas MacArthur, United Nations Forces landed at Incheon, near Seoul, on the 15 September 1950. This successfully isolated the North Korean army in the south of the Peninsula, allowing the forces in Busan to push the North Koreans back north as far as the Yalu River (called Amnok River by Koreans), which formed the border between North Korea and China.

STAGE 3
With the United Nations Forces on its border and their North Korean ally beginning to lose the war, China decided to act and engage in the conflict.

From November 1950, Chinese troops began pushing the United Nations Forces back south down the Peninsula. After taking Seoul, the Chinese forces were eventually halted 75 kilometres south of the capital.

STAGE 4
Between January and April 1951, United Nations Forces rallied and again marched north, pushing the Chinese and North Korean armies back to the 38th parallel of latitude.

The Chinese launched an offensive between April and May 1951 to retake Seoul, but it was halted. The defensive front sat roughly on the 38th parallel of latitude, the original border between South Korea and North Korea, before the start of the War. The two forces faced a stalemate and fierce fighting ensued in trenches without any strategic advantage being gained by either side.

An Armistice Agreement for the restoration of the Republic of Korea was signed on 27 July 1953 at 10.30am. The Agreement - a cease-fire, not a peace treaty - called for the Korean Peninsula to be divided by a Military Demarcation Line and a buffer, the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), at the 38th parallel of latitude, the principal purpose of which was to prevent the occurrence of incidents which might lead to a resumption of hostilities.

Battle of Kapyong

(now called Gapyeong)
22-24 April, 1951

On the night of 22 April 1951, Chinese forces launched a major offensive against United Nations Forces defending Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea, and positions further east.

The next morning, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade (including the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment) was ordered to the valley of the Gapyeong River about 60 kilometres north-east of Seoul, where South Korean forces were being driven back.

During a night of fierce fighting and throughout the daylight hours of 24 April 1951, the Australians and a Canadian battalion, supported by a New Zealand artillery regiment, stalled the Chinese advance before eventually withdrawing after dark.

At a cost of 32 men killed, 59 wounded and 3 missing (taken prisoner), the Australians had helped hold up the Chinese 60th Division and inflicted heavy casualties on its members that totalled more than 500 killed. For their contribution to this action, 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment was awarded a United States Presidential Citation.

Battle of Maryang San

(Operation Commando)
2-8 October, 1951

Operation Commando was the second major battle for the Australians. It involved an attack against a Chinese-held salient at a bend in the Imjin River that flowed from the north to the south and crossed the 38th parallel of latitude north of Seoul.

Here the Commonwealth Division, including Australians, had two key objectives: to hold Hill 355 and to capture Hill 317. The attack began on 3 October 1951 and, after five days of heavy fighting, the Chinese withdrew. 20 Australians were killed in the battle and 89 were wounded.

Korean War Historian, Robert O'Neill, wrote of this battle in these terms:

"In this action 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment 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."

Australian forces in the Korean War

17,164 Australians fought, as part of the United Nations Multinational Force, defending the Republic of Korea against an invasion by the Communist forces from North Korea.

All of the individuals who served in the Royal Australian Navy, the Australian Army or the Royal Australian Air Force in Korea were professional servicemen and service women.

Casualties

Estimated total civilian casualties: 2,500,000
Total United Nations and South Korean casualties: 776,360
Total Australian casualties: 1,500+

Maribyrnong's wartime history

From the 1870s, munitions factories helped shape the Western Suburbs with the Saltwater Gunpowder Magazine, the Colonial Ammunition Company, the Cordite Factory and the Ordnance Factory all located in the Maribyrnong area.

These factories proved to be vital to the Australian war efforts in World War I, World War II and continued production during the Korean and Vietnam Wars. At their peak, the munitions and ordnance factories employed around 20,000 men and women.

So long, digger.

Private P. J. Paterson composed this poem, upon leaving the Republic of Korea, echoing the feelings many Australian Veterans of Korea War would carry forever.

To the Boys we leave behind us

We're off to Aussie, Feller,
And we hate to leave you here.
Gawd, we didn't think we'd part like this
When we started out last year.

Remember the march through Sydney?
We were really glad that day.
We were "going to Korea"
And it had to end this way.

And the days we spent on the Devonshire
Our first long voyage by ship -
We laughed and joked, not dreaming
That this was your 'one-way trip'.
It's still hard to believe that it's happened
That you'll march with us no more
That you've 'grounded Arms' forever,
And have fought your last cruel war.

Yes, we're going back to Aussie, Mate.
And we're going to march again.
And we'll try to make it a better place,
So you won't have died in vain.
And while the band is playing
Our marches, old and new,
We'll swing along the proudly,
Knowing you are marching too,
Yes, you'll always march when beside us,
And when out time is through
We'll muster on that "Last Parade"
To march again with you.

Post War Republic of Korea

Since the War, the Republic of Korea has risen from the ashes and developed into a free, democratic country with one of the largest economies in the world.

As an aid recipient turned donor, the Republic of Korea is fully committed to supporting global efforts to alleviate poverty, promote sustainable growth, address global challenges and achieve internationally agreed development goals.

Today, Australia and the Republic of Korea enjoy a special relationship with a strong bilateral economic partnership and close co-operation on international affairs as active members of the Group of 20 Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation and the East Asia Summit.