60th ANNIVERSARY OF KOREAN WAR TO BE REMEMBERED AT NATIONAL MEMORIAL WALK

C Coy 2 RAR The Hook 9 June 1953 HOBJ1479.tif 3 RAR 1950 3 RAR PUC Kapyong

Each year the Royal Australian Regiment Association conducts the Korean Veterans’ Day 27th July Memorial Service at the Korean War Memorial in Anzac Square Brisbane. The Service is well attended by Australian Korean War Veterans and their families and Korean Armed Forces veterans and the Australian Korean Society.

This year the Service is being held at the Regiment’s National Memorial Walk http://www.rar.org.au/NationalMemorials.html at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera.
Ted Chitham, President of the RAR Association Queensland, said:  ”The RAR provided the infantry component of Australia’s military forces in the Korean War. The change of venue this year personalises the event in an area where a memorial tree has been planted for each of the Regiment’s (312) soldiers who were killed or died on or from service in Korea. And after the service allows time to socialise and have refreshments in a quiet picnic area at the NMW’s Diggers’ Rest.”
“ Squadron Leader  John Parker RAAF, a Korean War veteran, will give the address. Support for the Service will be provided by cadets from the Church of England Grammar School Brisbane with a cataflaque party, flag orderlies and a bugler.”
On 25th June 2010, The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin urged Australians to remember the service and sacrifice of Korean War veterans this year, 60 years since the start of the Korean War.“As our Australian soldiers embarked on their journey to Korea, joining the United Nations Force for the first time, they enhanced Australia’s reputation as a nation that will step up and come to the aid of other nations,” Mr Griffin said.

“In the course of the Korean campaign, 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, more than 17,000 Australians served in the Korean War with over 1200 casualties. There were 340 soldiers who lost their lives including 44 soldiers missing in action. Nearly 4 million Koreans and Chinese, of whom more than half were Korean civilians, lost their lives.

“Our Australian forces displayed great courage and determination throughout the bitter conflict.  In particular they successfully fought off Chinese attacks at the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951 earning a US Presidential Unit Citation for their heroism. Our soldiers distinguished themselves again at the Battle of Maryang San in October 1951 which has been described as probably the greatest single feat of the Australian Army during the Korean War.

“It is important that we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Korean War and those Australian servicemen and women who served. We are proud of their efforts in helping to ensure the freedom of the South Korean people and we will continue to honour their memory”.

The public are welcome to attend the Service which will be held at 10.30 am on Wednesday 27th July at Gallipoli Barracks, Lloyd Street Enoggera. The Barracks is a secure area and access is by pass only: if attending, please advise your name and contact details to the RAR Association Secretary at [email protected] or ring 3332 5371 (answering service only) or Ron Goodall 0488 183 095 before Monday 25th July.
The RAR Association’s motto is “Keeping the Spirit Alive”.

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