6/352 CFN Hutchinson G.O. R.A.E.M.E. 4 R.A.R.

Memories of Korea

Having volunteered for active war service in Korea February 1952 and after being pumped full of needles, a weeks final leave in Hobart. Being included in a group of seventeen army personnel we left Mascot Airport Saturday 16^th February 1952 by Qantas Empire airways flight number V.H.E.B.M. We were given a one American dollar bill (from our pay books), some of us had an extra few Australian notes and coins. Last port of call Darwin 17.2.52. Manila overnight. Troops drank the plane dry between stops. Crossed over the equator 04.24 hours 17^th February. Deplaned Iwakuni 18^th February. To Kure by launch. R.H.W. Hiro Camp two days then British Commonwealth Advanced Workshops Kure. I cannot recall seeing any of the other 14 boys again (three of us transferred workshops). Left Kure for Korea R.A.A.F. D.C.3 17^.3.52 (butterflies in the stomach flying to Korea? Yes I certainly had them). Kimpo Airfield same day. Truck to Seoul railway station, train to Wijongbu. Across the Imjim River (Pintail Crossing) (Pontoon crossing). To 3 R.A.R. by truck. Seoul a great sign do not drink the local whisky, city in ruins no transport except army vehicles, one only, damaged bridge across the Hann River. On returning to Seoul 1995 what a change. High rise buildings, over ten million people, main roads four lanes either way, flower gardens lined the highways, traffic bumper to bumper, over twenty bridges across the Hann River, Kimpo modern airport not the mud runways with steel gratings, as in 1952. Roads 1952 Bullock tracks from Seoul to the North well in all directions. Summer dusty, winter, mud, ice, snow. Mine fields both sides of many roads. 1995 modern highways and bridges 9but some highways and bridges are mined still today in case of invasion). Housing consisted of straw, cardboard and whatever the locals could find. Bullocks used for farmwork. 1995 modern homes and machines for farmwork.

Living Conditions

Tents, hootchies. Petrol choofers for heating if you could scrounge one. Sumer over 100ºF, dusty wet season. Clothing wet most of the time. Unable to leave area at times due to flooding. Winter as low as forty degrees below zero. Skin sticks to metal objects. Tank tracks frozen to the ground. Engine blocks cracked, batteries frozen (bloody cold). Freezing winds from the north.

Clothing

Issued with British winter clothing. Hiro Japan very little clothing issued. Otherwise grease and oil stained clothes washed in petrol. Underclothing some never saw water for months. Showers? River wash sometimes.

Food

C Rations. I can not recall what cooked meals consisted of but a lot of turkey. Managed to shoot a pheasant, cooked in butter shared by tent crew. Shot a few pheasants only to be lost to minefields.

Vehicles and arms

Rebuilt second world war jeeps and trucks, British Bedford QL trucks, 1200 miles per vehicle maxim (if not destroyed by enemy or accidents). Arms mainly second world war.

Veterans

Consisted many second world war diggers and raw recruits (some officers Duntroon). In general a great bunch of boys but like worldwide the odd nigger in the wood pile.

My Leave

Tokyo 30.6.52 returned to Korea 6.7.52 (flew to and from by Globemaster USA AF) Tokyo 17.12.52 returned to Korea 8.1.53 Japan was heaved compared with Korea.

Finally left Korea 24.3.53 aboard the New Australia. I called in to Kure, Brisbane 6.4.53, Sydney 8.4.53, 15 days travel. Compared with eleven hours by air 1995.

My thoughts on Korea

Firstly I often think why did I join the army, why did I volunteer for Korea. But I would do it again for the mateship and good times one will never forget the boys.

What did I get from my revisit to Korea. Peace of mind by revisiting and paying my respects to all those we left behind and paying the respects of all Korean Veterans for Aussie.

Lest we Forget

PS This has certainly bought back many memories.

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This page was last modified on 14 May 2000.