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New Zealand in the Korean War

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25 pounder guns of the New Zealand Field Battery, Korea 1951

The involvement of New Zealand in the Korean War began in 1950 as a response to the United Nations Security Council's call for combat assistance in the erupting Korean War. New Zealand was one of the first (of a total of sixteen) nations to respond with support. [1]

The Korean War lasted from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, however New Zealand forces remained in a reduced capacity until final troops were withdrawn in 1957.[2]

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On 29 June 1950, just four days after 135,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in Korea, the New Zealand government ordered two Loch class frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy – Tutira and Pukaki – to prepare to make for Korean waters, and for the whole of the war, at least two NZ vessels would be on station in the theatre.[1][3]

16th New Zealand Field Artillery Regiment soldiers ride in an LPOP

On 3 July, these two first ships left Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and joined other Commonwealth forces at Sasebo, Japan, on 2 August.[1] These vessels served under the command of a British flag officer (seemingly Flag Officer, Second-in-Command, Far East Fleet) and formed part of the US Navy screening force during the Battle of Inchon, performing shore raids and inland bombardment.[4] Further RNZN Loch class frigates joined these later – Rotoiti, Hawea, Taupo and Kaniere, as well as a number of smaller craft. Only one RNZN sailor, Able Seaman R.E. Marchioni, was killed throughout the conflict; during a raid on Sogon-ni on 26 August 1951 with HMNZS Rotoiti.

Kayforce

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Eating on a Korean hill side, with their 25 pounder gun in the background, are Kayforce Gunners H. A. Milne, L. D. Rankine, D. N. Forsyth, and M. H. Mains.

After some debate, on 26 July 1950, the Government of New Zealand announced it would raise a volunteer military force to serve with UN forces in Korea. The idea was opposed initially by the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Keith Stewart, who did not believe the force would be large enough to be self-sufficient. His opposition was ignored and the government raised what was known as Kayforce, 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, a total of 1,056 men.[5]

The force left Wellington on 10 December 1950, arrived at Pusan on New Year's Eve, and on 21 January joined the British 27th Infantry Brigade.[5] The New Zealanders immediately saw combat and spent the next two and a half years taking part in the operations (most notably the Battle of Kapyong and the First Battle of Maryang-san) which led the United Nations forces back to and over the 38th Parallel (with the NZ naval vessels being especially active in the inner Han River estuary), later recapturing Seoul in the process.[3]

Although overshadowed by 16 Field Regiment RNZA's contribution to the 1950–54 Korean War, New Zealand also contributed 10 Company, RNZASC as part of Kayforce. They totalled 408 personnel of all ranks and would serve with distinction in Korea from 1951 until 1956 as part of the 1st Commonwealth Division.[6]

Following the armistice, RNZN deployments continued, together with Army support elements until 1957 as Kayforce was gradually reduced in size. The majority of Kayforce had returned to New Zealand by 1955, though it was not until 27 July 1957 that the last New Zealand soldiers left Korea.[2][7] A single New Zealand military liaison officer on the Commonwealth Liaison Mission, Korea, remained in the country until 1971.[7]

A total of around 6,000 New Zealand soldiers served in the Kayforce and RNZN between 1950-1957.[8] In total forty-five men died during the seven year period of conflict, thirty-three were killed in action.[9] Many were eventually buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea. Other casualties included 79 wounded and 1 taken prisoner. The prisoner, from Cambridge, Waikato, was held in North Korea for eighteen months and repatriated after the armistices. A New Zealander flying with the Royal Australian Air Force was also captured when he was shot down near P'yongyang, and was repatriated at around the same time.[10]

New Zealand soldiers relaxing on post.
Example of the 'Korea Medal' given to New Zealanders who fought in the Korean War.

Notable figures

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  • Driver Maurice Bolton [11]
  • Captain Alan Cull- Kayforce Dentist [11]
  • Second Lieutenant Dennis Fielden [12]
  • Gunner Richard Kemp [12]
  • Gunner Raymond Mulligan [12]

Air forces

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No Royal New Zealand Air Force units were sent to Korea, but a number of New Zealanders flew with other air forces in the conflict. Two men flew Gloster Meteor jets with No. 77 Squadron RAAF; one, Vance Drummond, was shot down and captured. A New Zealand Army artillery lieutenant was attached to a USAF tactical control unit as an observer in light aircraft. New Zealand born Alan Boxer, later a British air marshal, flew B-29 Superfortress missions on USAF attachment. One New Zealander flying in Korea as a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy from HMS Ocean, Cedric Macpherson, was killed on 11 February 1953 when his Hawker Sea Fury was shot down by ground fire. Five New Zealanders took part in Royal Australian Navy missions over Korea from the Australian carrier HMAS Sydney. Some of these pilots were former RNZAF members, others joining directly the British and Australian forces.[13]

Impact & Legacy

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The Korean War was noted to have had an incidental but significant economic impact on New Zealand. On the outbreak of war in 1950, the United States were urged to purchase vast quantities of wool. These large amounts of wool were not for uniforms but strategic stockpiles kept in reserve incase the conflict worsened.[10][14] The New Zealand wool boom skyrocketed New Zealand to the third largest wool producer in the world.[14]

Commemorations to New Zealand service in the Korean War continue today, with the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement in Busan being attended by Prime Minister of the time, John Key and Michael Woodhouse, Veterans’ Affairs Minister.[15] Again, in 2023, marking the 70th anniversary, five veterans and their families travelled to Korea and were hosted for a week. This included a visit to the Korean Demilitarised Zone, Korean War Memorial and the United Nations Memorial Ceremony.[16]

  • New Zealand veterans of the Korean War pay respects at the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War. 2013
    New Zealand veterans of the Korean War pay respects at the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War. 2013
  • Prime Minister John Phillip Key of New Zealand and New Zealand veterans of the Korean War visit the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. 2013
    Prime Minister John Phillip Key of New Zealand and New Zealand veterans of the Korean War visit the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement. 2013
  • John Phillip Key Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Korean veterans of New Zealand visit the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War. 2013
    John Phillip Key Prime Minister of New Zealand and the Korean veterans of New Zealand visit the National Cemetery of Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the Armistice of the Korean War. 2013

In 1989, the inscriptions of the Korean Roll of Honour were added to Auckland War Memorial Museum's Hall of Memories. In 1992 a Korean War Memorial Stone was unveiled in Auckland's Dove-Myer Robinson Park as a gift from the people of South Korea to New Zealand.[17] Then, in 2005 a New Zealand Memorial Korea was opened.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Korean War: Page 3 – The 'first' and 'second' Korean Wars". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Korean War: Page 1 – Introduction". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b Korean Scholarships – Navy Today, Defence Public Relations Unit, Issue 133, 8 June, pp. 14–15
  4. ^ Coalition Air Warfare in the Korean War, 1950–1953: Proceedings, Air Force Historical Foundation Symposium, Andrews AFB, Maryland, May 7–8, 2002, 142 onwards
  5. ^ a b "Korean War: Page 4 – Kayforce joins the conflict". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 9 October 2022.
  6. ^ Morris, Grant John (2012). Wagons of War: A history of 10 transport Company 1951-2011. Massey University. pp. 7–19.
  7. ^ a b "End of the conflict". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 October 2022.
  8. ^ "The National Commemoration for New Zealand's Involvement in the Korean War" (PDF). PUKEAHU NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL PARK. 25 June 2022.
  9. ^ "The Korean War". The New Zealand Military Historical Society. 5 November 2020.
  10. ^ a b "The Impact". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 October 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Tough Love: Kayforce Engagement with the Korean People". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  12. ^ a b c "The Korean War: A Multinational Affair". Auckland War Memorial Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  13. ^ Newton, Dennis, "Kiwis over Korea" article, Fly Past magazine, February 2006, pp. 61–5
  14. ^ a b McGibbon, Ian (20 June 2012). "The wool boom, 1950". Te Ara.
  15. ^ "Veterans' delegation commemorates 60th Anniversary of Korean War Armistice | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  16. ^ a b "The Press". www.thepress.co.nz. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  17. ^ Ringer, Bruce (2014). "Korean War Memorial, Parnell". Manatū Taonga — Ministry for Culture and Heritage.

Further reading

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