Korea

Discussion in 'Other Conflicts' started by Cobber, Mar 14, 2009.

  1. Cobber

    Cobber New Member

    G'day new to site so I hope this is a appropriate post and is also hopefully in the right place.

    A poem.
    Written by, Private P.J Paterson 5 Platoon B Coy 1st Battalion RAR =(1RAR)
    Korean War Infantry veteran March 1952-1953.
    He is the nephew of the Australian bush poet Henry (Banjo) Paterson.

    So long, Digger
    We're off to Aussie Fella
    And we hate to leave you here,
    Gawd we didn't think we would 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's it's happened
    That you'll march with us no more,
    That your've 'grounded arms' forever
    And have fought your last cruel war.

    Yes, Were going back to Aussie Mate
    And were 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 there proudly
    Knowing you are marching too,
    Yes, You'll always march beside us,
    And when our time is through
    We'll muster on that 'last parade',
    To march again with you.
     
  2. Keith

    Keith New Member

    Hi Cobber,
    Good'n you for the new thread.

    A story that may ammuse.

    It was Feb 1950, having completed our basic training, voluteers were asked to take an extra two week course to equip us with the skills needed for service in Korea.

    Having completed this I was posted as an admin waller to the depths of darkest Dorset, The RAPC Depot in Piddlehinton.

    There I languished for a couple of months doing admin duties.

    One day my C.O. came over to me and said, " did you do the overseas training course at the Depot", I said "Yes, Sir".
    "Was it the course for Korea" he asked, "Yes, Sir" I replied.

    "Bloody Hell", he said, " you should have gone two weeks ago, never mind,
    can you use a typewriter ?

    I replied, " well I plodded out some Pt. I Orders during training. with two fingers", ( much the same as I still do today.)
    "OK", he says, "that settles it then, you're off to Austria tommorrow to fill a position of confidential orderly, to the CO of a unit in Klagenfurt.
    So entering the best three years of my life

    I feel I was fortunate in having my youthful ambitions thwarted.

    Cheers
    Keith
     
  3. Cobber

    Cobber New Member

    Fortunate indeed, 1951 was a hard time for UN troops, the end of a war of movement into a war of Trenches and raids and patrols in no mans land. In weather conditions that jumped from -20 in winter to 40 in summer.

    Though you did miss out on serving in the first and only 1st Commonwealth Div.
    One of the best Divisions in the UN force. The relationship between the Commonwealth forces was far and beyond what anyone thought it would be.


    From the mouth of a USA Marine General commanding 1st marine Div in 1952/53
    "When i go to sleep at night i know two (2) things will remain absolute constant when i wake in the morning, on my left flank, there will allways be the ocean."
    "On my right flank, I have the Australians, and the Commonwealth Division."
     

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