KATCOMs – Mini exhibition

Lieutenant Song Sang Seob. Ivor Hele (3 May 1952, red conte crayon, carbon pencil on paper. 55.3 x 38 cm)

Captain Song Sang Seob with Lieutenant Brian Heenan in December 1955, five years after they fought alongside each other at the battle of Kapyong. Heenan was then a corporal in 3RAR and Captain Song was a lieutenant serving as a Korean liaison officer and interpreter with the Australian forces. A portrait of Republic of Korea President Syngman Rhee is in the background

KATCOMs who served with 3RAR were inspected at a special parade on 20 October 1954 before leaving the battalion to join other Commonwealth units in Korea. Brigadier Murdoch, 28 British Commonwealth Brigade Commander inspected the parade before 3RAR returned to Australia.

Grenade training with Privates Jeffrey Ey (left) and Kim Hyo Hyung in February 1955 with 1RAR.

Private Kim Jin Tai and (possibly) Corporal Kevin Power, Assault Pioneers of Support Company, 2RAR sit behind a Vickers .303 medium machine-gun.

Sergeant Bill Eacott helped Kim Si Hwan carry rolls of barbed wire to an outlying defence position on the Kansas Line. Both men are serving with C Company, 1RAR.

Corporal Larry Nelson, a platoon sergeant in 3RAR and Sergeant Jung Yung Hak during a full scale battalion exercise in Korea.

Privates Bernard Bradley and Lee Kla Biak of 1RAR share a cigarette together after a patrol into the demilitarised zone.

There were still Australians in Korea in June 1956. The men of Signal Squadron, Commonwealth Contingent Korea are fulfilling Australia’s contribution to the effort by supplying communications. Signalmen Jack Boehm and Kim Soon Dong try their hand at archery at the Commonwealth camp. MELJ1424

Signals Platoon of 2RAR check wire faults by tapping the wires (left to right): Privates Patrick Brook, Kimg Chung Koo of Suwon and Norm Morrissey.

Private Lee Kyoo Bong gets a 2-inch mortar lesson from Private Ray Garwood of D Company, 2RAR who stays his hand.

Privates James Clark, Lee Tok Yong of Suwon and Aub Coverley clean their section Bren gun in front of the dugout in May 1953.

Following army tradition, enlisted men of 2RAR were served Christmas dinner by their non-commissioned officers. A well laid placement for each soldier was prepared, including an initial bottle of beer per man. Several KATCOMs are sitting amongst the Australians.

An unidentified Australian from 2RAR laughs with two smiling KATCOMs as they share a meal on Christmas Day 1953.

Informal portrait of Choi Dong Chul, sitting outside a tent holding a toy dog wearing a slouch hat and uniform. Choi is a KATCOM attached to the Support Company, 2RAR as an Assault Pioneer.

Ten feet underground in a bunker on the Kansas Line, Second Lieutenant John Black (centre) gives instructions to Sergeant Pak Hoon Sout and Corporal Mervyn Denney from 1RAR in 1955. Sout served with the Australian unit for two years.

Corporal Pak In Chool receives instructions from Corporal William Strutton while guarding the barrier leading into the Demilitarised Zone.

B Company, 2RAR having their lunch in May 1953. Pictured (left to right): Corporal Fred Kirkland and Privates Cha Bok Hyung and Dennis Ryan.

Kim Dong Sool of Pusan has been with Australian forces for four years. Here he translates news items from Korean papers to Private Dudley Kipping in March 1955. Kipping is serving with 1RAR, but previously served with 3RAR in 1951 and 1952.