KATCOMs – Mini exhibition
Over 100 Republic of Korea (ROK) soldiers were embedded within each Australian battalion from 1953 as part of the KATCOM (Korean Augmentation to Commonwealth Division) scheme. They served side by side with Australian soldiers, wore Australian Army uniforms, ate the same rations and carried the same weapons. Over 1,000 were attached to the Australian, New Zealand, British and Canadian armies. They received 16 weeks of basic training with the ROK Army and continued to be paid by them while serving as KATCOMs.
On 28 March 1953, the 2nd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) received 120 KATCOMs. The same month, 3RAR received 100 KATCOMs. Over the four months they were attached to Australian units (before the Korean armistice agreement was signed on 27 July 1953) the KATCOMs suffered over 20 casualties, including three killed in action and one captured. They continued to serve with the Australians in 1RAR and other units in the post-Armistice period until 1956.
The KATCOM scheme was based on KATUSA (Korean Augmentation to the United States Army), which began in August 1950 shortly after the outbreak of war as a verbal agreement between General Douglas MacArthur and South Korean President Syngman Rhee. The KATUSA program still runs today out of Camp Casey near Uijeongbu.
The aim of the program was to create an exchange of information and training between the different countries. Koreans learned Western military tactics and weaponry and improved their English, while the Australians learned some Korean and gained the ability to distinguish their allies from enemy troops. The KATCOMs bolstered battalion numbers and provided knowledge of Korean geography and culture. They served and died alongside their Australian comrades.
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.
KATCOM Casualties
Date |
Service Number |
Name |
Unit |
Fate |
Details |
15 May 1953 |
9371777 |
Kong Wan Young |
2RAR |
KIA |
Strayed from patrol |
24 May 1953 |
9371011 |
Youn Ok Dong |
2RAR |
MIA |
Captured by Chinese PLA on patrol |
7 June 1953 |
9371886 |
Lee San Yang |
2RAR |
WIA |
Artillery |
7 June 1953 |
9368358 |
Song Joong Hyun |
2RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
7 June 1953 |
9370710 |
Pan Sun Dong |
2RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
7 June 1953 |
9346953 |
Kim Yong Gook |
2RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
19 July 1953 |
9371635 |
Lee Jong Sam |
2RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
20 July 1953 |
9371757 |
Rashi Yong |
2RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
25 July 1953 |
9371734 |
Pak Sang Kyoo |
2RAR |
WIA |
Artillery |
25 July 1953 |
9371815 |
Son Joong Ok |
2RAR |
WIA |
Artillery |
4 April 1953 |
9369263 |
Kim Wan Kon |
3RAR |
WIA |
Accidentally wounded by grenade |
4 April 1953 |
9369428 |
Kim Sang Choul |
3RAR |
WIA |
Accidentally wounded by grenade |
8 May 1953 |
9369020 |
Lim Seaung Hwi |
3RAR |
WIA |
Shelling |
13 May 1953 |
9369814 |
Oh Kil Hyon |
3RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
13 May 1953 |
9251442 |
Kim Hong Dae |
3RAR |
KIA |
|
15 May 1953 |
9233800 |
Kim Suk Ahm |
3RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
25 May 1953 |
9369633 |
Huang in Kwan |
3RAR |
WIA |
On patrol |
11 June 1953 |
|
Un-named |
3RAR |
KIA |
Minefield during Op. Polecat |
18 June 1953 |
|
Un-named |
3RAR |
WIA |
Mortar |
30 June 1953 |
936963 |
Kim Yung Soon |
3RAR |
WIA |
Artillery drop short |
9 July 1953 |
9233768 |
Lee Jin Ho |
3RAR |
WIA |
On patrol |