Kammermann, Harry McDonald (Private, 2nd Bn RAR, b.1930)

Collection relating to the Korean War service of 4/400189 Private Harry McDonald Kammermann, 2 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR), Korea and Australia, 1952-1954.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Collection contains a pencil drawing on 2RAR stationary of The Hook region showing important features and positions and an unpublished, handwritten memoir entitled, 'Bob Menzies 2 Year Tourists' by Harry McDonald Kammerman. In his memoir, Kammermann recalls embarking from Sydney for Japan, sightseeing in Hong Kong, arriving at Iwakini in Japan for intensive training, waiting at a transit camp for transport to the front lines, visiting Tankgok war cemetery, the first night he went on patrol, the action for which Sergeant William James Bruce was awarded the Military Medal, the recovery of Corporal Alan Smith's body, the problem of minefields on patrol, Chinese propaganda, fighting conditions at the Battle of the Hook, peace talks at Panmanjon, the use of napalm and phosphorous munitions, the death of 1/400592 Private Francis Clarence McDonnell and 4/1172 Private Leon John Leger Dawes, the ceasefire agreement, the evacuation of the demilitarized zone, and recreational leave in Tokyo. The memoir concludes with a brief history of the Korean War, two poems including 'At the Going Down of the Sun' and Laurence Binyon's 'The Ode', and a nominal roll of casualties.

Collection also contains papers relating to Private Kammermann’s military service including 2RAR’s intelligence reports for 18 July 1953 and 21 July 1953, a leave pass, a meal ticket, and a disembarkation card for Hong Kong, a certificate issued to Private Kammerman for successful completion of basic military training, a discharge procedure form, and an invitation to a civic reception held in honour of veterans of the Korean War.

Collection also contains a photocopy of an article entitled “Last hours of the Korean War” that was written by Kammermann and published in The West Coast Sentinel in 1983 on the 30th anniversary of the Korean War. In the article, he describes the circumstances that led to the death of 4/1172 Leon John Leger Dawes at the Battle of the Samichon River or “The Hook”. This article is republished by courtesy of Australian Community Media and The West Coast Sentinel https://www.westcoastsentinel.com.au/

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Memoir entitled 'Bob Menzies Two Year Tourists' by Harry McDonald Kammermann