Ronald Kenneth Cashman MM as a private rifleman, later corporal section commander B Company 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), Korea 1951-1953, interviewed by Bill Fogarty

Cashman speaks of his service background and experience as well as training; his postings in B Company 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment of 28th Brigade of the 1st Commonwealth Division; his initial reactions to the operational environment in Korea, October 1951; the circumstances leading up to his being wounded (Cashman was only in Korea three weeks when he was hit by an exploding grenade while out on a section patrol), being sent to the British Military Hospital in Kure Japan; his involvement in the action with 6 Platoon B Company near Hill 317 (Maryang San) on November 1951; living conditions in the line - rations and cooking, clothing and equipment; the climatic conditions; the Chinese Army's tactics, weapons and equipment; Christmas 1951 on the Imjin River; being rescued by the 8th Hussars; going back to 'The Hook'; the cold weather; being shelled at 'Castle Hill'; the new issue of winter clothing; patrolling in winter - defence and the ambush in static warfare; signing up for a second tour but taking leave in Australia first; return to B Company of the battalion in Korea in early 1952 having been promoted to corporal; the responsibilities of being a rifle section commander including leading section patrols; patrolling by night, with tactical problems, in front of the forward defences; the assimilation of reinforcements; the morale of the section platoon and company as well as leadership in the company; the combat effectiveness of the British battalions of 28th Brigade at the Battle of the Imjin and the attack on Hill 317 (Maryang San); the patrol of 24 June 1953 near Hill 159 when his platoon commander was wounded whereupon he lead an assault and evacuated a wounded comrade (for these actions he was awarded the Military Medal); being ordered to lead a three-man patrol on to Chinese-held features near 'The Hook' but being unable to participate due to illness; handing his platoon over to Lieutenant Weaver; evacuation and return to Australia in time for his 21st birthday.