MILITARY MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 174

THE KOREAN WAR

1950-53
 EDITOR, MARTIN WINDROW

~
MILITARY MEN-AT-ARMS SERIES 174
THE KOREAN WAR
1950-53
Text by
NIGEL THOMAS
and PETER ABBOTT
Colour plates by
MIKE CHAPPELL
First published in Great Britain in 1986
by Osprey, an imprint of Reed Consumer Boob UmHed
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and Auddand, Melbourne, Sinppore and Toronto
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Acknowledgements
A work such as this would not have been possible
without the generous hdp of others. Special thanks
are due to Mikt Cox, Shelby Stanton, Y. C. ChOC'
Korean \'etC'rans' Association, LC'e Russell, and Col.
Arnall OLl, ReI. . WC' would also like to thank
LLCoI. Ret. L. Turcoll Royal 22~ Regt. " Ted
Zuber, W. A. B. Douglass Canadian Defense HQI.
John Scurr, P. J. Bume\'S {Au...tralan War ,\kmorial .
Shaun Bland. Lt.CoI. H. L. Zwitzer Royal ;'\eth-
erlands Army, Pitm: C. T. \'trheye,J. Ludrikscn
R.No.A.F. , Capt. Togas Hellenic ;\'a\)' ,Col. M.
S.Okcay Turkish Army J, Offict of Military History
US:\IC,J. Anker Xidsen Royal Danish Embassy
and Capt. H. Stradiot Belgian Na\·YJ.

Brituh L1.bru'Y Colologu/1Ig In PubllCatJon Doto

Nigel Thomas and Abbott, Peter

The Korean War 1950-53. (~ilen.at·arms series; 1]4
I. Korean War, 1950 1953
I. Title II. Thomas, Nigel. 19.fi- Ill. Series
951.9'O.P 05918

Filrnsct in Great Britain

Printed through Bookbuildcrs Ltd, Hong Kong
 The Korean flir 1950 -53

i\lacArthur to command UN forces \\ hich would be

Tlte COIII:ie oftlte IMr sent to sa\"e South Korea. The Soviet Union, which
had been boycotting UN meetings, missed the
The Korean peninsula, 450 miles long and chance to veto the decision.
a,·craging 160 miles \\idc, is about the size ofCrcat ~Ieanwhile, the :"orth Koreans advanced relent-
Britain or Southern California. Some 3,000 small lessly southwards; a mob of refugees and disorien-
islands ring the coast; and the Yalu and Tumen tated RJJK troops ned before them, choking roads
Ri\ers separate it from the People's Republic of already turned into quagmires by the monsoon. On
China and the Soviet Union. The countryside is '27 June the ilwaders took Seoul; on 5 July they
moslly forest, and the Tacbaek moulllain range
fonns a central spine dose to the cast coast. J n Th~collollli .. mm<r.r ..airorrn or. Norlh Ko""," KPA corporal
meddled by a Japi"'~H ~mplo)"" orthe US Army i.aJu.ly '933'
summer there is blinding heat, choking dust and co"'pa~ with Plal~ A,. Thill ill th~ n1rli<r.r 1Ilyle, _;th 1_-.
pock<r. _riSI band... The delachahle lIh_ld~r board.. ~
monsoon thundcrstonns; in winter, bitter cold. olj~·., ~ pi~ .-ed, _ilh lold ba...... NOlI! Ih~ ial<r.r<r.Iiu"'!;
.,..,~ ..-..d.I",,"""r p<r.nIOnal e<juipm"'al. (US Army ,-i.a Leo:-
Korea, the isolated °hcnnit kingdom' inhabited RUliSeU)
by a Buddhist people related racially to the
Japanese and ~Ianchurians, was occupied by
Imperial Japan after August 1910. In 1943 the
Allies promised Korea independence; and in
August 1945 Japant'SC troops north of the
arbitrarily chosen 38th Parallel surrendered to
Soviet occupying forces, and those in the south to
the US Army. Thereafter the Soviet-American
'Cold War' intensified; in August [948 President
Syngman Rhee proclaimed the 'Republic of Korea'
('ROK') on behalf of '21 million South Koreans,
followed in September by the declaration of
President Kim II-Sung's Communist 'Democratic
Republic of Korea' for nine million North Koreans.
Both states claimed sole legitimacy over all Korea,
leading to considerable mutual suspicion and
border tension.
At 4 am (Korean time) on Sunday 25June 1950
powerful North Korean forces invaded South
Korea, advancing down the Uijongbu Corridor,
the historic invasion route, towards the Southern
capital of Seoul, in a determined attempt to reunite
Korea by force. ROK troops resisted bravely, but
were crushed by o\"ef\\ helming :"orthern superi-
ority. Later that day the United Nations Security
Council condemned the aggression, and on 7 July
appointed US Ceneral of the Army Doug-las
3
 brushed aside a token rorce or us troops at Osan;
and 011 20 July they crushed a more determim·d
stand at Taejon. US reinrorcements were now
pouring in and, with ROK troops, they established
a 200-mile derensive line in south-castern Korea,
around the port or Pusan.
The BatLie or the Pusan Perimeter began on I
August as US rorccs (now designated the 8th Army)
and ROK troops defended an area 80 miles long
by 50 miles wide. The North Koreans mistakenly
deployed their rorccs along the entire perimeter
instead or concentrating them ror a definitive
breakthrough. Although they did make some
advances, they were always repulsed. On 28 August
British troops-the first orman) UI\' contingents
arri,-ed in the perimeler; North Korean pressure
eased as UN aircrart bombed theirsupply-lines, and
local peasants \\ithhcld rood. By 14 Seplember the
U~ had won the baHle, and the initiati"e now lay
with the 8th Arm).
On 15 September 1950 a US amphibious rorce
from Japan Slormed ashore on the west coast at
Inchon, and II days later recaptured SeouJ against
heavy North Korean resistance. ~(eanwhile, on 16
September, US/ROK troops burst out orthe Pusan
Peri meier in scveral directions; a mobile force
stormed north·\\cstwards and linked up with S
rorccs at Seoul on the 26th, Ihereby Irapping
considerable numbers orenemy troops in the South.
By go September organised North Korean re-
sistance in South Korea was practically over. Now
the UN, artcr initial hesitation, mandated
MacArthur to invade North Korea. UN troops
advanced in the wcst, capturing the North Korean
A lypic:ally idealised painl;ng showing K;n. II-Sung sur-
rounded by admiring KI'A lroop'"
~
••
.
_ _ _....,
KCl
capital of P'yongyang on 19 October, while ROK
forces pressed rorward in the cast, actually reaching
Ihe Chinese border on 26 OCIOber. JUSI as North
Korea, her territory now reduced 10 frontier
encla\es in the north-west and north-easl, seemed
doomed, Chinese forces intervened on 14 October;
they coullIer-attacked sirongly in the north-west,
forcing the 1'01 advance 10 a standstill as Ihe cruel
North Korean winter began to break.
On 24 November ~lacArlhur launched the finaJ
offensive against North Korea; but the very next
day his central rrOllt collapsed, as massive Chinese
forces broke through and advanced southwards.
Now N rorces began a fighting retreat through
blizzards and across rrozcn rivers out or North
Korea; and it was not until mid-December that
they were able to organise a derensive linc roughly
on the 38th Parallel, where they braced themselves
for the expected offensive by Chincse and new
North Korean divisions. Meanwhile, UN troops
marooned in north-eastern Nonh Korea executed a
classic fighting retreat to the coast at Hungnam,
whence the US Navy evacuated them to South
Korea.
The end or 1950 saw the conclusion of this first
phase or the war: mobile warrare characterised by
spectacular offensivcs alternating with apparcntly
hopeless retreats. Chincse involvement meant that
outright victory was now unattainable ror either
side, but the prospect or defeat was also unthink-
able. As the vaslmanpower orChina confronted the
almosl unlimitt-d firepower of the United Nat..ions,
the conflict degeneraled into a static warorattrition
centred on the 38th Parallel.
 ..
'-- ".
---
\
-.ouT" KoMA
_... ..
...,-- ",
At dawn on New Year"s Day 1951 the
CommunisLS attacked all along the frollt, forcing
L:;\I troops back. $coul was abandoned once more;
but on IsJanuary the [ront stabilised, in appalling
snowstorms, 40 miles 50mh of the capital. On 25
January UN forces began a cautious advance;
repelled a Chinese cOUllIeT-attack on II February;
and pushed fon\'ard rclcmlessly U1l1il '21 April, as
exhausted Communist units retreated before lhem.
S), laiC February the thaw had transformed the
countryside into a sea of mud, but on 15 ~Iarch
$coul was retaken once .again, and the border into
Xorth Korea was crossed. Then, on I I April,
President Truman abruptly dismissed Cen.
r..lacArthur over 'political differences' and appoin-
l{'d Gen. Ridg"way as UN/ROK Commander.
On 22 April 1951 the Communists began their
'First Spring Offensive', breaching UN lines in the
central sector, and forcing a retreat to a new line
north of Seoul. By 30 April the attack was spent,
and the Ui\' edged forward before taking the full
force of tile 'Second Spring oncnsivc' on 16 May,
which again ruptured the central sector, but which
was contained after a limited retreat in the east.
Now the UN advanced, determined on a strategy to
carry the battle into North Korca, but not to
attempt another full-scale invasion. By loj une they
had established a line 20 miles above the 38th
Parallel, astride the crucial enemy supply and
communications centre calk'd the 'Iron Triangle'.
On 23 june Jacob ~Ialik, the Soviet Deputy
Foreign ~tinister, proposed a ceascfire; and on 10
july talks opened at Kacsong, in 'No ~fan's Land'
just north of Seoul. In amjcipation of an imminent
agreement, fighting was restrictcd to patl'Oliing and
local skirmishes; but when talks broke down at the
end of August the UN recommenced the offensive,
making valuable gains before discussions resumed
on 25 October at Panmunjom, ncar Kaesong.
In :\'ovcmber 1951 the war re.ached its third and
final phasc-stalcmate. While talks continued the
UN ceased activc opcrations and maintained a
static defence linc with minimum casualties, while
continuing air attacks on enemy communications
and naval bombar<lmclH of North Korean ports.
On the ground, action was limited to patrolling,
regimental-size engagements, and artillery bar-
rages. This continued until ).,Iay 195'2, when the
Chinese became more aggressive, escalating their
own artillery fire and in june launching an
unsuccessful attempt to breach the central sector.
By july 195'2 both armies had constructed such
strong defensive lines that neither side could
undertake a major offensive without incurring
unacceptable losses. The Communists therefore
sent infant!) supported b) artillery and tanks
against tactically important hills along the UN line
in the so-called 'Battle of the Outposts'. These
attacks often succeeded initially, but the UN
usually rctook Ihe hills, although not without
significant losses. UN and ROK forces retaliated
with surprise raids, and these skirmishes intensified
into heavy fighting untillhe onset of winter brought
them to a halt. In t\farch 1953 the 'Final Battles'
commenced with a Chinese attack in the west,
followed by heavy pressure on the celllral sector in
june and July, forcing UN lines back three miles.
'Sociatilll r",al;"m' in war arl: a Norlh Korean painling
5hQwin8 'valiant KPA lioldi",n' in hand.lo-hand combal wilh
'br.. lal impcriatilllll' of Ih", US 71h Di .. illion.
5
 Finally, on 27 July [953, the long-awaited
Armistice wassigncd at Panmunjom, and the threc-
year-old Korean \Var was ovcr.
The Armistice len the Western dcmocracies with
a scnse of anticlimax. North and South Korea were
utlcrly dcvastatcd, totally dependent on the USSR
or the United States for economic sun..ivaL
Casualties had been unexpectedly high: 8-1-,000
UNjROK, 140,000 Chinese and NOflh Koreans,
and two million civilians, all dead. And yel the war
had brought real achie\-ements and changes. The
People's Republic of China took its placc as a world
power. China and Ihe Olhcr Communist states were
exposed as aggrcssive, ruthless, formidable, bUI nOl
im-inciblc, opponents, brttding in Ihe Wesl a sense
of insecurily that led 10 a strenglhening of the
NATO alliance,' and a reliance on Ihe deterrent
LL~ N.... II (<<n'rejl_di.s,h", d",I'"I-uoa ofNonh Ko..-n
effect of nuclear \\eapons \\ hich man) beLie\-e to be ....t Ooin.".., IInI",ral•• l d'''' Arm.iluice T.I.... in jllly '95'l= cf.
eXCCSSI\'e, . PI"I'" A3 for lIeneral ch.raCl,"ri~tiQof KPA office • Wlifonn.
A. '~...I"'l-'-" th", sreea-dad Chi."'.... folio...·...0 1 P.LA.
South Korean independence had been succcss- practice in KOral in "'_ri"l1 "0 m.m..ry i ..",ipia.
fully defended; but this achievemelll, and the
heroism and sacrifice oflhe UN ROK forces, now JIm A-un' was established on 8 February 194-8
seem to pale before the shining triumphs of the from fanner guerrilla units and the Korean
Second World War and the stark tragedy of VolulltCf:r Corps Korean Communists in Ihe
Vietnam. This continuing sense of anticlimax is Chinese People's Liberation Army. By December
prcscn'cd today at Pamnunjom where, 22 years 19-1-8 Soviel Iroops had officially left, but 'ad\;scrs'
afler the Armistice, the opposing sidl'S still argue remained; \\hile Ihe ;"Iaoist guerrilla model was
about the agenda of the future Peace Confcrence. rejected in fa\'our of Soviel mililary organisation,
sub\'crsion and border raids cominued against
South Korea.
In June 19So the 223,oBo-strong KPA was
ortll
.L \ KOt"erI organised into ten In(;1I1tr)' Di\isions, each wilh
three thre~>battalion regiments, an al'tillcry regi-
One of the guerrilla leaders opposing the [931 ment (three [2-gun battalions), a self-propelled gun
Japanese invasion of China was the young Korean battalion ([ 2 5U-76s) and services, totalling 12,092
Communist Kim II-Sung (formerly Kim Sung men. Some 102,000 served in olher units. The K PA
Chu), who in 1930 had formed the Korean People's order of battle wa~:
Revolutionary Army in China. On 25 April 1932 1st Div. (HQ Sinmak) .. 20, 22, 24 Inr.ReglS.
this combined with other nationalist groups in the (one regt. cx-PLA)
Anti~apanesc Guerrilla Amy operating on the 2nd Di\'. (HQ Wonsan) ... 4, 6, t7 Inr.Regts.
Manchuria-Korea border. Captured in '9-1-0, Kim 3rd Guards Div. (HQ Wonsan) ... 7,8,9 Inr.Regts.
escaped to the Soviet Union in [9.' [, returning in 4th Div. (HQChangnyoll ... S' [6, t8Inr.Regts.
19-1-5 as a Soviet AmlY 11ajor to the Soviet Zone of (one regt. ex-PLA
Korea (already under local nationalist control,. By Sth Di\'. 1-IQi'\amhllng) ... [0, [', Illnf.Regts.
February 19-1-6 Kim and his tso,ooo-strong ex-PLA ,6-1-th Oi\.
People's ~lilitia had taken po\ver; and in Septem- 6th Oiv. HQSariwon ... 13, 1.1, 15 Inr.Regts.
ber 19,18 he became President of the new cx-PLA l66th Di\".
Democratic People's Republic of Korea. 7th Di\'. HQHaeju ... 1,2,3Inr.RcgIS. ex-PLA.
The KI'.-\ Korean Peoplc's Army Cho-~iJn In- 139. 110. 1.11. IS6Di\".
6
 _T~ olQIOU~ 1~'4~'~' "'.,,_
..-. I....
loth Div. (I-IQ Unsanni) ... 25, 27, 29 Inf.Regts.
(formed March 1950)
[3th Div. (HQChonju) ... 19,2[,23 Inf.Regts.
(formed J lllle [950)
15th Div. (I-IQ Yongdaeri) ... 45,48, 50 Inf.Regts.
(formed March 1950)
105lh Armd.Bde. .. 1°7, log, 203 Regts. 206
~1('ch.Jllr. each with 40 T-34/85 tanks)
Other units were the 122 mm Artillery Reg!.
1,300 men; Ami-Aircraft Artiller) Regts. 1,200;
603rd i\lotorcycle Reconnaissance Regt. 13,500 ;
the Engineer Brigade (2,500 ,; Signal Regt. 1,000;
1st and 2nd ~tilitary Academies 4.000; Guerrilla
and Commando Forces (2,500 ; Internal Security
34,000 ; and other forces '5,700. There was also
a Navy (13,700), Air Force (2,000: and i\larines
9,000 . The ~Iillistry of the Interior controlled the
19,ooo-strong Border Constabulary (80 A" Doe)
with five brigades (1-3, 5,7) each with six to seven
battalions, formed from Koreans originally living in
the Soviet Union.
The KPA commander was Gen. Choi Yung Kun
under the Supreme Commander, Ficld Marshal
Kim II-Sung. KPA generals were battlc-hardened
China veterans, skilled in Soviet-style mobile
warfare, leading weB-armed, disciplined and
motivated troops who were initially more than a
match for the lightly-armed South Koreans.
For the invasion, scven combat-ready divisions
were grouped into a ;Front' equh'alent to a
Western AnnYI under Gen. Kim Chaek, control-
lingtwo'Annies' ArmyCorp": IstAnny Ist,3rd,
.. th, 6th Divs., 105th Annd.Bdt". , and 2nd Arm)
,md, jth, 7th Divs.. 1st Army swiftl) o\crran the
@ --
exposed Ongjin Peninsula and sent 3rd and 4th
Divs. and 105th Bde. to occupy Seoul; whilc 'md
Army advanced in the cast, rcinforced by 886th
Commando and 549th Marine units, and 766th
Commando unit landed on the coast behind ROK
lines.
After the fall of Seoul the formations werc
re-organi.·.ed. 3rd and 4th Div<;. r-aeh received Ihe
honour-title 'Scoul Division', and 105th Brigadc
became the JO;th 'Seoul' Armoured Division,
adding the 308th SPG Bn. to its strength. On 2Jul~
7th Oiv. was redesignated 12th 'Antung' Div.; 7th
&rdCT Bele. was cxpanded to become the new 7th
Div.; 8th Div. was activated; 9th Di\. Ist-jrd
&rdcT Regts. was raised from 3rd &rder Bele.,
and I mh, 13th and I ;th Divs. were mobilised.
When the seemingly irresistible KPA was finally
stopped on the Pusan Perimeter, time began to
work against the North Koreans; their over-
stretched supply-lines were vulnerable, and thcir
besl units werc commincd on the Perimeter, leaving
their homeland dangerously exposed. The I st Army
in lhc west (2 4,th, 6th, 7lh, 9th, loth, 10;lh Divs.)
and 2nd Army in the north (1st, ;th, 8th, t2th,
13th, 15lh Divs.) battered the UN lines, but by mid-
September their oflcnsive had run Olll of steam.
The 9th Div. rushed rrom Pusan tojoin the 18th
Div. and 549th ~tarines in opposing the Inchon
landing; but Seoul soon fcll, cutting ofl'supplies to
the south. The 1st Army was smashed b) US Di\os.
advancing westwards, while 2nd Army managed to
retreat northwards berore coUapsing. Some units
continued toopcrate as guerrillas in nonhern South
Korea; and 30,000 demoralised stragglers fled into
North Korea with US/ROK forces in hot pursuit. A
7
Weary ROK IrOOp_Ole VUren>e )"OUlh Dr ...Iwer ill lefl
«"Ire--n>aki.o~their .....)' i,uo British liDo afler the Cttin~
bra<lnhroullh in Ihe ofrenJih"e Dr lale '950- S- Plale B.
(Impe.rial War MuSo!tun1)
tempo•.uy dcfcnsivc linc \\'as establishcd to cover
P'yongyang with scven divisions including some
newly designated formations (9th, 14th, 17th, 18th,
31st, 3~.md, 4~md and one other), while three (1st,
249th, and one othcr) fought in the easl; but on 19
October the capital fell, and Kim II-Sung fled to
Sinuiju on the Yalu. The KI)A had lost 335,000
men, and thc survivors were sheltering on the
Chinese bordcr.
Now the Chinese PLA intervcned to save North
Korea. A Combined Headquarters was established
at Mukden, Manchuria, with Kim II-Sung as
nominal Commander-in-Chief but with the Chin-
ese holding the real power. The KPA was
re-organised with amazing speed, and by early
December there were foul' armies: in the west [st
Army (105th Annd., [7th, 47th Divs.) and 5th
Army (3rd, 4th 7th, 9th 42nd); and in thc east 2nd
Army (2nd, 6th, loth, 31st Divs.) and 3rd Army
(8th, 18th). Appearances were deceptive, however,
for 1st Army, with only 19,800 men, was equivalent
to a division. As the rebuilt KPA pushed
southwards with the Chinese, 20,000 fonner 2nd
8
Army Iroops operated behind UN lines, disrupting
the UN retreat. By the end of 1950 all North Korea
had returned 10 Communist control.
In the 1951 New Year offensivc 1st Army 8th,
17th i\lcd., 47th Divs. and 51h Anny 6th,7th,
13th, 32nd, 43rd) helped relake Seoul; but the main
effort was in Ihe cast, opposing less formidable
ROK forces. 3rd Army (1st, 3rd, 5th Divs.) stayed
in reserve, bUI2nd Army (2nd, 31'd, 91h, loth, 27th,
31st) and [2th Oiv. broke through, infiltrating
guerrillas behind UN tines. loth Div. penetrated
deep into South Korea, and in ~'Iarch, under
constalll attack by US Marines, staged an epic
fighting retreat back to K I)A lincs. In the face of the
UN counter·atlack, however, lSI Army abandoned
Seoul, and the othcr armies also suf1cred heavily.
In the two 195\ Spring Oflcnsives 1st Army
advanced with the Chinese in the west, but the 2nd,
3rd and 5th Armies made little progress against
ROK fore(.'S. In May 6th Army and 7th Army were
hastily organised to defend P'yongyang and
WOllsan rt'Spcctively; but the expected UN
offensive ncvcr materialised, and in July LLGen.
Nam II, the K PA Commander and a former Soviet
citizen, opened Armistice talks.
Stalemate set in, and Seolll now seemed
permanently unattainable; SO 1st Army 8[h, 9th,
47th Divs.) transferred in December 1951 to join
2nd Army (2nd, 13th, 27th) and 3rd Army (1St,
15th, 45th) in the east. ~leanwhile 4th Army (4th,
5th, I05th Armd. Di\"s., 26th Bde. ,5th Army (6th,
12th, 32nd), 6th Arm) (gth, 17th ~lech., 18th,
23rd and 7th Army (3rd, 24th, 37th, 46th Divs.,
6:3rd Bde. remained in reserve ochind the line. The
KPA was short of manpower, and war-weary; but it
continued to patrol, mount local probing attacks,
and infiltrate guerrillas. The Jul} 1953 Order of
Battle was:
HI Army:
8th Oiv 81, 8'1, 83 lnf.Regts.
47th Div 113, 1'13, 1'24 Inf.Regts.
lnfaatry or Lh., R,OK 9tb Divi,,;o... w.,ll ~uipped by Ihe USA
21/d .4'"9': (m....tty witb M~J fat;pK, in lhill .,.,..,), assembl., fo.....
'2nd Div 4, 6, 17 Inf.Regts. a'l'Pult in '953- The imp..."·.,....,lIt in appeanonlLt "me.. '930 i"
noticeable. (US Army)
13th Di\". 19, '21, '23, Inf.Rcgts.
27th Di\". 17'2, 173. '74 Inf.Regts.
24th Bde. Activit} at the Cront, howe\cr, remained low-key,
Jrd Army: although KPA uniLS did support the June 1953
1St Di\' '1, 3, q_,lnf.Regls. offensive by making marginal gains against ROK
15th Oi\ 45, 48, 50 lnf.Regts. forces before the July Armistice.
37th Oi\' 70, 71. 76 Inf.Regts. With Ihe Armistice, Kim II-Sung's dreams of a
15th Oi\" ag, go, gl Inf.Regts. united Communist Korea evaporated. North
41h A 171!J': Korea was in ruins, its southern border areas
1th Di\.. . .'). 18,29 Inf.Regts. shrunk, one million civilians dead, and the mighty
5thOiv 10, II, 1'2lnf.Regts. KPA cripplcd by the loss of520,000 men. But Kim
loth Oiv '25. '27, 33 Inf.Regts. has survived to this day. His army is now the fifth
5th Army: largest in the world an impossible burden for such
6th Div I, 13, 15 Inf.Regts. a relalively small country, comprising 520,000
12th Div 30, 31, 3'2 Inf.Regts. soldiers, 25,000 sailors, 23,000 marines, 3'1,600
46th Oiv 158, 159, 160 Inf.Regts. airmen, 40,000 Border Constabulary and almost
20th, '22ml nnd 25th Bdes. three million Workers' Militia. These aggressive
7th tinny: troops still line the southern border, raid South
3rd Div 7,8,9 Inf.Rcgts. Korean onshore islands, infiltrate guerrillas, drive
7th Div 51, 53, 54 Inf.Rcgts. labyrinthine tunnels under the Armistice Line, and
9th Div 85, 86, 87 Inf.Regts. assauJr UN officials al Panlllunjom.
Also 17th Div. (8, '28 and an unidentified
Inf.Regt.), 21st, 23rd, 26th Bdes., 16th AA Di\'. (19,
'la, '23, 33, 34, 36, 37 AA Regts.), four AA regts. (21,
24, 3'2, 38), sevcn tanks regIS. (, 04, 105, 106, 107, SOl/til/(oref{
109,206 and '208), twO artillery rt.-glS. ('29,3°) and
18 and 21 mortar regimellts. During the Japanese occupation Korean nation-
The North Korean soldier in captivity showed alism was brutally suppressed, and Koreans were
the same tenacity as in the field. ~lost I)o\\'s, morc conscripted into IhcJaptmcse forces. Politicans such
than 100,000, wcre held at Koje-do (Koje Island) as Dr Syngman Rhec opera led governmcnts-in-
ncar Pusan, and in June t952 they staged riots exile in Nalionalist China and the United States,
which were eventuall} suppressed only by the and returned to South Korea aner 8 September
intervention of US infantry and paratroops. '945, when US troops accepted the Japanese
9

A ~ riecy or (ati«,,~ c10lhiaA (d'. PI.IU 8 aad C) "'"-" be ... ade
_I c..hi. II"-P pholo of Col. Waller B. Ric.... rd_... 00 of
Camp' OA Ko~Do, posiall ...otJ> ROK .ffi.,....... They are(l"rc to
ny.1) two lie.olenaDl-c:olo...,I.., a colo..",l, • Ij.,..IUlaAI..,o1.Olei
..........jor. Note ROK collar .-.......If; ;"~;pia; aDd (I"rl &ad
~tre) Uktyl.. II~ ·cornt..1 Inder' loops ...-0.... 08 c.M
shoulder stnps by Ihe ball.lioa con1mand"r .ad r~~la1
comrnand..r. Col. Richard_o wean the inilipia of 1m;
previous posliOljf-the 'lad Divis; '. <1<><IiaD II_d'_a his
rillhl .houlder. The pic.lIre k .... i .. AUJUSt 19530 (US
A ..... y via J...e.e R..u"U)
surrender and established a temporal) military
govcmfficnt. The Korean Conslabulary was form·
ed from ex-Jap.'\ncse Army \'("lcrans, and on 15
Janual) 1946 the first battalion-size rcgimelll was
ready. On '5 August 1948 Rhee became prcsidcllI
of an independcnt Republic of Korea and .he
15,ooo-strong Constabulary became the ROK
Army Tar-Han ,\/m·(;uk luA-J.-un). In J\layljune
1948 the six Constabulary Brigades (1St 3rd and
5th-7th: after 19.,8 the locally unlucky number '4'
was ayoid<.·d b) the South, but not the North
Koreans) became di\'isions, and the 8th and
Capital Security Command wen: added. By '949
the army had expanded to 60,000 men, by dint of
massive United Stales aid, and was kept busy
preventing North Korean border raids and internal
subversion.
In June 1950 lhe 98,ooo-slrong ROK Army
under ~'Iaj. Cen. Chae Pyongdok had seven weak
infantry divisions and the Capital Security Com-
mand (after 5 July the 'Capitol Didsion'l. Each
division should ha\'(' had three three-battalion
regimellts each of :1,938 men ,; a ballalion
comprised a heavy weapons com pan) \\ ith one
mortar and two heavy machine gun platoons and
three riRe companies, each rifle company haying
three rifle platoons and a \\eapons platoon with a
mortar and a lighl machine gun squad. In reality,
most divisions had only two two-battalion regi-
ments. There should have been divisional services,
an anli-tank company and an artillery battalion (15
x 105 mm light howitzers in three batteries); but
there were only lhree artillery ballalions in the
entire ann) supporting the 7th and 8th Diys. and
the Clite 17th Independent Regiment. The Capital
Security Command was a p.."1rade unit, with the
rusmountl-d Ca\alr) Reg!. acting as Honour
Cuard, but in wartime it performed well. There
were no tanks, hea\y mortars, mines, medium
artille!) or rC'Coilless rifles; little ammunition; and
onl) :17 ~18 armoured cars in the 1st Cayal!)
Regiment. Only 1St, 6th, 7th and Capitol Diy'S.
were at full strength 10,948 men, and they.
together \\'ith the 8th Di\. \\ere the best units. There
was also the elite ~Iarine Corps K~IC, founded in
April 1949, comprisin~ the 1St Rt.'gt. 1St 3rd Bns.
and the- independent 5th Bn., modelled on the CS
~larine Corps. The ROK Coastguard and Air
Force were insignificant; but the National Police
pro\-ided Internal &curity Battalions to fight
guerrillas. ROK soldiers were tough and cour-
ageous, and \\ ere often likened (0 the Curkhas; but
they were inexperienced, and the senior officers
were too young and rarely qualified to command
above battalion le\'('1.
ROK troops fought tenaciously against the
initial North Korean invasion, but were no match
ror superior weapons, and were soon in full retreat.
The 17th Reg!., isolated on lhe Ongjin Peninsula,
was evacualed by sea, abandoning its precious
supporting artillery. The lSI, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th and
Capitol Divs. withdrew south arter the fall of Seoul,
and thl' 61h and 8th retreated in the cast. Some
44,000 ml'n, almost haIr the army, were trapped
north of the Han River when its bridges were
prematurely demolished, and their units disinte-
grated. On 14July, in desperation President Rhee
placed all ROK troops (now under LI.Cen. Chung
"Kwon under the American Cen. Walker. After
an unsuccessful stand at Taejon with the US 24th
Di\'. the shattered remnants or the ROK Army
reached the northern Pusan Perimeter. There, on
'l4Juiy, tilt" 2nd, 5th and 7th Divs. were disbanded;
8th and Capitol formed I Corps; 1st and 6th, II
Corps; and 3m guarded Army Headquarters.
1'11(_"i(' fi\"(' rc-maining divisions dun~ desperately
to the northern pnimcwr throughout August 1950.
I Corps was under ill\cnse pressure along the coast,
and had to withdra\\, c\'aeuating the marooned 3rd
Di\'. by sea; but the line held. In the west, II Corps
fought alongside the US 1st Cav.Div. (0 hold Taegu
insomeofthc worst fighting of the war. r..lcanwhik,
7th Oi\. was reacti\ated, and ROK conscripts were
temporarily illlegrated into United States and
Briti,h units as auxiliariN.
The four K~IC battalions fought at Inchon and
Seoul, and earned a fearsome reputation as
_treetfightc...... I Corp' Vel and Capitol Oi\"s.,
K~IAG spt'd frum l'U',lll up the east coast; II
Corps 6th, 7th, 8th pushed through the central
mountains; and 1St Di\.joined liS I Corps al Seoul.
By 10 October I Corps had rcached \\"onsan m mulL
for Hllll~nam. III Corps formed 8 October
remained in South Korea on securil) duties with
Illh Division also formed in October and 51h
Division. In Ihat S<"lme month the 1st Anti-Guerrilla
Group ISI-3rd,5th 71h 8ns. was fonm."'d. On 19
Oclober lSI Oi\. look P\ongyang, and joined II
Corps further north. On 2,~ O<:tobcr 7th Regt. 6th
Oi\. rcached thc Yalu Ri\'er; but the next day this
di\'ision was smashed by an ovcn\'helming Chinese
attack, and only the arri\al of 71h Di\. prevented
the total collapse of II Corps and stabilised the line.
By 24 November Capitol Di\". had reached
Chongjin, 60 miles from the Soviet border; bllt on
the next day the Chinese, taking advantage of the
low firepower of ROK divisions and the primiti\'e
fear the Chinesc inspired among Koreans, aHacked
II Corps again. The corps cracked, nccl."SSitating a
general 8th Army retreat to the 38th ParalleL
~leanwhile the exposed Capitol and 3rd Oivs. fell
back to Songjin and Hungnam respectively, and
were evacuated to South Korea.
By mid-December 1950 1st Oiv, (US I Corps)
was manning the line in Ihe wCSt; in the celllre, III
Corps (2nd Div. rerormed 7th November, 5th and
II th Oivs.); then the weakened I I Corps (6th, 7th,
81h Oivs.); and on the coasl I Corps (gth Oiv.,
formed 25 October; 3rd, Capilol Oivs.). When the
1951 i\'ew Ycar offcmi\"c struck. 6th Oiv. was
promptly attached to US IX Corps, and II Corps
....as disbanded. On 2 January 2nd, 5th and 81h
Oivs. joined US X Corps, \\ hich took over most of
Ihe vulnerable central sector from III Corps now
with 71h and Illh Din. '.In the U:\' retreat 2nd and
Tho: co......and",r of lh", US '151 ~hri ..", 01';"';0.., Maj.Gea.
Oti....r P. Smilh (I",rr, ill lh", Mari...,.' "'......e:t.,..;stie HBT
... tilili~ and camo.. ftaslNI h",lm," co.... r), lalb 10 US X Co..,.,.
commander Maj.Gen. Ed ..... rd M. Almo..d (ri&hl, i.. M4:)
fatip", ~ P .... u.~· phlNI al S-.. I m s,.,pt",mber '9,;0, Sonilh
...ould ...ithi.. I mo.. thli be I.,.dm& Ih", famo..,. GlIlhli.5
rd....,.t of his d"·isio.. from CIoGSi.. R.,..,n·o;r. Ju,.l ..osibl", al
far rilllhl is llit Marin", Air WinS commandu M.j.c..... Fi",1d
f1arris, ...hose Corsair S<j ... drOOts provided ...I...bl", support.
(USMC)
9th Oivs. \'irtuall) dislilllegratcd, and Communist
troops poured through gaps in ROK lines. In the
January vi':" CQulller·o(fensive III Corps had
difficult) keeping up; and, on II Februar} north of
Hocngsan, the 3rd (with 1St Ki\IC Regt. attached,
5th and 8th Divs. look Ihe brUni ofa heavy Chinese
attack, which destroyed the 8th Div. (it later
reformed). However, by mid·April [951 I and III
Corps were saldy in position on 'Line Utah' just
inside North Korea.
In Ihe 195[ First Spring Offensive the ChinL'Sc
concentrated their attack on the [st and 6th Oivs. in
the west, and both formations fell back; but a
determined stand by 5th KMC Btl. on the Kimpo
Peninsula prevented an attack on Seoul. Gen. Van
Fleet moved 2nd Di\. to join the 6th in US IX
Corps, leaving US X Corps with 5th and 71h Oivs.
In the Second Spring Offensive these last IWO
divisions and III Corps all collapsed, and even I
Corps retreated; but by 20 ~lay the line had
stabilised. Now II I Corps was disbanded, leaving
only I Corps (3rd, I I th, Capilol Di\"s, in the line, I
Corps subsequently attacked, together with 5th,
7th. 8th and 9th Din.. no\\ all in US X Corps.
"
 Oespitecatastl'Ophicsctbacks the ROK Army, 1I0W assault in July: 1st Oiv. (US I Corps); 2nd, 9th,
under Maj.Ccn. Vi Chongchan, still fielded ten Capitol (US IX Corps); 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 11th (II
divisions; and in August 1951 357,430 South Corps); 7th, 12th, 20th (US X Corps); 15th and
Koreans, the largest UNC contingent, were under 21st (l Corps). The concentrated pressure all II
arms. Corps smashed lhe redoubtable C,1.pitol Oiv., and
The ROK Army took advantage ofthe stalemate the Corps fell back; but subsc<luently counter-
period to build up its forces. Four 155 mm and six attacked, and reached a viable defence line before
105 mm Artillery Battalions, authorised in Septem- the Armistice.
ber 1951, ensured that by mid·1952 ROK divisions In its comparatively short life the ROK Arm)
at last had their own organic artillery. There were had withstood the most punishing ordeal imagin-
also ten Field Artillery Croups (I st -3rd, 5th-I Ith " able; had lost about 47,000 killed; and had emerged
each with two 105 mm battalions; and II as the determined guarantor oCt he independence of
IndqX"ndc-llt Field Artillf'n Bn". 88th---qVd. the South Korean people.
',-,III ,,,,111 (hilt-I Illllh lllllmlni ,-;!.:h, J .Illk The ROK Anny order of battle, September
Compallic..~ 51:.1 5jrd, 55th 59th; Ij Security 195a--July 1953, was:
Bns. Ist-3rd, 5th 13th, 15th on anti-guerrilla 1st Oiv 11th, 12th, 15th Regts.
duties; fi\e Securit), Guard Bns. (3Ist---33rd, 35th, 2nd Oiv 17th, 31St, 32nd Rcgts.
36th guarding PoW camps; and Korean Senrice 3rd Oiv 22nd, 23rd. 26th, later 18th. 22nd.
Corps Regts. each with four battalions on 23rd Regts.
labouring duties with UN units. On I ~lay 1952 the 5th Oiv 27th, 35th, 36th Regts.
order of batLie at the front was: US I Corps 1st 6th Oiv 2nd, 7th, 19th, Rcgts.
Div./; S IX Corps (2nd, 9th; a re-formed II 7th Oiv 3rd. 5th, 8th Regts.
Corps 3rd, 6th, Capitoll; US X Corps 7th, 8th 8th Oiv loth, 16th, 21st Regts.
and I Corps :5th, 11th," 9th Oiv 28th, 29th, 30th Rcgts.
The revitalised army, now under LLCen. Paik Capitol Oiv 1St, 17th, 18th, (Iatcr 1St Cav., 26th
Sun Vup, performed very effectively in the 1952 Regts.)
'Outpost' battles, and could now be trusted with 11th Oiv 9 th , 13th, 20th Regts.
three-quarters of the line. ~Ior(' units were raised: 12th Oiv 37th, 51St, 52nd Regts.
12th and 15th Oivs., 53rd and 55th 59th Inde- 15th Oiv 38th, 39th, 50th Regts.
pendent Regts. (November 1952); 20th and 21St 20th Oiv 60th, 61St, 62nd Regts.
Divs. (February 1953); 22nd and 25th Oivs. (April 21st Oiv 63rd, 65th, 66th Regts.
(953); and 26th and 27th Oivs. Uune 1953). In the 22nd Oiv 67th, 68th, 69th Regts.
Chinese attacks of June 1953 II Corps fell back 25th Oi". 70th, 7lst, 72ncl Regts.
but held, although 5th Oiv. had to be rescued. 26th Oiv 73rd, 75th, 76th Regts.
Nevertheless, 14 ROK divisions faced the final 27th Oiv 77th, 78th, 79th Regts.

..... T~ 'O~". '''••'0'

D'.'O'OM . _ '010

UI/iter/Strltes ojAlIlerim
Aner 1945 the United States decided to rely on the
• United States Air Force to deter any future
aggressor with its nuclear capability. There thus
seemed to be no necessity for a large standing anny,
and the bulk of the US Army was hastily
demobilised. By mid-1950 it had shrunk to 591,487
men, seven per cent of its peak wartime strength,
with what some ha\'ejudged to be a disastrous effect
 on unit efficiency and morale. There were only ten
combat divisions 1St, 2nd, 3rd, 71h, 24th and 25th
Infantry, 1St Cavalry (Dismoullled), 2nd Ar-
moured, t Ith and 8~:2Ild Aid>orne-pius lhe 1St and
2nd US :-'larinc Corps Di\'isions l . Occupation duty
in Germany andJapan proved the biggest drain on
resources, and only onc division, the 1St Infantry in
Gennany, was mailllained al full strength.
In South Korea, 100, Uniled Stales airpower was
the main defence againsl polenlial North Korean
aggression, and anel" June 19+91he only US forces
\\l're the 500-S1ron~ Korean ~Iilitary Advisory
Group K~IAG training the fledgling ROK
Ann)'. ~Ieanwhilc, the Uniled Slates Go\'ernment
ignored mmours of an imminent North Korean
invasion wilh a complacency lhat ultimately
proved disastrous.
At anyone lime scven nitcd Slales di\'isions-
Infantry, Ca\'alry and ~larine Corps-served in
Korea, aU in the infantry role. This commitment,
while moclest by World War II standards. was a
major burden on the diminished US Ann)'. Each
division contained lhree infantry regiments each
\....ith three battalions; and an artillery regimelll
with three 105 mm ballalions and one heavy 155
mm battalion, each with threc batteries. The
strength oftlte US artillery was 10 prove decisive.,
There were also a combat engineer battalion,
reconnaissance troops, and services; and later a
tank, a tank-dcstroyer and an anti-aircraft bat-
talion were added. Apart from the three rifle
battalions (each wilh one heavy weapons and three
rifle companies) a US infantry rcgimcnt also fielded
a tank company with 22 tanks. A rifle company
comprised one weapons and three rifle platoons; a
rifle platoon, onc wcapons squad and three rifle
squads, each with nine men.
All divisions (except lhe ~'!arines) wcre 30 pcr
cent under strength. All regiments (except the
:'-Iegl"O 24th Infantry) had only IWO battalions:
artillery battalions had only two batteries, and most
infantry battalions were a rifle company shon,
ahhough from August 1950 all regiments in Korea
received a third batlalion. f\lany tanks were
obsoiescelll, or too light 10 meet the 1'-34/85 on
equaltcrms. Ncvertheless, these divisions did boast
'''oraD accounl ofl~ LS'IC" rondllion al lhl> tim....... Elit" 2. TJ"
l ',. II.",,,, COl'" ""1" '96.
Pusa.a,January '951: .h~ US Army''' S .... Sisnab 8 .. Perl"OD.D~l
Section, in a l"Old.i~r'. Iypical ~ ... pshot. ne HIlI...nlal rar I~n
...-0.... on hi.. 118T r"IiS"" Ihe D~W chen"o.. lI officially
introdu~ t.h~ roUowinS mo..d.; Ihe 'Ria""ure 'combal
cheVl'OOUi' are ...·om by Ihe yo , Hrs...... t i.. th~ pile winter
Ctlp, ..iShl ce..lre. (Sh.dby S lo.j
an awesome firepo\\er, especiall) in artillery, which
outcJa.ssed comparable enem) units l ,
For special missions a regiment could lx.'Come a
'rt>gimcmal combat team equivalent 10 a British
'brigade group' by attaching a divisional 105 mm
artillery banalion, a signals detachment, and
engineel" and medical companies. At least 12
infantry regiments (7th, 151h, 19th, 21st, 23rd,
24th, 31st, 32nd, 34th, 35th, 65th, I 60th) operated
at some time as RCrs, as well as the independent
5th and 29th, and the famous 187th Airborne
(detached from 11th Airborne Division). Other
elite units were the 1St 5th and 8th Ranger Infantry
Companies (Airborne), each with five officers and
1°7 men, including the all-black 2nd Co., in Korea
from October 1950 to A ugllst 195 I ; and the mixcd
American-British-Korean 'United Nations Par-
tisan Infalllry Korea' (UNPI K). These units all
operated clandestinely behind cnemy lines and on
the offshore islands.
The scattered KMAG advisers retrealed help-
lessly with the ROK divisions before the North
Korean advance, an advance which immediale
USAF air strikes were unable to hall. United States
Army intervention was nC1:essary, and four of Ihe
five divisions of Lt.Gen. Wahon H. Walker's 8th
Army (7th, 24th, 251h Infantry, lSI Cavalryl.lhen
'.-0' a lk.ail......" , """, ,~ I '\ laul £.>pl'r.lll\"" in "-'lIT". '1ft \ ;anlluaro
~i, .~ . . ., 'II I" J, II tit
'3
Fia.. study ofaUS Arnt)' rifl .. Mtuad I...d .. r io aulum.n '950' Cpl.
Carroll Va,;l of the 35lh RCT, band 0" Ih.. 35th l..fJOalry
from "'5th Di i",;o... No uail or ... nlo in..-i5R'" are WOnt io th..
fi..ld. II.. CII.rri... Ihe ~h rifle, a"d a triple-poclo'" 5r......d ..
pou"h (I..tt) aad fi",1 aid pou"h are alla"hKl to hi. rift.. belt.
Tb....at ... ba"doli are Iypkal ..nou5h--bul ODe U",,",,,I'"
thai the 5re....de ther preCllrioUJily alla"hKl hy ..lippiD5
Ih"ir "'pooall iolo p""ku", "'ere th.. phOIOS... ph...... id....... io
oombal th..y ...ould be ... lh..r more ",""urely atta"hed to Ih..
"'"Iwpm.... I. (US Arnt)' vUr. Shelby Sla,lIon)
 on occupation duty injapun, were put on alerl. On
I july 1950 'Task Force Smilh' two rifle
companies from 21st Inr.Regt. (24th Div. rein-
forced by 105 mm howitzel', monar, bazooka and
recoilless rifle teams raced to the front, and
managed to delay the enemy advance on Osan
before retreating to meet the rest of the division.
The 24th made a heroic stand at Taejon, but
abandoned Ihe town on 20 july, having lost their
commander, ~laj.Gen. Dean. They had bought
time for the safe arrival of the 25th Infantry and 1st
Cavalry Di\·s., and the 29th RCT from Okinawa.
On 13 july Gen. Walker established 'EUSAK'
Eighth United States Army in Korea wilhin the
Pusan perimeter, \\ here he also commanded five
ROK divisions. All forces in Korea came under
Gen. ~lacArthur, since 7 july the Supreme
Commander of United ~ations Command Ui'\C I.
B) the end of july the perimeter line had
stabilised along the Naktong Ri\'er, to be defended
at all COSts. In August reinforcements arrived in the
fonn of di"'isional tank battalions, the 5th Ref
from Hawaii, the 2nd Inf.Di\'. and tSt Provisional
,\Iarine Bde. built around 5th t\larine Regt., from
the USA, and the 27th British Brigade. South
Korean conscripts, designated 'Katusas' Koreans
auached to the US Armyl, were integrated into the
US Anny and unofficially into USt\IC units, with
100 per company, a total of between 1,000 and
3,000 per division. Wearing US unifonns (but
rarely attaining NCO rank) these enthusiastic,
fearless, but virtually untrained Koreans provided a
vital stopgap in manpower. Walker's nine divisions
and two brigades were insufficient for a continuous
defensive line; but he deployed them so skilfully in
anlicipation of enemy attacks that he was able to
win the fierce six-week 'Perimeter Ballles', and by
mid-September he was ready lO counter-attack.
On 15 September, United Stales X Corps
(activated in Japan on 26 August) stormed ashore
at Inchon with 1st Marine Div. (the expanded
Provisional Bde.), 71h Inf.Div. (including ROK
I 7lh Reg!. and 8,000 Katusas), 5th R r and, later,
187 ARCT. On 28 Scptember Seoul was re-
captured after fiercc fighting. l\leanwhile, on 16
September, EUSAK forces broke out of the Pusan
perimelcr. ROK forces thrust northwards, US IX
Corps {activated on 23 September with 2nd and
25th Divs. attacked wcsl\\ards, and US I Corps
(activated 13 September wilh 1st Cav., 24th Inf.
and lSI ROK Di\"s. and 271h Bde.) pushed north-
wcstwards, linking up with X Corps on 26
September. On I October Walker began the
advance into North Korea. I Corps later joined by
IX Corps attacked along the wCSt coast, taking
I
P'yongyan~on the Igth, while the ROKs advanced
in the east, joined by X Corps no\\ with 3rd
Inf.Div. from the l:SA , which landed at Wonsan
on 26 October. Ilow(,\,(,I", this triumphant progress
ground to a halt in 1'\"ovember with the intervention
of the Chinese.
The furthest U:\' penetration north\\ards was by
the 1 7th Re~t., \\ hich reached the Chinese- :\onh
Korean border at I-Iycsanjin. On 24 .i\o\-cmocr
~lacArthur ordered the final push to the Yalu
Riwr fromier; but aftcr 24 hours' steady ad\'ance a
powerful Chinese counter-atlack ruptured the line
in the central 'iCctOr, forcing I and IX Corps to
retreat south\\ards to avoid encirclement. B) '5
December they and thr('(' ROK Corps, no\\ out of
reach of the Chinese advance, had established a
defensive line on the 38th Parallcl. ~Ieanwhile, on
27 :\'ovember, X Corps, marooned in north-eastern
Korea. be~an an epic fightin~ retreat to Hlllll1;nam.
~nob<e .. '95'- US Mari..e !KIliad relur.. from palrol n~
..·..... r th",ir h",lm",u sluff...t down ov.,.. pite caps and-i.n tlw:
calfii' of Ih", ronzround nlan, carry'"'' ,h", 'fold...t' M,... 3-5 in.
rock",t launchu'-ov"'r Ih., hood of II,,,, park... (n., hood .....s
suppo-.l 10 .. cconon,oda,., Ih., h",tn''''I, hUI wall Kldorn "'0'"
thai _y.) n", parka ;11 ;d"""ified all Ih", I;Shl ta..-cotoured
Wortd War U nloo",1 by Ih", lIkirl pod,"'tll' Ihe M'951 modd,
issu...t IO..... rd. th., .,..d of Ih., ......, h.d ooly (he 1l1...tioS
pock"'lll on the ribs. (USMC)
'5
where 193 UN ships, under a massive air umbrella,
successfully cvacuated them. By Christmas Day
105,000 troops had embarked for Pusan in the
biggest sea evacuation in American history. Then,
on 23 Dccember, Gen. \Valkcr was killed in a traffic
accident, to be replaced as EUSAK Commanderon
Ihe 261h b) LeGen. ~Iatthe\\ B. Ridgwa).
Ridgway had 365,000 troops from west to cast,
US I Corps (25th, 3rd Inf., lSI ROK Divs.; IX
Corps (lSI Cav., 1St ~Iarine, 24th Inf., 61h ROK
Divs.)j three RQK Corps; and X Corps (2nd, 7th
Inf., 2nd, 5th, 8th ROK) in reserve. The Chincsc
New Year offensive brought X Corps illlo the
central sector, and forced I and IX Corps to
abandon Seoul 011 4January 1951. However, by 15
January the offensi\'e had run out of steam, and on
the 25th EUSAK, now just south of Osan, counter-
attacked strongly northwards against detcrmined
Chinese opposition. ~Ieanwhile the 1St ~Iarine Di\.
fought the North Korean loth Div., cut offdeep in
South Korea, before joining the IX Corps advance
in February. On 14 ~Iarch I Corps recaptured
Col .'rederid. B. Ale.....der, co of the 2'lit Infantry, 'lot
Seoul, and by mid-April Ridgway's forces had Oiv;"ion, earty '953. Note combat boots filled w;lh "l';ippe,
reached 'Linc Utah', just inside North Korea. On and regimenlal cre.n worn un 'combat leader'.' gr..
"houJder strap loop, .bo,·e Lhe divisional shoulder sl~
I I April. after a dramatic disagreement over the ..."ig...... (US Anny)
issue of widening the scope of operations against
China, Presidcnt Truman replaced thc legendary Rico) I nf.Regt. replaced the 30th in 3rd Div.; an
Gen. ~lacArthur with Gen. Ridgway, \\ho in turn on I August the day Van Fleet was promoted fu
passed EUSAK command to LeGen. James Van general the 14th Inf. joined 25th Div., rcplacin
Fleet. the black 24th Regt., which was disbanded.
In the First Spring Offensive I and IX Corps Now stalemate set in, as Ridg'o\lay ordeTO
dcfending the approaches to Seoul were attacked, ECSAK to StOP ad\ancing but actively to defend il
but held firm. By 29 April the offensive was spent, forward positions in North Korea. In Deccmbe
and Van Fleet pushed forward gingerly with '951 the 1st Cav.Div. was replaced in I Corps lr
annourcd patrols. Order of battle was now 1 Corps 45th Oklahoma Div., one offour i\'ational Guan
1St Cav., 3rd and 25th Inf.Divs.), IX Corps (7th divisions called into Federal service in August 195<J
and 24th Inf.. 2nd and 6th ROK Divs., 187th In huc January 1952 a sister division, the 4011
ARCT" and X Corps 1St ~Iarine, 2nd Inf., 5th California, replaced the \-eteran 24th Di\-. it
and 7th ROK Divs.). The Second Spring Offensive IX Corps. Throughout January massi\c air all(
on 16 ~Iaysmashed ROK divisions in X Corps, but artillery slrikes rained down 011 Chinese JXlsitions
other units plugged Ihe gap as the Corps fell back, but thereafter acth;ty was light, despite a major bu
and attacks on I and I X Corps were similarl) unsuccessful encm) offensi\-c in ~Iay against I
contained. Now Van Fleet counter-attacked Corps. On 12 May the veteran World War II
strongly; and on 21 ~Iay advanced against light commander Gen. ~Iark Clark replaced Ridgway at
resistance to 'Line Wyoming' back in l':orth Korea, U?\C Commander. InJunc the 1871h ARCT Wa.!
which he fortified with trenches, wire, mincs and used to crush the revolt on Kojc Island on' Pusan.
artillery. The truce talks reduced activilY to local July 1952 "a\\ the 'Battle of the Outposts'. In
level, bUI X Corps foughl successfully 10 improve its October 2nd Oiv. I Corps repelled a strong
position. ~I('"anwhile. on 6 April the 65th {Puerto Chinese attack, while IX Corps advanced grad-
,6
 ually inlO Ibe '1!"Oil Triang'le', inflicting huge
casualties. By January 1953 \' ,HI Fleet had 768,000
troops disposed (from wesl to cast) in I Corps (2nd,
jlh, lalcr 25th, Inf.; 1St ~Iarine; 1St, 2nd, 15th
ROK Divs.); IX Corps 3rd Inf.; 91h ROK, ROK
CapitoL; ROK II Corps; X Corps :40th, 45th Inf.;
jth 12th, 20th ROJ\. ; and ROK I Corps. On II
February 1953 Van Fleet retired after nearly two
years as EUSAK Commander, and was replaced by
Lt.Cen. from 23Junc, Cen. ~Ia.xwell D. Taylor.
In )'Iarch and ~ lay I Corps "ithstood hea vy enem)
anaeks, and were reinforced in June b} 187th
.\R r and 34th ReT (21th Di,. from Japan. On
10 June a powerful Chill~'SC offensivc a~a.inst ROJ\.
II Corps forced thc neighbouring X Corps back
three miles. Then, on 13July, IX Corps contained
with difficulty the lasl major Chinese penetration
before the Armistice of 27 July.
The United States emerged from the Korean
War as undeniably the principal Western power in
succession to Creat BI"itain and France, accepting
world-wide obligations, especially in the contain-
ment of Communi~m. The 1945 concept of tolal
war, \\ aged b) aircraft carr} ing atomic weapons,
gaw way to the concept oflimitl'd war, requiring a
standing army which must nevcr again decline to
the dangerousl} low !cHis of the late 19-1os.
Taclically, lhe infantr) reasserted its traditional
position as the key arm, which it had apparently lost
Field Marshal Lord Aluander of Tunis, Ihe Brilish Ocfenc:e
Minister, inspe<:l.li an Honor Guard from th.. US 3m Infantry
Division wearing HBT ratiguell much d,r.".sed up for the
occasion wilh Ih .. di,,;sion'~ blue and whil" insignia, matching
ScarvCll, polished and badMe<1 h ..lmetlin"n, and other typical
pa....... d .. f..aturell. (In'perial War Mus.... m)
10 armour. The importance of artillery firepower
was re-emphasiscd; Ranger and Airborne units had
heen so successful that their Iraining methods were
extended to all infalllry ofTictrs; and the grow th of
Army (csptcially helicopter) aviation presaged the
birth of Ihe 'ai,'mobile' concept.
The United Slatt'S di,isional order of bailie ill
Korea was:
2nd Inf.Div.... 9th, 23rd, 38lh Inf.Regts.; 12th·,
15th, 37th, 38th Arty.Bns.; 72nd Tk.Bn.; 2nd
Eng.Bn.; 82nd AA Bn.
3rd Inf.Di\ .... 7th, 15th. 30th replaced b) 65th
Puerto Rico, Inf.Regts.; 9th., loth, 39th, 58th
Arty.Bns.; 64th Tk.Bn.; loth Eng.Bn.; 3rd AA
Bn.
7th Inf.Di\. ... 17th. 31St, 32nd Inf.Regts.; 31St.,
4-8th, 49th, 57th Arty.Bns.; nrd Tk.Bn.; 13th
Eng.Bn.; 15th AA Bn.
24th Inf.Di\ .... 19th, 21St, 34th Inf.Regts.; 11th·,
13th, 52nd, 63rd Art} .8I1s.; 70th Tk.Bn.; 3rd
Eng.Bn.; '.!6th AA Bn.
25th Inf.Div.... 2lth replaced by 14lh ,27th, 35th
Inf.Regts.; 8th, 64th, Ggth, goth· Arty.Bns.; 89th
Tk.Bn.; 65th Eng.Bn.; 21S1 AA Bn.
'loth Inf.Div.. . 160th, :l'13rcl, 224th Inf.Regts.;
I 43rd, 625th, gBoth, gBlst· Arty.8ns.; 140th
Tk.Bn.; 578th Eng.Bn.; 140th AA Bn.
451h Inf.Di\. .. 179th, lSoth, 279th Inf.Rcgts.;
158th, l60th, I7ISt, 189th· Arty.Hns.; 245th
Tk.8n.; 120th Eng.Bn.; 145th AA Bn.
1St Cav.Div.... 5th, 7th, 8th Cav.Rcgts.; 61St, 77th
82nd·, 99th, Arty.Bns.; 6th Tk.Bn.; 8th Eng.Bn.;
29th AA Bn.
1st Mar.Div.... 1St, 5th, 7th Mar.Regts.; 1St, 2nd,
3rd, 4th Hns.; Illh Any.Regt.; 1St Tk.Bn.j 1st
Eng.Bn.; 1St Amph.Bn.
(*dcnoles 155 mm artillery battalion)
Briti.1!1 COIIIIIIOllfe'eflltil
After 1945 the British Army began 10 demobilisc;
but Ihe British government recognised the nccessit}
ofa credible peacetime army, and so conscription
(in 1948 renamed 'National Service' was retained
for men aged 18~o. Britain had traditional
Imperial commitments to which wcrc 110W added
ncw inl(Omalional obligations occupation forces

Bugl.,.Major Martin, Our....... Lighl l.nIanlry, '"",rm. up' hi,.
bUlll",n (or a fanfare. They wear Ibe rel!imenlaJ ClIp badge 0"
Lbe m ......;.hl biOI'" Ixrel ..-Meh W1l,. (and rema;n,.) the seneral
;uue (or British IroGJK, LbouSh "OW repbeed'" tbe LI by dark
S...,.,.... The 6eld jaekec aocl lrousen are Ih", I)'pe bier
d~""led M:;8 combat dress; "ole COmmo....-.,.ILb 0; ... ;0"
iih.ield and ~ ...ental tiLle on rillh1 tihould",r5. The bUill.,.
major'. rour chevronli are "-0"' On Ih., upper, ",her Ih.... the
lo..-",r .. I"""'-e as ...... r ..guladon. (Th.. UShl Inranlry)
in Germany and Japan, and NATO requirements
for troops to defend Western Europe. Similarl), in
Canada, Australia and :\ew Zealand membership
of W<:stem military alliances was accepted as
essential to the security of national independence.
The North Korean invasion, so soon after the
Communist victory in China, was seen as a funher
step towards Communist world domination. 1m·
media tel) 17 ships and 7,000 men of the Royal.
Royal Australian and Royal Ne\\ Zealand Na\;cs
\\ere sent to Korea. They \\ere followed on 29June
by 77 (Fighter) Sqn. RAAF, flying l\lustangs, and
subsequently by 30 (Transport) Unit RAAF, 426
(Transport) Sqn. ReAF, and, in November, the
~Iustangs of 2 Sqn. SAAF, the ·Fly·ing Cheetahs'.
In August 27th InfalHry Brigade, the United
Kingdom Strategic Rescr"Ye then station('(\ with
40th Div. in I-long Kong, was earmarked for Korea.
A British or Commonweallh illfantry brigade
(equivalent to a US regiment consistcd of
headquaners, ser"Yices, and three riAe battalions
each 909 men strong. A rifle banalion had an HQ
company with signals and administration plat·
oons); a support company (mortar, machine gun,
anti-tank and assault pioneer platoons); and four
riAe compan.ies IA-D each with three rifle pia tOOl
1st 9th within the company. A platoon had thrl
rifle se<:tions, each with a cO'lx>ral and eight mel
In peacetime most battalions had only thrcc rif
companies, and so for Korea a fourth was raise
from neighbouring battalions. During this peri(J
there \\ as a high incidence of'cross posting' to brin
units up to strength for tours in K.orea. The trOOI
\\cre a mixture of long-scr.itt reg-ulars, wanill"
reservists recallcd to the colours, and TUition:
service conscripts. Some of the latter were given tb
option of volunteering, but this was not general.
On 28 August 1950 27th Bele. rcallya 'brigad
group', as it operated wilh organic supportin
arms disembarked at Pusan with ani) t\\
battalions IS1 Argyll and Sutherland Highlandel
and 1st i\liddlcsex Regt. and immediately mar
ned the western perimeter, supported by twO U
artillcr)- batleri('S and some US tanks. On I
September Lhey broke out, and ad\anecd north
westwards with US 24th Di\.. meeting fierce enem
opposition against \\hich i\laj. ~luirofLh('f\rg)'1I
earned a poslhumous Victoria Cross). On
October the brigade was rcnamed 27th Com
monwcalth Jnf.lkle., being brought IIp to strengtl
by the arrival of 3rd Bn., Royal Australian Regt., .
formidable all.regular unit. During the rapi,
advance up the west coast the Australians killed 27'
North Koreans in a bayonet charge north c
P'yongyang. On 30 October the brigade hat
reached Chongju, 40 miles from the i\lanehurial
border, when the Chinese inter.'ention forced :
withdrawal to Sinanju; hcre the brigade beat orL
detem1ined Chinese anad:. i\leam\hilc, the 250
strong 41st (Independent) Commando, Roya
Marines, formed in Japan in September 1950 fa
Korean service, mounted two raids against the cas
coast in carly October, and in November joined U~
1st :\Ianne Di\. X Corps isolated in ~E Korea
Following the Chinese attack of l5 !\'O\embe
27th Bele., now in US IX Corps reserve, Sllpportec:
the general retreat south, meeting the British 29tl
Indepcndcnt Ikigadc Group, which had disem
barked at Pusan on 3 November and was no\.
advancing north. On 14 December 27th Bele., no\.
on the 38th Parallel defence line, \\'asjoined by Got!
Parachute, Indian Field Ambulance, India·sonl)
but distinguished contribution to the war-effort
The 29th Brigade---which as well as three infantl"}
 battalions ficldt'd tank I, artil1cl") and engineer
unilS had bet'n fighting North Korean guerrillas
l1earScoul before moving up to P'yongyang, only to
retreat again to the 38th Parallel in mid-December.
.\Ieanwhile, 4t Commando performed a
magnificent fighting withdrawal wilil US 1St
.\Iarine Di\. from the Chasin Reservoir to
lIi'l11~nam for e\'acuation to South Korea.
In December 1950 all ground, sea and air forc<.."S
became the British Commonwealth Forces in
Korea BCFK, I-IQ Japan, under LI.Gen. Sir
Horace Robertson. the first of tlm.'e Australians to
hold thc command. The 27th Bde, US J X Corps
retrcatcd in good order before the 1951 Xe\\ Year
offensi\e; 29th Bde. US I Corps, covering Seoul,
fought fiercel} al Chungghung Dong, and crossed
the Han Rher after suffering heavy casualties. By
mid-Januar) the twO brigades were entrenched well
south of Seoul. Then the slo\\ UX winter counter-
offensive northwards began. 27th Brigade at last
received its own organic artillery battalion 16th
Ficld Reg.. , Royal New Zealand Artillery; and on
18 Fcbruary 2nd 8n., Princess I'atrida's Canadjan
T",'o Brit;sh _Idi"... or 110" DLI poK wiu. • 'Ka.uom' befor"
Light Infantry became its fourth infantry battalion. loinl oul on palrol, '952 SJ- Th"y wear ClIp con.rorl"..-kni,
By 19 April both bl'igades had halted \\ell north of ClIps, rolled rrom.. lube or wool; US M'9S' (t"rt) and M'9';2
'flak j.ck"t.'1 ... d carry SI6O' and l",nad0':5. (Th" Li&ht
Seoul, 29th Bde. on thc Imjin Rivcr. lnfamry)
The First Spring Offensi\C struck 29th Bde. with
massi\'e force and they fell back. leaving 1St defensive line inside North Korea. There, on 28Jul}
Gloucester'S cut off on Point 235 ('Gloucester Hill' 195', the 1St Commonwealth Di\"i~ion was formed
to conduct a heroic last stand whieh bought time for from the existing Ihree infantry brigades, a tank
Olher units, and ultimately blunted the offensive, regiment and scluadron, three artillery regiments
After two and a half days JUSt 39 Gloucesters and t\\O batteries, an engineer regiment and two
reached UN lines; Lt.CoI. Carne, the battalion squadrons, and three field ambulances. The
commander, and Ll. Curtis were both awarded the division defended Seoul under US I Corps: and
Vicloria Cross. The battle of the lmjin River was in October advanced northwards in Opera lion
the Commonwealth's finest hour in Korea. 27th 'Commando', during which 1St KOSB (28th BcIe.)
Bde. fought its way southwards, and on 26 April suflcred heavily in Chinese counter-attacks. It was
'951 became 28th Commonwealth lkIe. (the only during this battle that Pte, Slx'akman \\on his \C,
brigade to be 'relieved'), In carly May, 25th The stalemate period allowed the division's
Canadian In(;llltry Brigadc Group arrived with British, Canadian, Australian, l"ew Zealand and
three infantry battalions (including 2nd prCLl, Indian units to reach a level of efficient co-
transferred from 28th Bde.), an artillery regiment, a operation, spiced with friendly rivalry, \\hich still
fidd ambulance (both battalion equivalents), and stands as a model for multi-national military
lank and engineer scluadrons, In the ~lay UN formations. The intens(' winter cold of 1951---2
counter-offensive 25th Bde, (US I Corps, 28th and brought welfare problems not encountered since the
29th Bdes. (US IX Corps) all advanced to a ncw Crimean \\'ar, but military activit} was restricted
to patrols and raids. In late .\Ia} 1952 twO
'ror ckt.a.ilnl. acrountl 01 Brit;.h tank (J1X'1"ation~ ~ Yanll:uan:b .n,
companies sen-cd on Kojc-do Po\\' Camp as prison
rill e.",.. . . .,. . . . 1U1I1,. and 17. t . . ., -.J tA A-.,.. 1\"..,.. guards. )"leal1\\ hile -11 Celo. R~J, after coastal
'9
raiding throughout 1951, lcrt Korea, and was
disbanded at Plymollth in February 1952.
Static wadi:ll"C continucd throughout the winter
of 1952 3, but improved Chinese defensive fire
made local raiding increasingly unattractive. The
fiunt was quie!. ahhou~h in late October divisional
artillery did suppOrt the neighbouring 1st US
~larine Div. when they came under attack. 1,000
RQK conscripts were integrated. as 'Katcoms'
'Koreans Attached Commonwealth Division',
with two Katcoms JX'r infantry section. They wore
the relevant unil uniform; could be promoted to
NCO rank; and were liked. and respected. During
November 1952 1St Black Watch repelled a
detennined Chinese attack againsl Ihe hill known
as 'The Hook'. The division Spclll IWO months in
rcscrve from Februal) 1953; and in late ~Iay the lSI
Duke of Wellinglon's Reg!., supported by artillery
and Ihe Cclllurions of lSI RTR, again defended
A Sconu.b _Idi"r ...,rvin! ... Kona bei"1I611ee1 ....iLho ....." ReO"d
t}']M: or .......er ...-arfan dOlhias in..eeI ill nlipo."''' to Lhoe
....rr....in.-l.. orBriti h troops d ..riroll,h" appalliDlIl)' "Old ...u.'er
of.gso. {Imp"rial War M ......... m)
20
The Hook in the last sizeable Commonwealt
engagement of the wa although infantry an
artillery did help the US Marines in the la:
desperate fighting before the Annistice.
Commonwealth losses, at 1,263 dead of whor
686 were British, were considered moderate; an
the di"ision slayed in South Korea until 1956. whe
it was replaced b) a 2,000·strong Colllingen
which was steadily reduced over the years whic
followed. The unique experimelll of the mulu
national division, although successful, is unlikel
ever to be repeated in Ihe entirely different strategi
conditions n hich now r.'lce the separale nations (
the Old CommOl1neahh.
The order of battle of Commonwealth grom).
forces excluding 41 Cdo. Royal ~Iarincs follon
below. Diagonal strokes represent successive de
ployments: e.g. the inilial infant!) units of29th &Ie
were lSI Bn., Royal Northumberland FusiJiers; H
811., The Clouceslershire Reg!.; and 1St Bn., ROY<l
Ulster Rifles. In the lists below, titles han' beel
greatly abbreviated.! Canadian and British unit
rotated ,"cry approximatcly\ e,-ery 12 mOlllh~
India and New Zealand rotated personnel oc
casionally; Auslralia did both.
27th/28th Commol/wtatth Infantry Bn'gadt
lSI ~Iiddx./lst KSLI/1S1 DLl/ist Warwicks
lSI Argylis/ISI KOSB/1S1 R. Fusiliers/lst Essex
3rd R. Australians/tSt R. AustralianS/2nd R
Australians
2nd PPCLI
16th Fd.Reg!. RNZA
60th I ndian (Para) Fd.Amb.
29lh British II/jalltry Brigade Grou/)
lSI Nonhumbcrlands/lst Lciccsters/lst Blad
Watch/1st R. Scots
1st Cloucesters/lst Welch/1st Ok of Wellington's
1St Ulsters/1st Norfolks/lst Liverpool
'C' Sqn. 7th Royal Tank Regt.
8th Irish Hussars/5th Inniskillings/ls1 RTR/5l1
RTR
45th/14th/20th Fd.Reg!. RA
170lh/1201h Lt. Banery RA (~lortars)/61S1 Lt
Reg!. RA
I I th/42nd Ll. AA Bn. RA
551h & 12211d Fd.SqnRE, 6.4Ih Fd.Pk.Sqn.RE
28th Fd.Eng.Rcg!.RE
26th Fd.Amb.
2jlh Canadian b!frwlry Brigade Group
'lndflst/3rd R. Canadians
'lnd/lSt/3rd R.'22< Regt.
~wdjlst/3rd PPCLI
'C'(B'I'A' Sqn. Lord Strathcona's Horse
2nd 1st R.Can. Horse Arty.jBlst Fd.Regt. RCA
23rd Fd.Sqn. RCEj281h Fd.Eng.Regt. RE
571h Indep.Fd.Sqn. RCE
25th '37Ih/38Ih Can. Fd.Amb.
25lh Can.Fd. Dressing Slat.
lSI Comm. Oiv. Sigs. Regt.
1903rd Indep.AOP Flight
Ot/lfr LIllitffl.\OtiOIl.i
COlltillgflltS
Three days arter the i'l\orth Korean lI1\'aslon the
Uniled Nations called on all member states to help
Soulh Korea. Ten countries, besides the Com-
monwealth, sent armed units, and four scnt medical
teams. The soldiers, all volunteers, were idealists,
adventurers, or regulars hoping for accelerated
promotion Ihrough rt.'CclH combat experience. In
all cases (exccpt Ihe Philippines) special units were
raised and they, or their personnel, werc regularly
rotaled.
First came Ihe Philippines. The army, re-
organised in early 1950 inlO tell US·style 'baualion
combat leams' to fight the Huk Communisls, selll
the experienced 10lh BeT p,'lotorised) and a
.\ledium Tank Company. With 1,367 men in three
rine com panics, light tank and reconnaissance
Ucep) companies, ;I self,pl'OpcJled artillery ballery
and supponing services, the unit could operate
independently. Troops wore uniforms identical to
the US Army \\,itb the Philippine cap badge, and
US rank insignia including pre· I 948 chevrons.
They disembarked al Ilusan on 20 September 1950;
and operated with US 25th Oiv. 011 anti·guerrilla
dutjes theil' speciality. From January 1951 the
unilserved with US 3rd Oiv., and in April its tanks
lried unsuccessfully 10 relieve lhe Cloucesters at the
Imjin River. The 20lh BCT look over in September
1951, scrying from April 1952 with US 45th Oiv.; in
June 1952 il was rclie\'ed by 19th BeT 'Blood-
An MP o( tbe c.nadian Pron'~1 Corps., 2Sth Bde., '51
Cornrnon,,·e:l.hb Divi.ion. Nnle "I.... ~·e ill i&.... "'0'" on Iwo
bra.. _rd.... 011 hili le(1 arm Ibe divi.ional.i~0" hi.. ri~hl tbf,
rM 'Ca.aad.' .hi,"-Id wilh. &old_)","-Uow n':l.pl,"-Ir.U:l.nd "Tr.ltb,
bolh und,"-r r'"-!irne..I.llides. (P.. b(jc Ard.;'-es Ca_da)
hounds' ; in April 1953 by 14th HCT 'Awngers' ,
and finally, in April 1954, by 2nd BCT.
After World Wal' I I Turkey was driven by fear
of its Soviel neighbour into the Weslern camp.
Although at peace since 1923, Turkish troops were
generally considered lhe bcsi of the smaller UN
cOlllingents; Ihey fought well, especially in dose
combat; werc steadfast in defence, and resolute as
Po\'Vs; and were well led. 'rhe lSI Turkish
Brigade-with 241S1 Inf.Regl. (three battalions),
an artillery battalion, signals platoon, and engineer,
transport, medical and ordnance companies
disembarked at Pusan 5,455 Slrong, on 18 20
October '950, and advanced with 25th US Div.
into North Korea. They met the Chinese in-
ter\'ention head on, fighting desperately bUI being
beaten back at Sinnimini with hea\') losses. They
fought doggedly near Osan in February 1951, and
on 15 !\ lay foiled anotherdircci Chinese assault. On
I Septcmber 1951 2nd Bele. took o\er; on 30July
1952, 3rd Bdc.; and on 4 September 1953. 4th Bde.;
which left Korca in :-'1;1\ I<)'ll.
"

A c:oopcain o( (he french &,ui/liJI, rk COf'H ..·..... rin~ Ih" black
M",I and bad~" ilI.."lraIM ;n Plale F'_ole 111""&" "')'"I"u, in
M",I. fr"nch and A."'''rican df!COrlll.;On,. ar" worn 00 US
(ati~u".. itldud;n~ Ihe ballaHoo'. la")"Ard (or (our 1'011""1;""
c;tat;on.. in Ih" .:010.. ..-,...110... "",,51...1 whh !r""n--o( Ih"
MUuilk MiJilu;r~ r;bbo... Thr"" !old ban pinn"'" 10 Lbe mesc
indicale his rank. {E.C.I>. Arn,ie.j
Thailand sent til{' 'Royal Thai Forces in
Korea' air and naval forces and the 2 [st
Inr.R<,·gt., formed 22 September 1950 with HQand
1st Bn. only. It reached Korea on 22 October, and
advanced with the US 187th ARCT 10
P'yongyang. In January [95[ the unit retreated
wilh the British 29th Bde. under Chinese pressure;
and, with tst US Cav.Div., fought guerrillas and
faced the Spring Oflensives. In December [951 they
patrolled \\ith US 9th Inr. (';md Div.), fighting
gallantly at Pork Chop I-lill. The regiment returned
home on 31 i\larch '955, leaving a company·sized
contingl'nt which remained until 1972, by which
time 19.000 Thais had scn'ed tours in Korea;
wartime service cost them 125 dead. The 21st Regt.
is now Hi\1 Quccn Sirikit's Guard (Jnit.
In spitc of the heav} burden of her war in
Indochina France sent thc (J:\' French Forces
22
under LI.Cen. (temporary LLC01!) i\londar l
commanding an IIQ and the French Battaliol
(Bataillon Fran~ais), with I-IQcompany (indudin:
an elite assault pioneer platoon), support compan'
and three rifle companies (1St -3rd), each with on
support and three rifle platoons. They discmbarkec
at Pusan on 29 November '950, and joined the 23n
Ref 2nd US Division. The battalion disLin
guished itself in a ba)'onet charge at Wonju on II
Januaf) '951, and in an epic defence ofChip'yong
ni village from 13 to 17 February, which turned th
Chinese offensi\e. At Putchaetul '7 :\la)" th
pioneers fought to the death. Heartbreak Ridge wa
captured in October '951, and Arro\\ Head Hi!
held in October 1952, but again at the cost of th
pionccrs. On 22 October 1953 the French set sail fo
the Indochina \\'ar, le3\ing 261 dead in Korea.
Netherlands nasal forces reached Korea inJul
1950: but the Dutch Army, seriously depleted afte
their recent war in Indoncsia, could offer onl) al
understrcngth infantry battalion from the recentl
formed Regiment \'an HeulSZ. The 636-stron;
unit with headquarters, HQ company, on
support and twO riflc companies and some nurse:!:
all under i\lajor den Ouden reached Pusan on 2
NO\ember 1950, andjoincd US 38th Inf. US 2111
Oi\'. in a particularly successful partnership. On I
February 195' the headquarters and HQCo. weI'
o\'errun by Chinese disguised as ROK troops, ani
den Ouden was killed. In 1\lay a third rifl
company arri\ed, and in April to July 1952 i
helped quell the l)oW revolt on Kojc-do. 11
September 1954 the battalion left Korea, havin;
lost [20 dead.
Exbausted after a long civil war Greec.
nevertheless SCIll a reinforced bat talion formed fron
volunteers from the Creek Army's 1St, 8tb and 9tl
Divs.; tbere was also the 13th Transport Flight 0
the RHAF, which helped evacuate US X Corp
from J-!ungnam. The 8'~9-Strong battalion, witl
headquarters, J-1Q company, and three rifll
companies each with one i\IG mortar and three rifll
platoons, reached I)usan on 9 December 1950, all(
joined US 7th Ca\'.Regt. (US 1St Cav.Div.). On 2~
January 1951 the battalion captured Hill 4°2, all(
'Thr World \hr It lie'" tk XW"r(,J I.I,C"I, \IJli;rill' \·rr...,rr~. ",110 k<
Ihr h..-rill;n I..rll;lon\ I J' D.. ml-8rili;adr al 'aruk and in loul .\[rin
Liid- mall\ ot Dr G.ulk·, ,mall b.md "I ,..oK"'" Imm Ihr I......... olcxiJ(
hr k"pl h~. ",ut;m... P"'"",I..",m .... 1{. Gr". L..d ..n, .

on 5 October occupied Hill 313 ('Scotch Hill'),
losing 28 dead. InJanuary 1952 they patrolled with
15th InC (US srd Div.); and in May they helped
guard Koje-do camp. Finally, in June 1953, they
held 'Harry Hill' against determined Chinese
asa.ults. On IsJanual"y 195+ the arrival or 1,66]
rcinrorcelllcnts enabled expansion to the two-
battalion Hellenic Regiment. By the end or 1955
almost all had lert Korea, having lost 182 dead.
OnSIJanuary 19511heBeigiuDl Luxemburg
contribution the 1St Iklgian Bn. Bataillon
Beige arriwd at Pusan, comprising a headquar-
ters, HQ company, and hea,') \\cajxms company
all mixed Walloon I;lemish ; A and B rifle
Four S<lldi.,..li of p ..in.,.,,,,, I';o!rida'>! Canadian Light lnf.. nuy
p""., .,h.,.,rl"ully Wilh C"n.n\"ni~1 I' ......,aganda plal:ards. All
w.,ar Ih., Canadian >lumn..,.._w.,ighl li.,ld .,al"'; Ih., Iwo
fo~g..ound '·.,I.,.... n>l oolh di>!I,lay Canadi.. n pa....chUl., wingO!;
th., oorpu....J (Jefl f..onl) hall ch.,VTon" Ii,.,n.,illo:d in minialUr.,
besid., his cap badlll'" imilaling US pra.,lic.,; Ih., man at ri,;ht
rear h Canadian.iu,uo:d US-mad., ...li,·., brown SW.,al.,r.1lt.,
COq>o I'" bllttiedr.,llll blou"., i.. Hrilish 1946 iuu." wo...., with
winl.,r ov"rlrOus.,r~ th., n".n al riJlhl front ",.,ar" Canadian
bauledru.... and US combat boo'li. Iii" .303 U'" Enfic:ld was Ih.,
s ....nd.. rd rifl", ,hroulhou, Commonwealth conting",nu. (Pub-
lic Archi,·.,,, Canad..
Companies (Walloon, and C Co. lFlemish. The
Luxemburg DClachment or 48 men ronned the 1St
Pill. or A Co., and wore lhe Grand-Ducal
monogram on Ihe collar palches or Iheir Belgian
unifonns. The battalion rOllghl magnificelllly at the
Imjin Ri,-er, supporting British 29th Bde.: it was
'3
relievcd on 21 Augusl by the 2nd Bn., whieh was Padilla, followed on 15 June '951 by the 1St
Ihen assigncd to US 71h InCRegL (3rd Oiv.). In Colombia Bn. (Bata1l6n Colombia), the only Lalin
OClObcr Ihis unil defended a forward posit.ion at American ground unit ever to fight in Asia,
Haktang-ni for Ihree days against a heavy Chinese Colombians were fint,,1 five dollars for not shaving
attack. from 26 t1.larch '952 to 20January '953 Ihe daily or writing home weekly, and a nine-picce
2nd Luxemburg Ptn. ser\ed with the battaJion. In Latin band accompanied them; but this was ne
April 1953 the unit fought on· Chinese attacks 'operetta army', for they earned a fightin@
at Chatkol. In June 1955 the last Belgians lefl reputation surpassed only by the Turks. The 1,060-
Korea, having lost 1°3 dead including two strong reinforced batlalionjoined US 241h Oi\'. and
Luxemburgers,. first saw combat on 7 August, later mounting an
Emperor Ilaile Selassie, eager to involve epic defence of K umsong from 13 10 23 October. In
Ethiopia in the internationalised conflict, sent the carly 1952 the) transferred 10 the US 31st Inf. uS
1St Kagne\\ "Conquerors' Bn., formed in August 7th Oi,', ; and fought on ·Old Baldy' before bein~
1950 with three riAe companies lSi, 2nd and 4th relieved b) Ihe 2nd Bn. on 4July. After the fighl fOi
Cos. drawn from his elite Imperial Guard. They "T-Bone Hill' in late '952the3rd Bn. took over, alS(
arrived at I'usan on 7 ~Iay 1951, and joined US fighting at "Old Baldy' before rcliefb) 4th Bn. on 2:
32nd InCRcgl. 7th Oi\. on 'Line Kansas'. from June 1953. By the time this battalion left Korea ir
16 to 22 September they were engaged in furious OClober 195-1, 131 Colombians had died in action
hand-to-hand fighting al Sam-Hyon. On 29 i\larch The first foreign medicalleam to arri,·c in Korea
1952 2nd Kagne" Bn. tooko,·er, 10 be relieved in its "as from lhe Swedish Red Cross, operating a field
tum on 16 April 1953 by 3rd Kagnew Bn., which hospilal at I'usan from '23 September 1950 until Ie
drove off al b,ayonet-point a Chinese attack at April 1957. On 7 ~Iarch 1951 the Danish Red
Tokan-ni on 20 ~Iay. This unit was fighting at Pork Cross ship ]ul/ondia anchored in Pusan harbour.
Chop Hill al the time of the Armislice. The last and operatt-d there and at Inehon wilh 100 medical
Ethiopian soldier left Korea on 3 January 1965. personnel ulllil ,6 August '957. From ~Iay '951
In 1950 Colotnbia sent the frigate A/miranl~ until '954 the Norwegian Red Cross 'after I
~o"cmber 1951, Ihe Norwegian Army' operated
M~n oftb.. 3m Turkish Bd....rrh in th .. Panbudon8 l'O!<'tor 10
ta .... o"~r from th .. 37th US Marin in May '953' By lhi" dal~ 'Normash', a ~Iobile Army Surgical Hospital
th .. Tur.... wu.. ~nlirdy clothed and equipped wilh US il~rn5., '~Iash'), the 106 personnel wearing at first
includ;n~ th.. US Arrny'. nylon .Iuminium 'Armor, V"SI,
M,~·. (US Army couru,.y Simon Dunstan) NOI"\\egian and latcr US Army uniforms. Finall)
 North Korean KPA:
I: Sergeant. lummer field dres.. 1950
2: PJi .... te, winter field dreu, 1950
3: Colonel• .ervice d,,", 1952

--
-

r
•
r,
3

A
 Republic otKo",a:
I: Mllior, toervlce dreu, 1960
2: Ueutenant. neld d.rft.. 1900
3: Trained Private, wmlfor field dreu, 1900
• l
I
•

B
United State. Anny:
I: Mlljor, IlW11mer'khaltU',1950
2: Private, 111mmer rield d~ 1960
3: Corporal, Iwnmer field t1reu, 1952

c
 I: US Anny 5"t.. field d 1951
2: US Millin.., winter field d 1953
S: U.Col., Coiombianeontingent.l963

\
r

c.

~-""'- --
o
I: Cpl., 3rd Bn., Royal A...,lrallllD Regt., 1960
2: Pte., 1111 Bn., The Glooeelllerllhlre Regl. (lJK~ 1001
3: Sgt., Royal22 e Regiment (Canada), 1901

E
 I, Lt., Bn. de Coree (France), 1961
2, Kpl.l<J{J., Regt. Villi Heulu(Netherlandel. 1961
3: Capt., Bat.iIIon Beige. 1960

F
1: M-.lor, 1Urki.h Ude., 1950
2: U., 1.1 Kagnew 8n. (Ethiopia), I~I
3: UCpl., 2bt Inl Regl. (Thailand), 1901

G
 Chinese People'. Ube...lloD Anny:
I: Infantrym winter field drellS, 1950
2: Infanlrym ummerfielddreu, 1961
3: Officer• .ervice dre$.. 1962

H
from t6Novembcr '95' until2January t955, the
Italian Red Cross built and ran a hospital at
Yongdungpo.
People:l Repllb/ir of Olillfl
in 1950 the Chinese People's Liberation Army
Clrung-Kuo 1m-Min Chi~h-fong Chiin herearter
PLA ,comprising Ihe Army, Navy, Air Force and
\Iilitia or the year-old People's Republic, was
commanded by Ihe ~tinister or Derence, Chu-Teh,
Anny commander since June 1930. There were
between twO and three million troops in rour Field
Armies numbered 1st 4th and GHQ units
sometimes called ,jth Ficld Army: and one (0 two
million in the second-line Garrison Armies. A Ficld
AmlY 130,000---160,000 strong, equivalent 10 a
\\eak CS or British 'army' contained about three
Group Armies ISI--'23rd. A Group Army
30,000-80,000 strong, equivalent to a Western
'corps' usually contained twO 10 six Armies
1st-about 77thl. The Army (21,000--30,000
strong, or hair again the size or a US or British
Division) was the princip..'ll selr·sufficienl tactical
formation. Each comprised three, sometimes rour,
Divisions (numbered 1st about 230th); artillery,
special duty, Iraining and lorry transport regi-
ments; and engineer, reconnaissance, com-
munications and anti-aircrart battalions. A division
7,000--10,000 SO'ong, equivalent to a US 'light
division') had three infantry rcgimellls (1St-about
70mh), an anillery rcgimetll, and engineer,
Iranspon, medical and signals companies. A
regimen! (in theory 3,242 men, but usually
understrenglh) had three inran!ry battalions (each
with three three-platoon companies), an anillery
battery, and guard, monar, transport, signals,
medical and stretcher companies. There were also
some artillery divisions (with artillery and rocket-
projector regimen!s), and Inner r..longolian moun-
led cavalry divisions, but apparently no armoured
di\'isions al this time, although the PLA did operate
some ex-Nationalist tanks. Army organisation was
slrictly triangular, and all regiments were allocated
10 divisions in numerical sequence, as werc divisions
to armies.
Although 3,000 recently arrin.-d So\-ie{ military
Lt.CoL M. P. A, de.. Oude.., the finn CO orthe Net.herlaad~8n.,
ID""
deco.... tes or hi" eornmaad will> the US Broazo: Star.
Not" th., Ukt)'I., «r"",. 'eomb,lt I.,ad.,r' loop" WOnt 0 .. hi"
..houlder strap"- 0.... Oud"" was killed ia • .,lio.. 0 .......
Huafl:_"« 0 .. OIl f"bno.ary '95" (M.il.Hist.Sec., Royal Dutdo
Army)
advisers were training the PLA in modern
mechanised \\arfare, it was still at this stage a mass
inramry rorce unsurpassed in its expericnce or
guerrilla warfare. Thc Army was multi-racial, with
a cadre of dedicated Communists controlling ex-
nationalist deserters and Po\Vs, and troops from the
compromised Chinese, i\lanchukuo and Mongol
collaborationist armies. To prevent elitism 'pos-
itional titles' (or 'appoimments') were substituted
for the usual military ranks (sec table). Equipment
was poor, and logistical serviccs rudimentary, but
tbe calibre of the ordinary soldier made the PLA a
rormidable fighling machine,
The North Korean invasion of the South had
come as a surprise to Peking, but the Chinese were
unwilling to see the dcstruction or a fellow
Communist slatC when the tide orwar began to turn
against it. By 140Ctobcr '950 the first regular PLA.
troops--designaled 'Chinese People's Volunteers',
to disguise official Chinese emry into the war, and
commanded by 'General' I>'cng Teh-huai-had
crossed the Yalu River secretly into North Korea.
By early No\"embcr these comprised 200,0Cl0 men in
the 13th Group Army ~38th, 39th, 40th Armies ;
42nd, 50th and 66th Armies; 8th Artillery and 1st
33
 and 2nd ~totoriscd Artillery Divisions; a cavalf}
regiment, and the 42nd ~ lotor Transport Regi.
ment.
They promptly smashed ROK forces at tne
Chasin Reservoir, but 38th and 40th Armies
sustained heavy losses at Ch'ongch'on against CS
IX Corps before attacking the weaker ROK II
Corps. On 27 i':o\'ember 9th Group Army 20th.
26th, 27th Armies) was so badly mauled in itl.
unsuccessful attempt to prevelll US X Corps'
fighting relreal to H(mgnam that it was withdrawn
to :\Iandwna for re-organisation. :\Ieanwhile the
main Chinese force (38Ih, 39th, 40th, 42nd, 50th.
66th Armies chased the remaining US ROK
forces Out of North Korea, pausing in December al
the 38th Parallel. Then, on I January 1951, thC)'
surged southwards, and occupied Seoul befon
halting for resupply. The crude logistical 'tair Wal;

Bely...... and G"",k lroo~ an.cl"ed 10 US 3rd I.'.ntry Dh.

'95'. with Gl. ,,·earin. Ih., divi.io..•• ...si,.... on thrio
hetmet.. The Gt_'" ha"e . . . .tional fta. in"'pi. 0 .. tllei.
hel.nets; the beret...·... ria. Bel.i.aalil .n: e<t with tbe M-4!
FN .utomati" riRe. (Ro)..1 8t:lsi.an Emba yJ

Appointments in the Chinese PLA

Titft Littraf Transla/ion British Equil'Q(tn/

Yen-chan-chun Ssu·ling-yuan Field Army Commanding Officer General
Ping-t'uan Ssu-ling yuan Group Army Commanding Officer Lieut. General
Chlin Ssu-ling-yuall Army Commanding Officer Major General
Shih Ssu-ling-yiian Divisional Commanding Officer Brigadier
Shih Fu Ssu-ling-yiian Deputy Divisional Commanding Officer Brigadier
T'uan-chang Regimental Commander Colonel
Fu T'uan-chang Deputy Regimental Commander Lieu!. Colonel
Ying-chang Batlalion Commander Major
Lien-chang Company Commander Captain
Fu Lien-chang Deputy Company Commander Lieutenant
P'ai-chang Platoon Commander 2nd Lieutenant
Fu P'ai-chang Deputy Platoon Commander Sergeant
Pan-chang Section Commander Corporal
Fu Pan-chang Deputy Section Commander Lance-Corporal
Chan-shih Fighter Private

On 16 September 1955 (with effect 1January 1956) this system was replaced by Soviel-Slyle ranks.
Under the Cultural Revolution il was reinslated, with the addition of'Chieh-fang Chun Tsung-ssu-
ling' Commander-in-Chiefoflhe PLA equivalent to Field t\larshal. On I August 1983 a relurn to
So\"iet-slyle ranks was announced.

34
 quite unable to supply cven the modcst 40 tons of
supplies needed by a Chinesc division (a US
Divis.ion needed Goo!) nftcrso rapid an advance. On
II February 40th, 66th and KPA 5th Armies

pressed on towllrds \Vonju, lIsing massed 'human

w3\'e' tactics for the first time; but these caused
appalling casualties in the face of the deadly UN
fireJXlwcr, and the Chinese wCI'e forced to retreat
back over the 38th Parallel, having lost Seoul.
Now scvcn more annics 12th, 15th, 47th. ooth,
63rd, 64-th, 65th arrived for the First Spring
Offensive, which was to be the PLA's greatest if
ultimately unsuccessful effort of the war. In the
....est, the 3rd and 19th Croup Armies would take
Seoul; the 13th and reconstituted 19th Croup
Amlies would attack in the central sector, backed
up by independent Armies and e\'en some
~Iongolian cavalry a total of30divisions (25°,000
men with about 40 divisions in reserye. The
offensive began on 22 April, but had already been
halted by the 30th, with 70,000 casualties, Seoul snU
out of reach, and the advance in the central sector
blunted after 40 miles by the stand of 29th British Or E. Saad.aa, «lmm"nd<r.r of SORMA5tI, c:a.rriu oul ....
ope.... tio... NOle US ..... ak i is.u.., -.ad ....1,ioo,,1 .houtder
Bde. at the Imjin. On 17 i\ lay pressure s\\;tched to palch--'SORC;~ o~~r Ihl! No .-~iao Bas. (Ro)....t No.....·~iaD
Embassy)
the cast in the Second Spring Offcnsivc, with 21
Chinese divisions and two North Korean armies,
led by 3rd and 9th Croup Armics; but after four the western and central sectors, facing UN/ROK
days and 90,000 casualties the advance petered out. forces, leaving the relatively peaceful castern sector
The Chinese wcre shattered, and realised that e\'en to their \\eaker North Korean allies. Their probing
their virtually unlimited human resources could not attacks, usually against vulnerable ROK units,
overcome the murderous UN firepower. They were localised but still vicious; inJanuary 1952 they
retreated as the UN coulllcr·attacked, to a secure lost 4,000 men in a single frenzied battle. In May
line just inside North Korea, saved from humilial· 1952 lhey escalated attacks against 1st ROK Div.,
ing defeat by UN reluctance to invade North Korea backed by artillery and mortar barrage, but werc
again, and by the hope ofan armistice as peace talks once again unsuccessful.
opened. InJ uly 1952 the CPV, now with 14 armies (12th,
The November 1951 stalemate found the 15th, 20th, 26lh, 27th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 4'2nd, 47th,
Chinese troops manning static fortifications against 60th, 63rd--65th), began the 'Outpost Baltles', but
an enemy who no longer feared them as invincible, were usually repulsed, often with significant losses.
but who did 110t wish to waSte lives by attacking. In October they launched a major attack against
Now the Chinese constructed a 14-mile-deep US IX Corps, but lost 2,000 men from 38th Army
system of lrenches, earthworks, deep tunnels and in IWO days. Activity declined over the winter
underground bases as sheltcr against artillery months, and more armies arrived as reinforcements
barrages, air strikes, and c\'cn nuclear attack. (16th, 24th, 54th, 67th and 68th I. Now there were
L:sing their unrivalled skills in concealment and se\'cn Chinese and two North Korean armies in the
camouRage, they moved only under coyer of line, 270,000 men, and II armies with a further
darkness, and attacked in battalion or company 531,000 in reserve. In ~larch 1953 the Chinese
strength, suppOrted by increa.sccl artillery, mortars attacked hard in the west towards Seoul; and in
and tanks. The Chinese now manned exclusively mid-June a major assault in the central sector
35
 26th Arm) 76, 77, 78, 88 Din. from 9th
Anny; 3rd Fd. Army
27th Army (79, 80, 81, go Divs.)
Arm); 3rd Fd. Army
38th Army· 112, 113, 1'4 Divs. from 13th G
Army; .ph Fd. Army
391h Army· (115, 116, 117 Divs.) from 13th Ct
Army: 4th Fd. Arm)'
40th Ann)'· 118, 119, 120 Divs. from 13th G,
Army; 41h Fd. Arm)
41st Army (121,122,123 Divs.)
42nd Army (124, 12':;, 126 Divs. from 14th Gr.
Ann)"; 41h Fd. Ann)
46th Army· 133, 136, 137, Di\"s. from 131h Gr.
Chiaese Iroop" crolli doe v...... River ia Octob<er '950 10 drive
back the "'Clario.." United Natianll t ......p ... Anny
47th Army· (139, 140, 141 Di\'s.) from 131h Gr.
Arm)'; 4th Fd. Army
pushl'd ROK I I Corps back three miles. On 13July 50th Arm)'· 148, '49, IS0 Divs.' from 13th Gr.
the Chinese altacked in the centre again, but lost Ar'my; "tb Fd. Army
a staggering 72,000 men--equivalent to two 54lh Army· (tOO, 161, 162 [Ialer 130, 132, 1351
annics before the Armistice brought fighting to a Divs. from 20lh Gr. Army
close. &Jlh Arm)· 1]8 [Ialer 33,181], '79, 180 Diu.
I)'eng Teh-huai's Chincse People's Volunteers from 3fd Gr. Army; 2nd Fd. Army
returned home in triumph; in October 1954 P'eng 63rd Army· (187, 188, IBg Di\'s.) from 19lh Cr.
was promOled )..Iinister of Defence, and in Army; lSI Fd. Ann)'
September 19,)5 he became one of ten newl)- 641h Anny· 19o, 191, 192 Di,'S. from 19th Gr.
created ':"Iarshals of the People's Republic of Army; 1st Fd. Army
China'. (In September 1959 he was dismissed after 65th Army· (193, 19.h 195 Divs.) from 19lh Cr.
a quarrel with t\lao. The PLA, in spite of9OO,ooo Army; lSI Fd. Army
IOSM"'S, was nO\\ Asia's most powerful army, and it 66th Anny 196, 197, 19B Divs. from I~t Fd. Ann}
embarked on a massi,c modernisation programme
to match lhe firepower of lhe now pathologically
A Chinese d ..rens;"e position-nole elderly Ma",im.l~
hated Americans. mach-h'e ~ .. n, and botd_h.. (>ftI "tick ~re...de.
The order of battle of the CP\' ,\as as follo'\s
·indicates formations prC'SC1lI in July 1953; u i
means unidentified.:
1St Army· 1,2,7 Di,'s. from 13lh Gr. Arm); 2nd
Fd. Army
12th Ann)· (3-1 [later 31],35,36 Divs. from 3rd
Gr. Army; 2nd Fd. Arm)
15lh Army· (29,44,45 Divs.) from 3rd Cr. Army;
.mel Fd. Army
16th Arnl)· 46,47.48 [lat('LI_6, 47, u i, 32] Divs.
from 9th Gr. Anny
20th Army (58, 59, 60, 89 Divs.) from 9th Gr.
Arm); 3rd Fd. Army
23rd Army· 67. Gg, 73 Di,·s. from 9th Gr. Arm)
24th Army· 7°,72,77 [later 74 J Divs. from 9th
Gr. Army
671h Army'" ( '99, 200, 20' Divs.) from 20th Ge-
Army
68th Army'" (202, 2°3, 2°4 Oivs.) from 201h Cr.
Army
70th Army (208, 209, 2tO Divs.)

Also present inJuly 1953: four motorised artillery

divs., lSI '25,26,27 Regts." 2nd '28,29,30 Regts.),
7th II, 20, 21 Rcgts.1, 8th 31, 44, 45, 47, 4,8
Rcgts. '; 21S1 Rocket Launcher Oi\'. (201,202,2°3
Regts.,; six allli·lank regts. 401 +06; fi\"C' horse-
drawn artillery regts. g, 10,4-°,41, U i; fouT AA
regts. 1,2.3,9' and four tank regIS. 1,6 and two
"' .

Ti,e Plotes
A: SOTtll I(ouon KPA
AI: &rg~ant, summtr fi~ld dms, 1950
The Russian·stylc shirt blouse was often worn
inside the trousers, \\ ith the collar unfastened and
the opening filled by a separate triangular "gas flap"
of blue cloth. A simplified \"Cfsion introduced later
in the war had plain cuffs, and only one flapless
pocket on the left breast. The baggy trousers were
fastened with tapes al the ankle and worn with
rubber-soled camas ankle Ix>ots. The original olive
khaki shade faded rapidl) to a light yellowish hue.
The delachable shouldel' boards were made of a
superior malerial which retained its dark olive
green colour better and contrasted markedly with
the resl of the uniform: some, at Icast, could be
reversed to act as red or green full dress insignia.
The uniform had reinforcing patches on the clbows,
trouscr scat and knees, and fn.:quelltJy single or
double rows ofhoriZOlltal 'zigzag' stilching around
the cap and across the shoulders, chest and upper
sleeves, which were used to hold leaf camouflage.
The SovicHtylc steel helmet had the national
badge painted on the front, but seems to have been
little worn in the field.
Tank crews appear to han' worn Russian-slyle
one-piece overalls in black or khaki, wilh high Ix>ots
and padded canvas helmets.
Az: Pril.'ot~, u';nJtr drtss, 1950
This quilted cotton uniform \\as padded with
Japan"'''e ",mploy"," of t.he US Army mod",1 t.h", Chin~
P_pl""" Volu.al"""r,,' "01100 "ummer "ombal uniforn..-d:
Plat., II. n., fabri., tub<: "Iunp; "round the body ill for"'rryinp;
rations; the mised luther and fabric pou.,h rip; ill tbat also
shown in the posed phOlo on .... P;e Jo (US Army via Lo:o: Run.,U)
cotton wool or kapok. The style followed that of the
summer uniform, except that the shirl/blouse had a
low slanding collar. The field cap, which was made
from the same material, had larger side naps which
could be fastened under thc chin but wcrc otherwise
lied over the crown. The uniform was worn with
padded mittens which had separate thumbs and
trigger fingers, and rubber-soled ankle Ix>oIS Wilh
quilted cotlon tops. Some officers wore high boots of
white fclt which had a Strip of dark leather all the
way up the front. There was also a double-breasted
parka wilh slanting side pockets; and officers had
conventional double-breasted greatcoats with
SO\'icHtyle collar tabs. Later the blouse was
replaced by a five-button double-breasted jacket
similar 10 that of the Chinese PLA; some, indeed,
may have been of Chinese origin, for the i'orth
37
Korean supply position must have been sevcrely
affected by the UN's '950 advance. Equipment
resembled the Soviet World War I I pattern, with
leather waist belts and ammunition pouches, and a
plain canvas rucksack and haversack. The arma4
melll was identical to the current Soviet issue, and
consisted ofSKS carbines or PPSh.p S~IGs.
.43: Colontl, un';u drm, '952
This smart, Russian-style uniform seems 10 dale
from 1948 al least. The lunic was very similar 10 the
1943 Soviet J,:iUtl excepl in having pointed cu(fs.
The piping was red for the Army and green for the
Border Conslabulary. The tunic was aJmOSI always
worn with Russian-style breeches and high black
boots, though long trousers seem to have been
authorised for undress. The North Koreans appear
to ha\'c follo\\ed the Soviet practice whereb) both
wore dark blue for parade and walking-oUl dress
and khaki for field scr\·ice. Generals had broad
double arm-of4scr\'ice colour stripes, and other
>,(Jltrll I·Q.U' ,f ••1I1 "SIC" t:
officers narrow plJ)lng. All ranks wore the
diSlinctive North Korean cap, but only officers had
the piping around lhe crown and the two diagonal
Hnes on either side or the badge. The badge itself
clearly rencctcd Soviet innuence, as did the
shoulder boards. The officers' field uniform \\as
simjlar except that it was made of callan drill and
lacked the piping. There was also a while summt'f
tunic in lhe S<'l.me sl)'le, which was worn wilh the
peaked cap and blue or khaki lrousers. The dress
tunic was worn without a belt, lhe field version with
a 'Sam Browne' with a plain rrame buckle.
B: Army of 1M Rtpubli( oj Koua
BI: Major, Jariu drw. 1950
The Rcpublic of Korea's Army was organised
under American auspices, and received surplus CS
arms, equipment and uniforms rrom 1947 onwards.
ROK officers wore lhe S Army's olive drab tunic
and trousers; its slimmer service dress orlight khaki
shirl and trousers: or. as in this case, the bauledrcss-

"_Ho
(I) Cy ~~d.f ~ohJ. (iI)
field marli....J-Kim
U-SUDS only. (]) O'.SII,
deputy field marshal-nonk
aol h",ld 101 lhi. dal"'. (4l
Stuw-itvw, li"'ul",nant,"&",n",ral.
/10'8, Ihe fou~lar raM of
T~, !",neral, i. aol
..howa hu",. ($) C""'¥i-j<l~,
major'1l....eral. ('l So-jQ"I,
bris.di",r. (7) Tu-j.."", H-nior
coloo",l. (8) Siul8-j..·.,
colone~",re, Armour. (9)
Clullll-j..·.., lieulen,u.. _
colonel-Artillery. (10) So-
j ....., m.jo.....-Engin""" .... (II)
TIH''''i, ...,rUor c.pl.in-
M.,dical. (.'1) Stlng...·;,
capc.in-Sign.1J1. ('3) Chunl(_
,,·i,licul.,nlln'-Judse
Adv..,.le'. Depl. ('4) So-"';,
JI«ond lieutenan •. (IS) T'iJn/l'
mu Su"g''''', WlIrrllnt onicer,
sergeant·major. (16) Stlnx-.-a,
sc.rr serg.,anl. (17) Cltu"lf.>'Il,

9,.
..erseanC. (.8) 11.._,
corporal. ('9) S",,/:-<I,,"I(,
lance--corporal. (20) elt/J"."...
priv,"",.
Officers' should.. r board,
w",re in broad gold (combac
arms) or ..a ...... w sih~r I.ce
(Hrv;"e.), wich conlra infl:
sl.rs.; tbe piping _ . r in
the Army and gr"""n in the

,
Bord",r Conlllabulary.
NCOs' strap" w",re oli"e
&","«n wilh fl:old bars .nd
red or fI:~ pipinfl:.
(Po Abbou)

•

~I. I~I Clan F .... nk R. Oakello LI.CoI. t'-rand. o..i~her and LL
Roe 8)'onll lieun ~uP"'rv;..i.n1l repatriation or CommuniSI
PoW. al Panmunjom i .. Au«"sl '9~hu. Ihe .upe.rvi&or'.
arm b .....sard•. NOle minor differences in the ratipe pallenu,
(Sft comme.. t.ri.... to Plates C, 0); .ad method. or ....eariag
rank and brancb in.ig-aia, USA ...d ROK. (US Army via Lee
Rusliell)
style 'Eisenhower jacket' which had become the
standard US temperate climate sen'ice dress
gannelH during the immediate post-\\ ar pcrioo. US
officers could combine it with light-colourcd slacks
on the snme basis as the pre-war 'pinks and greens',
and this officer has ob\;ously followed their
example. A closed-collar version, worn with olive
drab trousers and peaked cap, was authorised for
enlisted men. The cap bndge fentured the
trnditional )'flf/g and yin symbol. While generals
wore US-style stars, field and company grade
officers wore their devices moullled on gilt backing
bars in a fashion reminiscent of World War II
Japanese practice, and the service dress tunic
sometimes bore Japanese-style cuff braiding. US-
style arm-of-scrvice devices existed by the end of the
war, and were supposed to be worn on the left hand
side ofthe shirt collar after the US fashion, but fe\\
photographs actuall) show them in use. These
branch devices were only worn by officers.
82: Li(IJttnant,fi~ld dr~ss. 1950
The North Korean invasion disrupted the ROK
Anny's suppl) system, and in the period before US
material started to nood in, South Korean soldiers
presented a very motley appearance. OldJapanese
Arisaka rines and even some steel helmets were
brought out ofstol"e, and many troops hnd to make
do with camas 'tennis shoes' instead of combat
boots. The sUI-plus US Army material supplied \\ as
not necessarily of the mOSt up-to-date pattern. This
officer, for instance, wears the lJS ~141 field jacket,
which had long been superseded in the US Army by
the much improved ~143 combat clothing. With it,
he wears US-style olive drab \\oollen trousers,
combat boots, and the peaked field cap of the
summer fatigue uniform. l\lany ROK soldiers seem
to have been issued with US Army greatcoats at the
beginning of winter 1950--51, evcn though these
wen: really obsolete as a field garment. By mid-
'95', however, the South Koreans had been fully
equipped with US-pattern field clothing. US
innuencc extended to the development ofa systcm
of divisional patches, which were often paimcd on
the helmet sides, and to parade embellishmcllls
such as chromed helmet liners, decorative cravats,
and \\ hile ladder-lacing in the combat boots.
83: Prit'Qt~, train~d, wintn fi~ld dms, 1!J50
Ahhough the South Koreans wore what were
esscntiall) US uniforms, there \\ere certain
differences. The US 1\(-12 HBT summer fatiguo
sometimes had the same 'zigzag' stitching across the
upper part of the blouse as appeared on North
Korean uniforms and which were apparently
designed to hold foliage camounage. This NCO is
wearing an indigenous winter outfit made of the
same quilted COllon material as the North Korean
and Chinese moods (which seems sometimes to
have led to cases of mistaken identity, with ROK
stragglers being takcn for Communists by their UN
allies); it diOcred in that the material was olive
green in colour, generally with a criss-cross quilting
pattern, and in having two large breast pockets like
the 1\142 1-1 BT fatiguejacket. It was often worn with
a US-pattern pile cap instead of the steel helmet.
Like the belt, web pouches and combat boots, this
was or the standard US World War II pattern.
Rank chevrons wcre supposed to be \\orn on the
upper arms, but this seems to haH been rare on the
fidd clothing; they more commonl) appeared on
the helmet front, sometimes with miniature versions
on the lcft hand breast packel flap.
39
c: Uniltd Slatts Amry
Ct: iHajor, Slimmer khakis, '950
The term 'khaki' can cause confusion because
Americans usc it to mean a lighl tan, whereas to the
British and others il means a darker shade more
akin 10 the American olive drab. During Ihe '9305
the practice of wearing khaki shirts and privately
purchased trouscrs devcloped; and these became
issue garments for enlisted men in 1938-40, along
wilh Ihe 'ovcrseas cap', until thell not authorised for
wear in the United Stales. This practical and
comfortable hOH\calhcr uniform was also widely
&OK AJt..\lY 'N>IG~lA:
(I) Infanlry. (:I) Anill",ry. (3) MNi~l. (.Il Anno.........11 th",
f0rt50u.5> llold. Is) Eapel'.....-ih-u. llold "I.r. (6) Cap
bads:~ bl.... U .. I .... widl ih·..r IH't:llll, sold _ ..... Ih. (1) I
Co~1r. biOI" and whil"'. (I) Capilol Dhio;i0--Vft'D
shi",1d, ..-hil'" rim, y",lIow lill"'r'. h..-d.. (9) '''I Divisio..-dark
bI..", rim.., )..,lIow o;hOeld, red .. um"'nol. {.o)]reI Divi"io--.brk
biOI'" and _hil"'. (I I) C~+UW, li"""enanl..."'....raL (12) $o.jIuw,
m.jo.........enJ. (I]) CIw.-jQ",. bripdi",..-_U th", (0rt50u.5>
.it"",r. ('4) T_)~. colonel (15) C ...."<t'""'l~, li""l1......ol.
colon..l (16)StH-}-6tfx, m.jo.......11 foresoins, sold ba..... 1illlll and
dar" ih'",r ro..nd",l., 0..", US 1IOUrc:e lli"... red and biOI ..
muod..l.., J>OI'o;ibly f..1l dr...... ('7) T-.tri. capt.;... (.I) CIf,,"K"""i,
worn by officers; it continued 10 be Ihe main
summer service dress after 1945. and was worn in
rear areas, such asJapan, throughout the Korean
\Var. Officers and wa...·ant officers were also
authorised to purchase a khaki tunic as an optional
item for wear on more formal occasions. The style
was similar to that of the oli\ e drab tunic, except
that the lower pockct flaps "cre poilHCd, and it
lacked a cloth bell. Arter World War II some
officers began to wear a khaki version of Ihe 'Ike
jacket' instead of the tunic, though this garment
seems to have been less common than its oli\'e drab
Li I I. ('9) So-wi, MCO..d li"'.. I"' _ " for'"'!!oins:, sih-....
ba on s:old..l'lO) r;;~_ s.~ rno.. t om.,.,r, RrJ I.
m.jor. {21I/.ft~ Soul:f RrJ...... I. (2:1) lJ.tii"<t' CIw"X~ la.. ~
RrJ.....t. (2JJ 1..JiI~ C ~-M, corporal (2.4) 1I1He, la .." ...
corporaL (2S) lI.tii~ p)~, lrainN pri''''l'''. All o:I'''''ro''ll, _hil..
0" Sreftl. NO( ... ho...... n lilt ra..lr.. of T~. fou 1at
ll.... ~ "o1 h",ld .1 lhal period; CIw.wi, --.ior rra..1
om.,.,r....ho ...0 ..... plai"llold bar 0" th", should..r o;trap; 1J.f'Uw
.s:...-. - Raior NCO ....... ju..ior to (_}_nd IacloinS th", Slar;
:and 1-dii...S R,.oo! (Recruil)' .... insiria.
From 15 M.y '954 fi",ld .od comp""y offi.,.,...• ;n"is:ni:a
" .....S.... from th.. iII..slra."" April '946 mod..l" 10 ~ ..",..e:esof
sih-",r blo. .oms aJKI di....o ..ds. (P. Abboll)

x
-:I-
X 2

1~~
W~ 7
•
~
•
3
,;~
~
5
~
• l]J A
• 10

~'-'~ * I~ ~
" 14 17
20
m 23

** ~
12 I~ ~ 15 1. 21
~ 2'

* j
13
~ 1.
"
22
~ 25

40
equivalent. Insignia were the S<'l.mc on all unifonns: US troop>< advance 0 .. T ae~ dun"s che o(fe...i,·e followUo.S Lhe
lncloOIl landlnS_ in a ..lu... 11 '!tYJ; aparl fro Ihe hn."'"
here, Quartermaster Corps, Japan Logistical hel ...et CO)ve..-..d che 'brewed' T..,.. lis I of Lhe KPA'_
10SLh Annd..Bde.-1he.... i. IIOlhinll 10 d.inlnll"w5h Ihi. 5Cene
Command. from ma"1 lake.. i .. Ihe latter .1_11" ofibe Pacific W... all1lin"1
Japan.
C2: SoJditr, summtr jitJd drm, 1950
Among the most important of the US Army's greenish grey. These garmenlS became the basis for
innovations during Wodd War II was the use of the Army's post-war summer combat dress, and
fatigue clothing as hot-weather combat dress. The wcrc widely worn in Korea by the US Army, ROK
first fatigues used in this way wcre the 1\'141 HBT and other UN troops.
(Herring Bone Twill) work suits, which could be
recognised by their hip-length jackets and shirt- C3: Corporal, summ,rjitld drtss, '952
type cuffs. These were occasionally to be seen in During the second year of the war the M42 H BT
Korea; but werc largely supcrseded by the two- fatigues began to be replaced by a newer pattern.
piece M42 fatigues, which differed in having a These appear to have been designed in 1947 but not
longer coat with tab closures at the cuffs, a gas flap manufactured lIntil the early 1 95°S. The coat
across the neck opening (almost always removcd in resembled that of the M42 set and had the same gas
practice), and unusually large 'bellows' pockets on flap (again, almost invariably removed), bUI the
the chest and high on the hips of the trousers. With cuffs were plain, and the pocketS were of the normal
these fatigucs went a peaked field cap, whose short patch type with squared-on' naps and 'docked'
visor was lengthcned after 1945. The H BT material bottoms. The trousers had normal side and back
was tough and hardwearing, but it was also heavy pockets, and the buttons were of plain plastic
and slow to dry when weI. It prcsenu.:d a faintly instead of being the earlier' '3 star' black metal
'striped' appearance, though this was only visible pallern. The first batches of these new fatigues were
dose up. The original colour was a dark green made of the old H BT cloth, but later oncs were of
Army Shade 7 "hich quickly faded to a pale dark olive green OG 107 cotton t\\;11. Like all
4'

<chow' in the jJnow: mem~rs of IIQ.Co.. 'u.d 8
display '"1.rio... '"..,s offal;Il".... maUtJy Potu patt
ca~ WOrll 00 lOp of falillue caps. (US Anny)
Korcan War fatigues, thcy wcrc baggy and
shapeless. Those worn in thc field seldom bore
formation patches or c\cn rank chevrons, though
smartened-up versions worn with decorative neck-
erchiefs, highly polished or chromed helmel Iinerx
and while ladder-laced combat boots began [0
appear behind the lines. Like man) line NCOs, lhis
corporal has relained the older World War I I-style
chevrons inSlead of the unpopular 19{8-pattern
minialures blue on gold for combatant arms, gold
on blue for services which were discontinued early
III 19S1.
D1: Strgeant, US An"'y,jield dms, I95J
The US Army relained its successful ~143 field
uniform after World War I I. Thc matcrial was
windproof CottOIl sateen in a dislinclly greenish
shade of olivc drab. In summcr thcjackel could bc
worn over the I-IBT fatigues. III wintcr the jacket
and trousers wcre worn ovcr a woollcn shirt,
sweatel' and 'lincr' (a woollen cardigan-style
garment) in a browner shadc of olivc drab. The
.M43 peaked field cap had car flaps, but the pile cap
more commonly accompanied this uniform during
the Korean winter, Thc World War II 'double-
buckle' combal boots were progressively replaced
by plain lacc-uponcs, all in rliSSCllcather. This M43
uniform cquipped the majority of US troops in
Korea, as well as the re-equipped ROK troops and
many of the UN contingents. However, it began to
give way loan improved version known as thc ~151.
The jacket differed onl) in having snap pocket
elosurcs instead ofbUtlons; hut the trousers had the
side 'cargo' pockets prcviously used only by
paratroops, and lhe shin and sweater were dark
green. The praelice of adding a rigid liner to the
MSI field cap produced the fashionable, kepi-like
'\\Talker' or 'Ridgway' cap typical of the laler 19505
and '60s, This NCO wears the 1948-patlern
miniature chcvrons, JUSt visible on the right.
D2: US Marine, win/tr dms, 1953
The US ~Iarincs wore their own HBT ;utilities',
peaked field cap and eamounaged helmel cover,
and retained thc carl) World War I I-pallern ankle
boots and canvas leggings, which led the North
lkh c.va.lry Koreans 10 nickname them 'ycllowlegs'. Their
ad pil..
winter uniforms approximated more lO the Arm)
pattern, howe\'er, and included ~143 jackets,
trousers and pile caps, together with \\'orld \\'ar II
parkas, and lhe unsatisfactol') canvas and rubber
'shocpaks', The ~151 winter outfit was issued 10
both arms, although nOt ul1lil relatively late in the
war. It was based on lhe same 'layering' principle as
the ~143, The field jacket and lrousers wcrc worn
over frieze liners, \\'hich wcrc white and dark green
respectively: a green nannel shirt; and a loose-fitting
while undershirt and drawers, For really cold
wealher a parka and ovenrouscrs could be added,
The parka resembled the World War I I pattern
exeepl that it lackt.-'d a belt, had only lhe slanting
upper pockets, and was oli\'e green instead of the
earlier lighl Ian. The boots were ofdouble-thickness
rubber with a layer offcit between: perspiration was
prevenlcd from evaporating, but the insulation
supposedly kept it from freezing. There werc leather
gloves with woollen inserts, or ArClic miucns which
had pile backs for rubbing frostbitten noses and
faces.
D3: Tmiente Coronel, Colombian contingenl, 1953
This is a good example of lhe 'smartened-up'
fatigues worn by most senior officers during t..hc
Korean War. Non-Commonwealth UN con-
tingents normally worc standard US field clothing
with the addition of their own national and rank
insignia (this did not appl) to the Filipino troops,
who were slill using US-style rank insignia at this
period), usually Wilh the palch of the US Division 10
which they were attached on their left shoulders.
This lieulenant-coloncl wears the M47-panern
fatigue blouse with ~142-pattern trousers, a mixture
of styles which was cllIircly charactcrislic of the
period. For somc reason hc has the Colombian
national badge under thc titlc '0.11.0\1111;\' in gold on
red in place ofa divisional patch. The same badge
has been sewn to his neckerchief (a post-war US
Army fashion) whose light blue could stand both for
the United Nations or infalllry in the US service.
Colombian company officers wore one to three gilt
stars, and field officers similar stars with a gill bar:
since the fatigue jackets lacked shoulder straps this
officer has presumably pinned his insignia two
stars divided b) a bar to the collar in the US
fashion, adding the com entional crossed rifles of his
ann-of-service device on the left.

EI: Australia: Corporal, 3'd Bn., Ro)"al Australian

Rrgimrnl, 1950
The Australian contingent was initiall)' equipped
with the familiar loosely fitling tunic, trousers and
'Digger' hat worn in two world wars, and a summer
unifonn ofkhaki drill shirt and trousers. Black boots
had replaced brown in 1948. The canvas gaiters
resembled the American pattern but were fastened
with straps, while other web equipment followed
British models. \\'hite-on-red 'Ro\"'. \lSlkAlIA.'
R£GI.\u:......-r' shoulder titles replaced the discontinued
battalion patches, but the RAR's regimental badge
did nOt supplant the \,'ell-known 'Rising Sun' until
1954. The Australians were the first Com-
monwcalth troops to receive US winter clothing.
This included pile caps, on \vhich they werc ordered
to wcar 'Rising Sun' colla I' badges. [n practice,
many retained their distinctive wide-brimmed
headgear-as one said, 'They can take away my
strides, but not my hat.' Steel helmets wcre
conspicuous by their absence. Subscquclllly,
British-pattern proofed combat dress and steel
helmets and US flakjadets were adopted for field
wear. The ol"iginal service dress uniform was
replaced by 194,8·pauern Australian battledress,
which differed lillie from tbe British model cxcept
that the lapels werc rather wider. The distinctiyc
hat and gaiters were retained, and 2nd RAR
initiated the Australian practice of blackening the
laller in '952.
u: Guat Britain: Pril.'Ot~, 1st Bn., Th~ Glouustnshire parkas and rubbeNolcd boots. The cap (dubbed
R~gimml, 1951
The Brilish arrived ,\earing 195o--pattern jungle and trousers went on to become the :\158 combat
Pfe. na KI w. JacklIOn of Co.L, 5th RCT, weariaS the earty
'Vest, A o~ M-'95" ia Iat., September '952. By thill da'"
the USA y had reclti ... nllIOme2O,ooo ""'ampln ofehill USMC-
procured n-t; d.e fiMle .hipmene of the Army'll own·A.......or,
V.,.c, M-'9~' did aO'arri,·., uotil th"t December. Early rrponll
indicated that th., us., of body armour rnluenl the cas_hie"
hy aboue:JO per ee.>I. For rull d.,tails """ MAA '57, F"'1i Jlldns.
(US Army COUM.,.,.y Simon Ounlllull.)
green bush shins, trousers and floppy bush hats. At
the onset of winter they donncd standard khaki
serge battledress and cap comforters, later 'acquir-
ing' US M43 combat clothing. Meanwhile, supplit."S
of British World War I I-pattern cold weather
clothing were rushed out. This included string vests,
long underwear, ribbed sweaters, oiled socks, felt·
lined boots, visored field GlpS with neck and car
flaps, gloves, gaullllets and lhe '942 windproof
outer suit consisting of a hoodcd smock and
oveflrouscrs in a green, brown and khaki 'brushed'
camouflage pattern. For the second winter they
wcre issued with a newl) de<;igned field uniform of
greenish grey gaberdine, consisting of combat
jackct, trousers, peaked field cap, inner and outer
'Hat, Horrible' was not a success, but the jacket
 Ii C 00 2 J
~"'

,
r

I[""~'"
9 , , I I---
~r~
9 '0

t.t' :\'1 /::-~"'

_-
~;

"
STtADY_DN
I'tlILLlffiNts .....
" " >J
"
CIwf tk """,;/lotl (Major) Barthelemy, adjut••' or the Frnocll IDo"ln.O SATIO!'o"S L'lSlGlo"I,A.:
battalio... newly ..... rd~ the US lAJI:,oa or Meril. Like .........y (I) ~15ia.. B..... (~) British 10th Di...- i..itially ""0....
by 2".10 Bel".
~·~ ..ratUI orFree Fn:..cb ........ic:e ...ilh the 8riti~h, he ...,.ai.,. th", (3) British ~h Bel". (4) I.t British Commo""",""lth Dhuion. (5)
Bnush rilll'"·ha.ad beret 'pull'. He wn." Antericaa o;hirt ...... 25th CaDadia.n Bele. (') Colombia.. B (7) Ethiopia.. K.a5_·
lrou~ • French ,,..' brown lfllilou MIt, cloth Fn:.m B..... (.) F~..ch Bn.-o..rfl. c,) C...".k B (.o)Lwt"mburs; Pt....-
",h We.. SII'1IP .......kina, aad. muntin: oCF.. _cb, US and ROK pocl<"t patch. (I t) N"'th_taDds 8 ... (t2) .otlt Philipp...,.. BCT.
d~ tio..,. and ituoipia. Note tbe IU.TIOl'oli m.U5 lri"Olo.... (':51 Thai c:ont.iaA,","t. (I+) Turkish Bel".
shidd t..d8"' ....0 .... 0.. the collar. (E. C. P. Ann~l

dress. This private wears the Gloucestcrs' famous overtrousers, together with a distinctively Can-
'back badge' on his bush hat. The ribbed sweater adian peak(.'d field cap, which was manufactured in
was often worn as an ouler garmelll, with the both wool and cotton. The earlier Brit.ish ~Ik. 3 steel
regimental title, divisional patch and rank chevrons hdmet was superseded by Ihe later :"lk. 4, with
on a drab brassard, and officers' pips sewn 10 the some US i\ll helmets appearing towards the end.
shoulders (and note this unit's US Citation dasp). The Canadians wore their red brigade patch on
The 1944 pattern ~Ik. 4 SICel helmet became bolh slccves until they became part of the
mandatory as enemy artillery strength increased, Commonwcalth Division, after which they wore the
and US-supplied body armour made its ap- lauer's light blue shield on their left sleeve or
pearance. brassard and their own patch on the right. Each
regiment and corps had itS own distinctively
£3: Catlllda: Sergeont, Ro)'ol 22' Regimel/t, '95' embroidered shoulder title. Rank insignia followed
In 1950 thc Canadian Army WOI·C its own version of the standard British pattern at this period.
battlcdress, differing sliglllly from the British and
made of a beuer-quality, rather greener material. FI: FrollCt: Lieutenant, 1951
tl.losl units wore khaki berets, but the paratroop~ The Bataillon de Corce was raised in September
Irained 1st Ballalions had maroon, and the 1950 from volunteers of all branches of the French
armoured squadrons black. Summer wear consisted army-Metropolitan, Colonial and Foreign
of a khaki flannel shirt or olive grccn bush jacket Legion-and was commanded by Lt.CoI. Olivier
together with plain olive green ·bush pants'. Le M ire, a former paratroop officer of the I "RCP.
Equipment followed the British pattern cxcept that The mixed nature of the unit prompted him to
the web anklets wcre replaced by short puttccs. organise the companies 011 ·tribal' lines: 1St Co. was
Injt.iaJly, the Canadians receivcd US ~143jackets, largely composed ofColonials, 2nd of'i\letros', and
overtrousers and S combat boots. Subsequently 3rd of paratroopers from all three C<'1tegorics. The
ttlC) introduced their own olive green nylon parka problem of distinctive headgear and insignia was
in fact a hooded ~143·style field jackel and soh-cd by issuing the black beret of the para-
44
 commando Batail10n de Choc. The usc of
enamelled beret and lapel (as opposed to pocket-
fob) unit badges was a break with French tradition;
the latter consisted of a tricolour shield with the
inscription ",\TIO'S l'lU,'. The beret badge---
illustrated e1scwhere in detail was usually, though
not invariably, worn 011 the right; some berets also
had two very prominent brass vemilation eyelets on
the right side. Ranks were indicated on shoulder
~trap slides or chest tabs in the usual French
manner.
On arrival in Korea the troops received US arms,
rquipment, combat clothing and steel helmets. The
lJS 2nd Division's 'Indian Head' patch was worn;
bm the) retained their French berets, and the lapel
dC\;ce occasionally appeared on fatigue dress
collars. Ex-paras of the 3rd and HQ companies
sometimes pinned their wings, or the French para
beret badge, to the front flap of their pile caps; and
some old North Africa hands sported the character-
istic 'clinch' or desert scarf. Some paras kept their
camouflaged smocks, often ofex-British stock, of the
t9.12 windproof,,·inter suit, which was very popular
for its lightness among French paras in Indochina at
this period, and was nicknamed 'sausage skin'. The
same smock was also issued to Commonwealth
troops in Korea.
After returning to Indochina in October 1953,
the unit formed the cadre for the two-battalion
Regiment de Coree. (In June-July 1954 this was
virtuall) wiped out in the Central Highlands of
Vietnam, around An Khe and Plciku, while serving
with the r.... mous Groupe ~Iobile 100.)
F2.' Nttlrerftmds: Korporaal l ' J.-tasSt, '95'
The volunteers were isslled with the Dutch army's
British-style battledt>css. Most wore standard khaki
berets, but ex-paratroopers, M arincs and cavalry-
men retained their red, blue or black Olles, bearing
the brass badge of Regimelll Van Heutsz (an eight-
point star on a stylised 'w'), worn in tbe Dutch
fashion on a distinctive ribbon backing, in this case
black with orange edges. In Korea the volunteers
received US fatigues for field wear and 'I ke' jackets
and trousers for walking out; but the beret was
commonly worn in preference to US headgear such
as peaked fatigue caps or pile hats. The nalional
patch was worn on the right shoulder, with a
miniature enamelled '·ersion on the left collar point;
Mr F. J. K bu"'l. Slate Sec::~l.f")' ror Dd....u, ,-is;I'' till..
Net.h.,rl....h a Ko...... Au!" 1 1953; al l..rl, Lbe balULliOD
comm.ndu, COI. C. K.ooul"l. (MiUlj"I.SK., Ro),.] Dutch
Ann,)
the US 2nd 1nfantr) Di,'ision's large 'I ndian Head'
patch was worn on the left shoulder, with a similar
miniature on the right collar point; and the uS 38th
Infantry Regiment's enamelled badge was worn on
the left breast (occasionally on the beret or fatigue
cap, too). These devices fn.·(lll(,ntly appeared on the
fatigue dress, either separately or in combination.
Officers wore their own Dutch stars and bars ofrank
on collar or shoulder strap loops, but NCOs
adopted US rank chevrons. Since this NCO's rank
had no US equivalent, the Dutch improvised by
cutting the upper chevron off the US sergeant's
IIlSlgma.
F3: Belgium: CapilaiTlt, 1.950
The volunteers initially received standard Belgian
battlcdress, which resembled the British model
except that it was greener and had longer collar
points. They nlso received British Denison Smocks
(some officers wore these privately bought versions
similar in style but with a more distinct, 'wavy
edged' camouflage pattern). Web equipment and
boots followed the Briti~h pattern. They adopted a
distinctive brown berct; and a gilt badge in-
corporating the Belgian lion on a shield with a
helmet above, b... cked by the \\'alloon battlcaxe
and Flemish 'glMotTloag' or ball-and-chain mace, the
whole over a scroll lettered '8H..(;[l'I'. The coUar
45
patches were brown edged with yellow. Normal
Belgian rank insignia were worn; when in
s.hirLSlee\e order officers wore miniature versions of
the collar patch on the s.traps._ In Korea the Belgians
\'>ere issued with US steel helmets, \\ inter clothing
such as ~143jackets, parkas and pile caps, and US
fatigues. for usc as summer fidd dress_ However,
they continued to wear their distincti\e berets and
camouflage jackets, IOgether with 'British' items
such as knitted "cap comforters' and oli\e khaki
shim with pleated breast pockets. The national
shield patch was worn on the lert shoulder, that of
the US 3rd Infalllry Di\-ision on the right, with
gold-on-brown "8£1..GIUI' shoulder titles above,
C/: T/lrkry: A!ajor, 1950
The Turks arrived in Korea wearing lheir l'eccllIly
adopled battlcdrcss uniforms wilh US-pattern field
caps made Oflhl" same maH.·rial. Bl'iti~h ~Ik. 2 steel
helmets, leather waist belLS and Cerman-pauern
ammunition pouches. i\'CO:. and men wore no
insignia other than a rough disc in arm-of-scr.ice
colour green for infant..)', blue for artillery on the
side cap, but officers had collar patche:> in the same
colours, Stan- wore red . There was ani) time to
issue them with L:S weapons and some US :\11943
combat dothing before they werc thrown into
action in i\o\ember 19:;0, and most were still
wearing their battledress, leather equipment and
heavy double-breasted greatcoat.:> \\ hen tile) first
met the enemy. Subsequent I) their field clothing,
steel helmets and combat equipment became
entirely US in style, but they retaill('d their own
insignia l . The brigade device (a r('d spearhead
decorated with white stars, worn on the right side of
the helmet), and the national badge (the white star
and crescent on a red circle worn at the lap of the
right sleeve) seem to have been introduced during
1951. Cenerals wore their gilt-and-red rank de\-iccs
on both shoulder Straps and helmet fronts, and had
gorget patcht.'S on their field uniforms as well.
G2: Ethiopia: tiro/man/. 1951
The Ethiopians am\-ed wearing 1946-panern
British battledress \,-ith CS-st~1c camas gaiter-..;
Imperial Guard collar badges; and pith helmets, on
the right side of which was a rl"Ctangular patch
bearing a green, )ellow and red cockade. The) "ere
I~Pt;otrCI. \1\\ Ij;fitltJiIlh
soon issued with US field uniforms, wearing the L'S
7th Divi~ion 's 'diabolo' patch on their left shouldel'i;
a cur.'ed "1.1I110l'1\' shoulder title in rcd on buff
edged with red, yellow and green on the right; and.
for parade purposes, a large version of the cockade
on the right ~ide ohhe (;S steel helmet. Towards the
end ohhe period a rather ornate patch bearing the
Lion of Judah \\ as introducccl: this was worn
beneath the "HIIlOl'!.\' sleeve tide, and on the lefi
side of the steel helmet with the US 7th Division's
insignia on thc right. The Guard badge continued
to be worn on the collar. The Ethiopians retained
their own British-style rank insignia. L'suall)
officers wore their gilt Imperial crowns or six-
pointed stars on buff-colourcd shoulder loops., but
appear 10 have pinned them to the right hand
collars of the strapless US summer fatigues, with the
Guard badge on the lefl_ NCOs wore Bl'ilish·style
chevrons; WOs, wreathed lions or crowns in brass.
G3: Thailand: Lallu-CorjJQral" /95/
This NCO is wearing a 'variant' version of the US
~142 HBT fatigues with single pleated breast and
hip pockets. These fatigues were made in relatively
small numbers, and worn interchangeably \\ ith the
normal type in both the US and allied armies_ His
helmet soon superseded by the US model looks
\'Cry much likc the French "Adrian' pattern, which
the Thais had certainly worn up to and during
World War II, but it is possible that it was in fact an
earl) Jap..1llcsc model. It bore a national roundei
crest which also formed the basis of the cap badge.
Junior NCOs' rank chevrons follow(:'<1 the British
system, but were embroidered in yellow or gold on a
dark blue-grecn backing, with the roundel sur-
mounted by a pagoda-like Thai crown above, and
worn on the left sletve only. Senior NCOs wore a
gilt bar below one to three upward-poillling
chevrons on their shoulder straps; compallY officers,
one to three gold stars; field officers the same, but
with the upper star surmounted by a Thai CTOwn.
Gilt arm-of-scr.-ice devices were worn on the right
collar, with the unit indicated b) combinations of
Thai lettering and ordinal')' numerals on the left.
The infantry device was crossed rines with a four-
cartridge clip superimposed_
I-I: ChintJt Ptople"s Liberatio" Arm)'
HI: Solditr, winter drtn, 1950
The PLA's quilted cotton \\ inter uniform was both
light and warm, though the material" as difficult to
dry when it became wet. The summer uniform \\as
nornlally worn underneath for additional in-
sulation. Officers seem sometimes to have worn a
single-breasted vcrsion. The colour was generally
an olive khaki, with a white lining which could be
reversed to act as snow camouflage. The cap was
made from thc same matcrial and faced with fur or
pilc; it had ear flaps which tied under the chin with
tapes. Padded mittens with separatc trigger fingcrs
werc supposed to form part of this uniform, but
many soldiers had either lost or never been issued
with these, and tucked their bands inside their
sleeves instead. The wintcr boots were made of
LI.Cot. Vi"......, CO ofth" ktlliaa 8a. f"bnoary '95' f"bnoary
stout, fur-Iint.-d leather and worn with felt leggings, '933 (aad in .# kill.... ArtnNl FarcIES CommandlErh m""U
110" commaadlalllleaeral orthe US 15th lar...lry Division, lhe
though many troops seem to have continued to 'Thu....erbird,·. (kill.... N..no....1 Der.,..« MiD.ilitry)
wear the canvas summer shoes. This style of
uniform, with its external quilting, \\ as replaced volunt~rs carried old Chinese or Japanese bolt
from 1952 onwards by onc which had the padding action rifles or, like this 'tommy gunner', captured
onlhc inside and looked likc a bulkier version of the US weapons of World War 11 vimage.
summer uniform. Equipmcnt was usually restricted
to a waist belt with two or three stick grenades and 1/3: Officu, st!n·ju duss, '952
twO COtton bandoliers, one containing ammunition, The Chinese I>cople's Liberation Army prided itself
the othcr rice. on its egalitarianism, and officers and men were all
supposed to wcar the same simple and austerc
H2: &ldiu, summt!r drtSs, 1951 uniform. In practice differences of style, cut and
Thc I>LA's 'official' summer uniform from about material continued to exisl. In particular, the
19'~9 to '952 seems to have been a Russian-stylc officers' tunics commonly had four instead of two
blouse with a turn-down collar, three-button chest pockets, and \\ere made of wool or evcn silk
opening, breast pockets and shirt-type cuns, \,..orn matcrial as opposed to the men's cotton. The colour
with long trousers and a peaked cap. However, this continued to vary, but tcnded towards the harsh,
only appears to have bttn issued to selected units; yellowish ·Ycnan green' deri,"ed from the d)cs
and the summcr U1tifonn worn in Korea did not available in the PLA's homc province. In the early
differ very much from that worn by the Chincsc days the Chint"se Communists had worn cloth rcd
Nationalists, except that the older field cap had star cap badges: after their victory in the civil war
developed into the shapeless 'Mao cap', and puttees they adopted an enamelled vcrsion with gold
secm to have become obsolete. The footwear edging, bearing the Chinese characters for '8_['
consisted of canvas shoes with rope or rubber soles. commemorating the PLA·s date of formation in
Although there were no official rank insignia, the cel1lre. This does not seem to have been worn in
·leaders' sometimes wore red or red-and-blue Korea, presumably in order to support the fiction
armbands, and some were reported to have had red that the Chinese were \olumcers rather than a
piping diagonally across their cuffs and on their national force. The absence of rank insignia was
collars, tunic frollts and trouser scams. After '952 acceptable in a guerrilla force, but re-equipment
these uniforms wcre superseded by a plain single· with Soviet material led to a steady increase in the
breasted tunic, trousers and ~Iao cap in 'Ycnan professionalism of the officer corps; in '955 new
gr~n·. The PLA had inherited large stocks of Soviet·style uniforms and insignia were introduced,
Japancsc steel helmets, but few if an) seem to have onl) to be abolished again during ~Iao's ·Cultural
been issued in Korea. ~Iost of the original Chincsc Re\'olution' ten years later.
47
 Notes sur les planches en couleur Farbtareln
AI L ",fOr",. <k GIOnlp"8M d. Ill": ; YIlt' '""""'" ';mplifitt .,,"" un< poche AI Yddunilorm in' ",...""hrn !)Iil ~"It ,'.,.-cinf".h.. \'rnion ",it <illtT
.... 1. p""n....lda manch.tuft un fut ""rod"".
pi... ,;mi. Ill"""""poiJ roug. Ilru",_h~ .. nd ~",fachrn Ma,..dltu~II. ""rtk 'pa,~r ~"Ig<:f. .hrt. Ot. rot...
a"lOUr da rpaukl1t:1 indiq"aitnl l'a.mtt-- '" !'"_poil vnl, 1.0. poliott do Ko.-dtln I'm d.. &1I.. It.... tmf~n auf dl~ ",.",.,." Kru... auf d",
fronl><rtS. (:,,"'rot.... ",;oJ' .....,'.'"
do cwI"'n on »pag , la pootn"". ;i G,..".."·aclJ.,, l>t. l'mf",,,, .... ,,~ h fiR I.i<k:....k.... h'. all d<1' 1lruH, dtD
r~pauk t1 ... r I.. .",If. pour maln'.",r rn pi,"", In ftuillaJtn <it c:omoullago:. Sc:h..It.,n .. lid dtr K.. ppe. "'" f11.. ,,~r,arn .. n~ ""uul."...I<",,. D...- .....:ittio<""
L'"",,,,,, d.. "-I"" tTl a<:ieT .....,... ,oqUl' <u.1l A~ Lo. bloutt rUt rm1plactt StahllJ.,lm wurtk ..ur ..It.,n ......... ><kt. NJ I),.. 81_ " .. ,dot .pa,.... dun::h ""'"
pi ....anl p;ll" un n>o<kk c,.,.... i (''''I 00..,,,,
III a"", ..........,"" parka c",""", ''''>rrnhtgt \...r.. hru"JC.~'" Ii",( h.n<>pIcn <'IYU'. .\....ndnn ph ...
ntt da pocha obbq.... de <"'~; (1 In (IIf"""" ponaocn. de>
"""""'l"" A] L',nspr"lIOII ,..-dtttl .. ",IOnnt .. ,,,,idt,,,~dt:opan,aJamblno
P"""""""
<it "lit . ".. rn~ Parla mit .-hr"l1 a~
1m JCuoc..." !)"I A31>n-
n ~ .."'_ ". 0lT~",
l.tOftu• •' 00 d
''''gn.
M 1<l
t:ni/Ormdtud;,h; bri
fon<."_"l pona pour bo ~. del; p;tnlaloot loW no c:;unpaK"t. Snils los P ,,'Un:J.,n d,,"kdbla FlOttn odn Ilalbhoor.. Il"'D!t".., khaliUtbntt ..
<Oilln do llIli<:m .,........ da .......... JU. It ....... n da ~g"'" diagonalcl <k
duoqU<" <61. <k r .....p.
dtr ' 'It:I.. Ilirorm. ,\ die' Kappell dotr 00....'" ha""" Korddn UIIl dn> Schrilt/
w>d "'" DupWb Ix>dc" ~t ... "'" Ablrio::........
B. Lts .. niforrncI ROK .taOm.
prnq .... idtntiq_ aWl
El<llS-Cnis.l.n...a1l porWrn....... 'nWon" mI ......... <it runibmt..., en
'nJ_
do: farm«: do B. ROK_l:ndi>nt\nl ,,'""" f... odrnuoch mit d<nrn 00 C:;j,." l>oIdatn
....,"'" .."" "...r..hn",!! OflWrnumr..rm mi, Jl:l"'CttJ<.tnnD ~. _
officin........ otuIa ... <:Illicvn porlalnl' don """lIlIWI ,nd"luan, It on"",•. Ib Au
dfflu. dt 10 Jl'I""'"I". iI y .'''', un ~ dr >fl........ U <it nmpagrot.
0If........., ~ Ahainr
"'Un:J., nM \liorh .. "Il
\\:oIIfftp" Bot Zu ~nn ....
"ridbeUntl.. "lIl: /I: n...,n. mciot obool..... L:S-:\l_
"nfld
I'"""'~' <k '... ~ moo:kln amtn<ai.. COIIlJIIt uu" ' Uf'; dots ,,-,., lI<::t <bt:xr :\I~I j;arkt: Un LI\Ili:Inno:D .. unkn ......,n in........,..
............. ,to f..,nll pl.. 1lIfd dostnbun tTl quan",• . , 0... It" dr OOntt :\I........ " ~ IS) L:S 0nIIa......1l'f "un:J.,n ,m Sornmn- ~ 06_
~~, pon "nt, ,tn, a,,,,, Ics «>UI..rft CD ~ d ~. ..... nord~1w:n '..... baocknahlnl; r... d<n \\'nl.... d ....,,~ dior ~
lOOf1l~fl Ul CDC<" . . . . - . . - ... ;tI, pono' rhi,n Us i......... llaum"oIIuniform R"npb.ndltn &ndtn ... h ....ufi«; am Helm ..III! aol .....
de vade tooro"ntl ' ~ caMl poe_ do< JIOI'n... pu<_. bnkm 1ltwI,_IJ.,.
C. Coon tIt do< "'~ d·~I~. tIn.'n>iono tau ablt dai. do< ... ~ C,-\" ~ " " " ""n:J.,n hdIor andla.bmor .-\...r........ ngnt "'" L:S .m.,
~. tin pan I a q "" poe"'" n Ia bit..- 'Ik' "'" H.............. U.-n. dct '.....-Iucnoj;aru .. nd dtt '/u' odrT '~'Ill_
.......... <'\;uot'n'I""''''''''' ,,,,,, ..' p<lI"l<ftq.... pu ... ~ ... Its ...... rng<"'- di<' j .... km _r 'on 00......... ..lid Fdd.. dItIa. Cot £.0....
aIIicxn. Cit \.~ :\I~I'" :\I~~........-..,doIItttnlntln laMM:Sdo<<<Jt'\,",CD u" hitdAit:_ :\I~I lInd \I~, \1 ............. '1~ TtnH DnI1an:lUfl"''''''''''
•.....,.... """ q .. etDm. r........... do< «-ha, ... Ia ..... tIt do< ,""ail "'" ~ .....nd "'ampf.....,.,.... C, F.i... \anation do
non..al p<lI"lt:Irn rtt C, \'uuuon do< Ia _ do< COf'\tt. CORI;Ut .... 19fi Drilbna~ ''H]''''''''''''''-
,.btr ............... fnt...... ~jahrnt,,~ Doc
...... d ~ ............' d<bu.tIn~'%O.'-"'"d'"....... do<lfadcdo< ... R""lI"-.nktI a.. dtIn , .. <11.... \\<'fIUnR "arm ~ alii dir :\IIIIIia.'..........
~ ~ mono:tW. .~_ pi.. popuIaortllq.......~ mini;o........ do< r........... ,.... '9flI-:.'
1<j.f8 :" D. IN :\I~] DnIbna"ll!<' dtr l.\ ,j""!,,,,",,,, dlt ubUr Ydd~ b<i
D. La _ do< COf'\..,. \14) do< 1 ' _ ~ ......., Ia ""'.... do< ~ bl""" \Iet....... nd .. Utdno ''OItl ...... "'-"au dct ROK ..nd L\
babi pa.- """.. &<.I ... dIt lUI \aqrnrlm, .....ribuft a ... rnt\Ul>j!ft\u ROK .......""""'.. ll.ouht btn""",. I),.. M'l':" \ ha,... T_ IIIit
n l:'\ 1 , _ \1'9:" a'",' tin poc r..-, a'''''tIn~... do< o.-kboop'r-n ~ 'c.,. '-1 ubc........ d<n !o,cltornktln D2 \\ "',n-u.....
pllddfl"'dod.caIl"....... c . - . D21 d pa.-bd .. ..,-kdo<la mit dct P,,""" ,,, ,.,,, "rI,~; 0... \1'93' \'....... ba,tr' __ dir
~ ~ ~ ; "'~ \IoQ:" .. ·a 1q Ws dono. poe..... hDdcn OI:~ St!ln>laK Oorll hrlud..... IIOfh ~ alo d ... Anon
~ ..... de<i>tt Ln U..., .......'ft'ftI, cu.-rdtt do< ... <kuDnD< <tit K.....,.,.IltI_h......... tin I .."" \\d,~ und " ......... ''OIl dnO
l{UnTt tnottthak !on,;""".. al"" rllnnn' " COI'n'''' .........,........,." KIJI'UIIt'I'U ""I dcm "I"Wlamm ·(o.1bbmwr· brdach, D]lkpn......,· n.
)amI..- ,..IU>Q'. D] 0.. ,............ COf'\'ff ~ rtnd pi dcpnlt:l P.'":' OriII..niIi>nn mi. landna.buKhnt. 'Oft ,Ykn L' K tDI~. . . . oil
tin .....,n ..., u~ etDml pot1= pal .... nom "ngm.. O'\l·. <ni, So::h..h.....buK d " , ~ U. l>t .....
.....'CDI a\'t-'£ r d·q>auln,., .... b d1.-... am<n<ou a bq........ ill
.,..,~,
E. Z Irul!"' dlt "11M la~ IkUnd"1II! .. nt! nhidtDI ."..
<pa,n dit W,n............... u"C dtr L'" I roW". dann bnuoc.... ~.,.....rn.m....
E. Ln ..... ni>nto pot1um. lruuakmtnl cia , .,""I""'nnrn' lIOf>ak<. ... ..nd L:> ''''w
I'<>to "'0Plbr<I«~ .... unt! <.. Iw:n ..'U........ ~ohnIidl
ill m;u,..,... pi", lIlnl cia ,"" d· _ des ,~n dot comba, bribehal,.,n £. l:Iritioc_l'rupprn lui"",.. nul JIr1' Dorh ..lIjtrlbeUntl.. "!t u.nd
bntMmoq ........ tIn 'fbk ,fttI' arntno:aina~tlC(lftp1 .... ,anl. Larnifl<: l0~ ubanaluncTt .~. rur d<n <1'S1~n \11"., du.. z ........... ....-r
oitaienl ~n,,,,,,,,,,,,,," & La trou"", bn,""""l aiml a'.., ..... I am.l""~"" 'OIl '9-4' ..
"d "1"'-,.... JCfU.... abcrdlrh,~,~ ampunilOnn .>pa,.......
1m.... do< J"+ ,,,rt<' pa-airn, a la .~,... pour ptTmia ""<T. Crt,~ :\1'9.;,8' L'nilOnn bnn<'h..... E3 1.lnt \I,.. bun/l: luInaod......... ·1 ..1nt. dlt
........ ffiUI coml'!et , d'.bon! pa, ,~n_QmOUIka·n+-Jde I!H~, ,<ill d .. rch britiKhr. ,.. I> .l1I<1lk.." ........ \lodtl~ a"i""'r' " .. nk, " .., r.. r dir
... P.'''' ,<ltd pat Ia ....,tIt do< combal Iml bIt ,en., appdt't: pat b .u.il~ lanaod...:hrn K.... ,,~n'., 'll"och
unOOnnr ·M'9:.8· E3 :\I.bn«" d'a...d .. """ au C'...,.w. '..... Ii plIrtidltrnm, F. D.... fn,,"";"'hr &Ilalllon ''''j(
da. o<h"a..... Ita , w>d d,~ f",n"";.."'"
par ... rnt><ldn bn'an""' partltl"'mr", par In modd.,. a"""",,,,no.,
carao:loklauq ... d.. con , ca"ad,,,,, Rang. un<! f.int""l>alu.nt:hrn " .....' "'" ......."lam " L rulannrn F2 o.""h
.n,llliM:hc :\Iodd'" a"IC"rqr;t~ l'mlo.-m .. nd h<lll.nd,,, 1Ia1'rt'1 un<! ..\ ......i<:.......
FI L., balallJon 1"'1("-1' ,..,.,,... It- lit.....' ,,,,,r.~, .... ,.... ~".,. dc ~ d· .. ru'. g<"TIt'l"-,,,m mil ..... g~n LS l>nlbn... ~.,,, .."d A"iru"un~"",,,,otIrn,,,· ..nlm
f"m,;".. a'.... un ..niron... qui t,aJl I",,'opaklllt'" .mrnUln. Q Iq u,.. ''Urn nitd..-Ia,"'i.dltn 1la,,,,11on K"''''j(~'' "budltn dtr U.:IJllt I.JatUry und ""
romtr'\'"'' "' - t , . <It CIIm".. fta/l:~ M '91'. dt- ro..f"...io" brila iq /)uU;'" fa~n oKh ~hrnf ..ll•. F3 1;", tn-..",.... IIa,....." ,,'Unk mi, <Inn 'kll1dotjJ'
r
'po:au dt .."" ' I........,nt I~nu<: <It (:o"lOUfta~ ·"'UIIl".... fu' d,,,,,b,,, a
]a
",i, bn".. hnn :\I""n. 1Jt_ _ t,. ..
,,,I " .. U'u"un~ g~,ng~"
'I "'.... 1n>U1I"" bn,,,,,,,"lUO ... du ('.....,,,,,,,,,,.,.I<h F2 len "",fontt<'
d·i pi",,,o,, bri'."n"! bkM ~, in!i~'1<1 h<llla"d"i•. a,...- '] ....kl".....,,;I,)....~ G, I""..d", ' ' 1«=''
dir 'Iu,lm .,,,It blll"e :\1",,11""11 .u. brili",I1~".
<k """,..,., ct .... ull>cm.:ll ",~nn" ..... ai.nl I....IM pa' .~h3(.ilJo" ,I".
P...._Ra... al1l<1lhni..-hrn .. nd d~ ...... h~n Ilrltl.od.. nlll- .. nd A""""lUn~"8"n",,''''''";
'pa,.,r ,,'urUe" ,,,,h. L'," Aruk.l .• 1I~'1I:.bcn. E~ E"... :-'h""hu,,~ au.
0.-.. in.. ~ .. d~ I. ~flto '<11"".'" d·i"l .. ntfn." d. I. l< ,I",,,,,,,,a"...no"". ~'ale",
a .."'Ii f>""'' '.F] L" bI-,... h'ml o',a" I"'"'''' a ..... 'NII'ti,,,,·, '/)~",_ _ t·~, amnlhn'.d.... ""d btimdlr" lId.l...h",,II 1',..1 A"''''>Iung n,,' .. lhioplKh~n
AIu~iehell. "u,de 'I'd'"
dun h LS K."'pf.. nifotm.,,, .~~" die Ab..ichen rI..
<'q .. ipe"",nl h,;' ..,,,,'],,..,
l;S 7th 0 ..""", In'g~n. G] t"", ,h"il.ol"li..h. \·."a'l\~d... fr.. n.....i"'h<:11 ',\<1,iall'
G, IIlI"a~m~"', I... ,......< p,-,rt"f'" "" ",el."K" he";'''l!~''' de "l'l.,. de len ...,. cl Ilel,,,, ,,·.. nl. 'paler d .. rch ,kn L" t/~Ioll c,-,,:w. Die l'nil"'m "a, nn. likal.
d'o'q,",,,,n ",, bri'""n~l'_ lImo',ira"...., all,,,,",,,h; ph.. la,d, da,.. n'.~ \'a"a"'~ tl.. U!) :\llll)nllan... ~I.
d·a""'.:lI ",eriui", lUI"'" <Ii,"ib..;." G~ U" mi'I",,~ d. ,.,,, ...,. ." III l>t. Vniform ko"",e ,,"'g.,khrt "rrd~n, mil gn"",r Inn.n· und ,,'risK.
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