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| AUSTRALIAN KOREAN WAR TIMELINE | |||||
| Nov 14, 1947 | U.N. Resolution to remove troops from Korea after national elections. | ||||
| Feb 8, 1948 | North Korean People's Army (NK) officially activated by Democratic People's Republic of Korea | ||||
| Aug 15, 1948 | The Republic of Korea was proclaimed. Syngman Rhee was elected first president, (by a legislature formed by popular elections conducted in May). | ||||
| Sept 9, 1948 | Democratic People's Republic of Korea claims jurisdiction over all Korea | ||||
| June 29, 1949 | Last US troops leave South Korea Korean Military Advisory Group (KMAG, 200 men) formed | ||||
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| June 1 | NK strength at 135,000, with seven assault divisions and 150 T34 tanks | ||||
| June 25 Korean time | NK invades Republic of South Korea (ROK) without warning | ||||
| June 25 New York time | UN Security Council demands NK stop its attack and return to its borders | ||||
| June 29 | ROK Capitol Seoul falls, bridges across Han river destroyed. Most of ROK army's best, with their equipment, trapped on northern side | ||||
| June 30 | NK 3rd Division (NK-3) crosses Han River; NK drives down Peninsula | ||||
| June 30 | President Truman commits US Troops to enforce UN demand | ||||
| July 7 | United Nations Command created, under General Douglas MacArthur | ||||
| July 12 | US Eighth Army takes command of ground operations in Korea | ||||
| July - August | Savage fighting begins in the Southern Peninsula, eventually settling around the Pusan Perimeter. US garrison troops, totally unprepared for infantry warfare against a veteran, ferocious enemy, suffer terrible casualties and many defeats. Stiffened by veteran infantry regulars, including the 1st Marine Brigade, the Perimeter was eventually stabilized in some of the most vicious fighting of the entire three year war. | ||||
| August 20 | The British War Office announced that it was dispatching at once to Korea an infantry force of two Battalions, from Hong Kong. These were the the First Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, and the First Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Regiments, constituting the nucleus of the 27th British Infantry Brigade. | ||||
| August 26 | 'K Force' recruiting campaign launched. | ||||
| August 29 | British Commonwealth 27th Brigade lands at Pusan, moving at once to Kyongsan to become an integral part of the Eighth Army | ||||
| August - Sept 15 | Continuous savage infantry battles around Pusan Perimeter. Complete air superiority and powerful tank and artillery reinforcements help the gradually toughening infantry forces effectively secure the Peninsula. | ||||
| Sept 15 | Inchon Landings | ||||
| Sept 16-19 | UN breaks the Pusan Perimeter cordon | ||||
| Sept 19-29 | Embattled Seoul recaptured in the north in savage infantry battles, by 1st and 5th Marines. Mop-up starts in the south | ||||
| Sept 27 | MacArthur given permission to cross the 38th Parallel into North Korea | ||||
| Sept 28 | Third Battalion Royal Australian Army, led by 30-year-old WWII veteran Lt. Col. Charlie Green, arrives at Pusan 29, joining the 27th Bgde which then is named the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. | ||||
| Sept 30 | ROK troops cross 38th Parallel | ||||
| October 3 | Taking first casualties, 3RAR moves to Seoul and North as part of 27th. brigade | ||||
| October 9 | 1st Cavalry Division leads UN general assault across 38th Parallel | ||||
| October 13 | Unknown to UN leaders, unobserved by UN Aircraft, Chinese Communist Forces (CCF) cross the Yalu to begin China's support of North Korea | ||||
| October 22 | 3RAR fights first major action at Yongju. In their first battle, called "The Apple Orchard", 3 RAR went to the relief of the US 187th Airborne Regiment. | ||||
| October 25-26 | 3 RAR crosses the Chongchon river at Anju. Their second major action, on October 25th at Pakchon, was called the "Battle of the Broken Bridge." Using the principle of surprise to deal with North Korean opposition, 3RAR thrust across a half-destroyed bridge in the dark, engaging the North Korean defenders and driving them back, suffering 8 KIA 22WIA. | ||||
| October 29 | The 27 BCB Brigade , with the Australians in the lead, attacked towards Chongju. Heavy fighting when 3RAR encounters stiff oposition. Chongju. | ||||
| October 30 | 3RAR C.O. Lt.Col. C.H.Green mortally wounded. | ||||
| October 29 - Nov 6 | CCF 39th Army, around 30,000 lightly armed troops, opens China's First Phase offensive, by defeating 1st Cav and the ROKs, driving UN forces back to the Chongchon river. In the east, the 7th Marine Regiment destroys the CCF 124th Division, which left 1500 dead on the field, in the only major UN success | ||||
| Nov 3 | Brigade, under orders, falls back into position holding left sector Sinanju-Anju bridgehead | ||||
| Nov 5-6 | 3RAR blocks major enemy offencive south of Pakchon. Major I.B.Ferguson appointed C.O. | ||||
| November 25 | UN offensive begins from the Chongchon river to end the war by Christmas | ||||
| Nov 26-30 | China launches its Second Phase offensive. US 2nd and 25th Divisions are defeated and begin general Eighth Army retreat in the west | ||||
| Nov 27-30 | Four CCF Armies attack 1st Marine Division and 7th Infantry Division at the Chosin Reservoir. | ||||
| Nov 27-28 | Brigade moved to Kunu-ri, protect crumbling right flank | ||||
| Nov 29 | RAR protects Taedong River ferry crossing | ||||
| Nov 30 | 2nd. U.S.Division ambushed nearYongwon-ni. 27th.brigade assists in keeping road open South of Yongwon-ni | ||||
| Nov 30 - Dec 11 | 1st Marine Division fights through encircling CCF forces to reach our 3rd Infantry Division lines. The 10 CCF divisions attacking in Chosin were so wasted they never again saw action in the KW | ||||
| Dec 1-3 | Brigade assists 7th. U.S. Cav. protect Taedong River Xing | ||||
| Dec 2 | RAR deploys around crossing near Yopa-ri | ||||
| Dec 3 | RAR demolishes bridge and withdraws | ||||
| Dec 4-8 | RAR arrives at Hayu-ri, 150 kilometresSouth. Dec 6 Singye, Dec 8 Sibyon-ni | ||||
| Dec 9-10 | Guards pass Kumchon road | ||||
| Dec 11 | Brigade moves 130 Ks. South to Uijongbu | ||||
| Dec 13 | RAR encounters guerrillas near summit of 924 metre peak, Unak San N/E of Uijongbu | ||||
| December 11 - 25 | UN Naval forces evacuated from Hungnam | ||||
| December 14 | UN passes a Cease Fire resolution | ||||
| December 31 | MiG-15 jets begin attacking UN airplanes over North Korea | ||||
| December 30 | Chinese Third Phase offensive begins | ||||
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| Jan 1 | 3RAR holds blocking position at Tokchon | ||||
| Jan 3 | CCF and NK renew their offensive. Seoul is again abandoned. Brigade becomes rearguard for withdrawl | ||||
| Jan 4-5 | Brigade withdraws 160 Ks. through Ichon to Yoda-nae | ||||
| Jan 20 | RAR in Haengsimchon, patrolling forward to Ichon. 5 taken POW | ||||
| January 14 | Ridgway stabilizes UN lines along the 37th parallel | ||||
| Jan 20 | RAR occupies Ichon. | ||||
| January 25 | UN counterattacks in the "Ridgway" offensive, Operation Thunderbolt, over a carpet of dead CCF | ||||
| February 1 | UN resolution to end the Korean War | ||||
| Feb 11-12 | CCF counterattacks at Hoengsong in Fourth Phase offensive, destroys ROK 8th Div. | ||||
| February 14 | 23rd RCT and French Infantry Battalion stop CCF at Chipyong-ni. Ridgway says the successful defense of the Wonju line is a "turning point" | ||||
| Feb 15 | RAR involved in heavy fighting near Chuam-ni | ||||
| Feb 16-17 | Chinese withdraw from Chuam-ni - Chipyong-ni sector | ||||
| Feb 24-27 | RAR captures hill 614 | ||||
| February 18 - March 17 | Ridgway's Operation Killer. IX Corps has limited success clearing CCF from Chipyong-ni and mountains to east. | ||||
| March 6-31 | Eighth Army re-crosses the Han in Operation Ripper. Chunchon recaptured and line Idaho reached against weak opposition, as CCF regroups. | ||||
| Mar 7 | RAR and Canadians involved in heavy fighting for hills 410and 532. Operation Woodbine. RAR suffers heavy casualties | ||||
| Mar 11 | RAR action near Chisan during advance to Albany line | ||||
| Mar 12 | Hill 703 captured by C coy. RAR | ||||
| March 18 | UN forces take Seoul once again | ||||
| Mar 22-31 | Brigade advances during Operation Courageous to BentonLine | ||||
| April 1-22 | Operations Rugged and Dauntless drive 15 miles north of Line Kansas | ||||
| Mar 3-15 | Brigade participates in Operation Rugged, and advance to Kapyong | ||||
| April 11 | Truman relieves General MacArthur. General Ridgway takes FECOM | ||||
| Mar 22-31 | Brigade advances during Operation Courageous to BentonLine | ||||
| April 11 | Move to Utah Line begins | ||||
| April 14 | RAR A coy. takes hill Sardine | ||||
| April 15 | RAR C coy. takes hill Salmon | ||||
| April 15 | General James Van Fleet assumes command of Eighth Army | ||||
| April 21 | 8th. army advances to Iron Triangle | ||||
| April 22 | CCF begins Fifth Phase spring offensive, smash Line Kansas, drive towards Seoul | ||||
| April 23 | Battle of Kapyong for RAR begins. Hold position and were awarded U.S.PresidentialUnit Citation. Casualties from this action were: 31 KIA. 59 WIA and 3 POW.From Two days of intence fighting, this was a remarkably low figure | ||||
| April 24-25 | Third Batt Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), Second Batt Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), and A Company 72nd US Medium Tank Batt, heavily outnumbered, stop CCF at Kapyong Valley. | ||||
| April 26 | RAR transfered to the 28th. British Commonwealth Brigade | ||||
| April 30 | CCF and NK pull back to re-group | ||||
| May 1 | 28 brigade moves to Yangsu-ri takes up defensive position | ||||
| May 10 - June 5 | Second CCF Spring Offensive begins, with the "May Massacre" | ||||
| May 17 | Communists launch 2nd effort Fifth Phase | ||||
| May 20 | CCF offensive stopped, after penetrating 30 miles on the east-central region | ||||
| May 20-31 | 28 brigade advances close to Imjin River | ||||
| May 23 - June 1 | UN resumes attack north, regains both Line Kansas and the Wyoming bulge by mid-June. CCF 180th Division totally destroyed. | ||||
| June-July | British Commonwealth division formed | ||||
| June 7 | RAR patrols accross Imjin to win control of Northern bank | ||||
| June 13, 1951 to July 27, 1953 | Washington orders Van Fleet to halt the attack and wait for armistice negotiations. UN forms a Main Line of Resistance (MLR) The Communists use respite from our relentless assault to recoup their heavy losses, and build up positions opposite to MLR. Toward the end of the KW, both sides often cannonade one another with artillery barrages exceeding those of WWI or WWII | ||||
| July 7 | Lt. Col. F.G.Hassett takes command 3RAR | ||||
| Sept 7 | RAR seizes bridgehead accross Imjin river | ||||
| October 3-23 | Operation Commando. Five UN Divisions, including the British Commonwealth Division, attack elements of Four CCF Armies, to correct a sag along I Corps and X Corps boundaries. In the successful but savage fighting, I Corps estimates 21,000 CCF casualties, and over 4,000 UN casualties. | ||||
| Oct 3 | Operation Commando launched. RAR captures hill 199 | ||||
| Oct 4 | RAR helps capture hill 355 from east after heavy fighting | ||||
| Oct 5 | RAR gains summit hill 317. (maryang san) | ||||
| Oct 7 | RAR drives towards 'The Hinge' on 317, and beats off strong counter-attacks. | ||||
| Oct 8 | Chinese abandon both 317 and 217 | ||||
| Oct 9 | RAR moves to Eastern flank of 317 and beat off strong attacks, begins preparing strong defences, begins patrolling forward | ||||
| Nov 1951 to April 1952 | Stalemate on the MLR. Truce talks at Panmunjom go on and on | ||||
| Nov 4 | Chinese attack in strength, and recapture 317 from K.O.S.B.s. four weeks after RAR captured it. | ||||
| Nov 5 | RAR launches diversionary attack on hill 'Baldy' | ||||
| Nov 20-21 | Chinese launch probe attacks RAR positions | ||||
| Nov 28 | 28 brigade withdrawn into reserve | ||||
| Dec 4 | General Van Fleet presents RAR with Kapyong Presidential Citation | ||||
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| Jan | RAR Occupies positions on hills in sector of divisional line near 227, on 159 and 210 | ||||
| Jan 26-27 | RAR tries unsuccessfully to capture 227 | ||||
| Mar - April | Mar 3, 1RAR leaves from Australia. Arrives Pusan April 6. June 1, 1RAR joins 28 brigade | ||||
| Jun 27-29 | Australian Brigadeer T.J.Daly takes over 28 brigade | ||||
| June 29 | brigade moves to Western sector of divisional line | ||||
| July 2 | 1RAR raids Chinese on 227. Operation Blaze. Lt. Col. R.L.Hughes takes command of 3RAR | ||||
| Aug 13-14 | B coy. 3RAR attack hill 75. Operation Buffalo. Repulsed in bloody hand-to-hand fighting. | ||||
| October 6-15 | Battle of White Horse Hill - ROK 9th Division inflicts 10,000 casualties on CCF while repelling repeated ferocious assaults, helped largely by information from Chinese deserters. | ||||
| Oct 25 | 3RAR detached briefly to 29th. brigade | ||||
| Nov 2-30 | 1RAR regains control of area forward of 355 by heavy and determined patrolling | ||||
| Nov 2 - Jan 31 | 28 brigade occupies Eastern sector | ||||
| Dec 11 - 12 | 1RAR launch Operation Fauna to capture prisoners and destroy enemy defence systems | ||||
| December - January | Stalemate continues, President-Elect Eisenhower visits, deadly small-unit battles continue | ||||
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| Jan 31 | Commonwealth division goes to reserve positions | ||||
| March - April | More savage fighting around Old Baldy, T-bone, outpost Eerie and Pork Chop. CCF-141 and CCF-67 take the Old Baldy - Pork Chop region from 7th Infantry Division and their Colombian Battalion, and hold it in a vicious struggle. Exchanging hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds, the CCF took the Vegas and Reno outputs from the 5th Marines on March 26, but the Marines re-took Vegas and held it against determined attacks until the CCF broke off the action. | ||||
| Mar 14 | Lt. Col. A.L.MacDonald takes command of 3RAR | ||||
| Mar 21 | 2RAR relieves 1RAR | ||||
| Apr 8 | Commonwealth division returns to line.28 brigade Eastern Flank | ||||
| May 5 | 2RAR relieves Royal Fusiliers vicinity of hill 159 | ||||
| May 7 | 3RAR relieves Durham Light Infantry on hill 355 | ||||
| May 13 | 3RAR, holding "Little Gibraltar" continued its aggressive patrols. During this time occurred one of the few instances where a still-capable Australian fighting force abandoned some of their mates to fight and die alone. | ||||
| May 27 | Chinese attack 2RAR forward positions | ||||
| May 29 | 3RAR relieved by Durhams on 355 | ||||
| June 14 | Communist attack drives back ROK positions | ||||
| June 16 | 3RAR relieves 2RAR | ||||
| June 18 | ROKs release 27,000 NK POWs who refuse repatriation. Communists again break off truce talks | ||||
| June 25 | CCF sends 3 armies, almost 100,000 troops, against 5 ROK divisions totaling half their number, driving the ROKs back several thousand yards. The CCF drive stops under staggering UN artillery barrages, about 2.7 million rounds in June alone. | ||||
| July 9-10 | Brigade moves to 'The Hook' | ||||
| July 10 | Truce talks resume after UN assures ROK acceptance of cease-fire terms | ||||
| July 24-25 | Chinese launch heavy attacks on 'The Hook'. U.S.Marines adjoining 2RAR withstand and hold. | ||||
| July 27 | Cease-fire signed. Armistice takes effect at 10pm. | ||||
| September 4 | Repatriation of POWs starts at Freedom Village, Panmunjom | ||||
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