QUICK THINKING
DENNIS ROBINSON
Service Details
Dennis Robinson first experienced military service as a Rifleman with 6
Battalion Cameronians of the 52nd Lowland Division and was a combatant from July 1944 till
the end of World War 2 and then served with the British Army of Occupation, Rhine (BAOR)
until 1948. He joined the Australian Army (3/10114) in London, England in October 1950 and
was posted to 2 Battalion RAR at Puckapunyal. From there he was sent to Japan and posted
to B Company 3 Battalion RAR (Korea) as a reinforcement. He was wounded in action on 7
October 1951 at the Battle of Maryang San. He returned to Australia in June 1952 and was
posted to the School of Tactics, Seymour, Victoria. Discharged in August 1955 at his own
request with the rank of Corporal, Dennis now lives in Melton, Victoria.
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In the annals of World Military History, the Battle of Maryang San code
named 'Operation Commando', would probably only warrant a brief mention, just another
"straightening of the line" skirmish to ensure the United Nations (UN) command
held favourable positions now that the Korean War had, after highly mobile initial stages,
developed into static trench warfare. But, to me, it was a big "deal". Active
service was not a new experience for me as I had served with the British Army in Europe
and in the occupation of Gernany after the end of World War II.

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It was heavy going but the 3rd Battalion RAR was making steady progress
against stiff opposition from elements of the Chinese Army. This was no surprise as their
commanders could also read maps and were fully aware of the strategic importance of
Maryang San. The terrain was very rough, a dreary landscape of barren hills and
precipitous ridges, shrouded by the early morning mists that heralded the advent of
winter. Supplies had to be brought up by Korean porters, ammunition (ammo), food, etc. but
this cannot be maintained all the time. The heat of battle, terrain and weather determines
re-supply, and today was one of those days. For some reason or other supplies were a bit
late coming up to B Company and the Chinese had been probing all night with patrols and
dummy attacks. You could feel in the air something was going to happen. My mate and I
managed to "brew up" and get a bite to eat at first light, and that was the last
of our tucker until supplies came up. I think we had a pack of cigarettes between us and
were just about to light up when we heard the bugles.
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Some explanation is required here. The Chinese always attack to the
sound of bugles, whether they were a form of signal, or a rallying call, or perhaps to
demoralize the enemy is not known. Whatever the reason, the first of the Chinese assault
troops soon appeared in the valley. Their artillery then laid down a barrage on our
positions and the enemy soldiers started to come up the very steep slope towards us on our
hilltop position. On checking our ammo we found that we only had 9 rounds between us, I
had 5 and my mate had 4 in the magazine of his .303 Lee Enfield rifle. By this time the
enemy were getting very much closer and I was starting to wonder why I had joined the
Australian Army leaving the green fields of England to face a situation like this. There
was, however, no time for recriminations. The first of the Chinese were getting pretty
close, and as we were a good way ahead of the rest of the Section we had to size up the
situation, if there was time for quick thinking, it was now. It was no use trying to bug
out so I said to my mate, "There are about 500 of those Bastards out there but I have
a plan that might stop them." My mate replied, "with only 9 rounds between us it
better be good." "If you take a good look" I said, "you will see that
there are two officers leading them up the hill, you get the one on the left and I will
get the one on the right, and don't miss or we have had it." By this time the Chinese
were about 25 yards away and when I said "NOW!", we fired together, and did not
miss. On being hit the 2 Officers fell backwards onto the men behind them, and with the
steep slope you can imagine all those Chinese falling back onto one another. It was a very
good picture of a set of dominoes falling. Whilst this was all happening my mate and I
were able to get out and back to the rest of the Company, under the Command then of Major
'Wings' Nicholls, and withdraw to better defensive positions.
It was about this time that the world blew up in my face. I can recall
the flash of the explosion and something with the force of an express train hitting me. I
woke up in Mobile Surgical Hospital (Mash) in Seoul. Maryang San was taken by the 3
Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and Operation Commando was a success. To the men of B
Company I say well done. To those men of the Chinese Army, I say, "Never come up a
steep slope in front of the Australians or we will knock you all down with just 2
shots." As a matter of interest, I never regretted joining the Australian Army and I
am proud to have served with 3 Battalion. I recovered from my wounds, served out my Tour
of Duty in Korea and my term of enlistment and remained in Australia. I am now no longer
referred to, nor do I consider myself as, "A Pommy Bastard".
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