Korean Combatants Are Not Forgotten
August 15th 2024
27 July 1953 marked the end of the Korean War in which 8 RCN ships and 3,621 officers and men served.
One of Canada’s earliest responses in July 1950 to the North Korean invasion was to send three destroyers – HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Sioux. These were under the command of Captain Jeffry V. Brock and were known as the “Canadian Destroyer Division, Far East”. With reinforcements and rotations these were eventually joined by the destroyers HMCS Nootka, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Huron, HMCS Haida and HMCS Crusader.
Their initial tasks consisted of shore bombardment in support of UN withdrawals or advances, but as the front line stabilized their role changed to coastal interdiction patrols and interdiction of enemy coastal supply lines.
In September of 1950 they had their most important bombardment mission with the invasion at Inchon. Primarily an American operation, Canadian destroyers were an important part of the bombardment force, being able to get closer to shore than some of the heavier American ships.
Perhaps the most harrowing operation by Canadian ships occurred at Chinnampo (an inland port on the Taedong River) which was being evacuated by the Americans. After the ground forces had embarked on 4 December 1950, the port installations at Chinnampo were bombarded to deny their use to the enemy. The real challenge for the Canadians came when they had to return downriver in the middle of the night, trying to avoid sandbars in the river. All made it out successfully along with 7,700 ground troops.
The remainder of the war consisted of either examining Korean shipping to capture blockade runners, or “trainbusting” on the east coast. In these operations the Canadians would bombard enemy trains, dodging mines and fire from enemy shore batteries. UN ships destroyed 28 trains, with Canadian ships accounting for 8 of these. HMCS Crusader alone hit 3 trains. It was in October 1952 that the Royal Canadian Navy suffered its first and only battle casualties of the war. While on an east coast patrol, HMCS Iroquois received a direct hit from a shore battery. Three men were killed and ten were wounded.
The navy stayed on station until well after the armistice, with the last destroyer leaving Korean waters in September of 1955.
Korean Veterans Remembered Today
The Korean people have never forgotten the role Canadians played in the defence of their country. To this day, Korea honours the efforts of those Canadians served in that war. In 2020, during the Covid-19 epidemic, we have forgone most commemorations the 75th anniversaries of the end of the Second World War in Europe and Japan, and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean conflict. Nonetheless, the government and people of Korea have honoured Canadian Korean veterans.
Korean RCN Veteran Bill Bethell - a Watch-Keeper at the Naval Museum of Alberta, was surprised to receive on his doorstep, in the height of the COVID lockdown, a package of face masks delivered from the Korean Consulate in Vancouver, BC. This was just one example of the gratitude of the Korean people on the 70th Anniversary of the end of the war. Bill also received through the consulate, a cap and plaque in honour of Korean War Veterans.
The metal plaque is inscribed with the words;
“No One is forgotten. We present this plaque to honour your exceptional bravery and invaluable sacrifice to valiantly preserving freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea. You will always be remembered”.
Accompanying the plaque was a letter that reads:
“Dear Honoured Korean War Veteran,
As you know, this year marks the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. To commemorate this occasion, please accept this small gift (hat and badge) as a token of the Korean People’s gratitude for your sacrifice to defend freedom and peace on the Korean Peninsula from North Korean aggression 70 years ago. Without the fearless fight for freedom and the sacrifice of the soldiers, Korea would not be the thriving, prosperous democracy it is today. POSCO, Korea’s global steel company, would also like to express their appreciation. Included in this package is a steel plaque, expressing their gratitude.
Once again, thank-you for your service. We wish you continued good health and happiness.
Sincerely,
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver.”
One of Canada’s earliest responses in July 1950 to the North Korean invasion was to send three destroyers – HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Sioux. These were under the command of Captain Jeffry V. Brock and were known as the “Canadian Destroyer Division, Far East”. With reinforcements and rotations these were eventually joined by the destroyers HMCS Nootka, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Huron, HMCS Haida and HMCS Crusader.
Their initial tasks consisted of shore bombardment in support of UN withdrawals or advances, but as the front line stabilized their role changed to coastal interdiction patrols and interdiction of enemy coastal supply lines.
In September of 1950 they had their most important bombardment mission with the invasion at Inchon. Primarily an American operation, Canadian destroyers were an important part of the bombardment force, being able to get closer to shore than some of the heavier American ships.
Perhaps the most harrowing operation by Canadian ships occurred at Chinnampo (an inland port on the Taedong River) which was being evacuated by the Americans. After the ground forces had embarked on 4 December 1950, the port installations at Chinnampo were bombarded to deny their use to the enemy. The real challenge for the Canadians came when they had to return downriver in the middle of the night, trying to avoid sandbars in the river. All made it out successfully along with 7,700 ground troops.
The remainder of the war consisted of either examining Korean shipping to capture blockade runners, or “trainbusting” on the east coast. In these operations the Canadians would bombard enemy trains, dodging mines and fire from enemy shore batteries. UN ships destroyed 28 trains, with Canadian ships accounting for 8 of these. HMCS Crusader alone hit 3 trains. It was in October 1952 that the Royal Canadian Navy suffered its first and only battle casualties of the war. While on an east coast patrol, HMCS Iroquois received a direct hit from a shore battery. Three men were killed and ten were wounded.
The navy stayed on station until well after the armistice, with the last destroyer leaving Korean waters in September of 1955.
Korean Veterans Remembered Today
The Korean people have never forgotten the role Canadians played in the defence of their country. To this day, Korea honours the efforts of those Canadians served in that war. In 2020, during the Covid-19 epidemic, we have forgone most commemorations the 75th anniversaries of the end of the Second World War in Europe and Japan, and the 70th anniversary of the end of the Korean conflict. Nonetheless, the government and people of Korea have honoured Canadian Korean veterans.
Korean RCN Veteran Bill Bethell - a Watch-Keeper at the Naval Museum of Alberta, was surprised to receive on his doorstep, in the height of the COVID lockdown, a package of face masks delivered from the Korean Consulate in Vancouver, BC. This was just one example of the gratitude of the Korean people on the 70th Anniversary of the end of the war. Bill also received through the consulate, a cap and plaque in honour of Korean War Veterans.
The metal plaque is inscribed with the words;
“No One is forgotten. We present this plaque to honour your exceptional bravery and invaluable sacrifice to valiantly preserving freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea. You will always be remembered”.
Accompanying the plaque was a letter that reads:
“Dear Honoured Korean War Veteran,
As you know, this year marks the commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. To commemorate this occasion, please accept this small gift (hat and badge) as a token of the Korean People’s gratitude for your sacrifice to defend freedom and peace on the Korean Peninsula from North Korean aggression 70 years ago. Without the fearless fight for freedom and the sacrifice of the soldiers, Korea would not be the thriving, prosperous democracy it is today. POSCO, Korea’s global steel company, would also like to express their appreciation. Included in this package is a steel plaque, expressing their gratitude.
Once again, thank-you for your service. We wish you continued good health and happiness.
Sincerely,
The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Vancouver.”
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Bill Bethell on duty at the Naval Museum of Alberta. Also: an image of the plaque presented to Korean War Veterans by the Korean Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, and POSCO- Korea’s Global Steel Company
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