The Battle of Kapyong was among the most important battles of the Korean War as it saw United Nations Command forces defend against a massive Chinese offensive from April 22-25, 1951.
Their UN forces, which included a strong Australian contingent, were seen as critically important in blunting the Chinese offensive and defending Seoul from recapture.
The Battle of Maryang San took place over a five-day period in October 1951 and saw the Australian forces dislodge a numerically superior Chinese force from the tactically important Kowang san and Maryang san features.
Australian soldiers in the battle of Kapyong ⓒAWM 14735 Source: Supplied
To mark 70 years since both battles, the Korean Cultural Centre is hosting ‘1951: the critical year of the Korean War’, an interactive exhibition honouring the 17,000 Australian sailors, soldiers and airmen who served during the Korean War.
Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Sydney Sangwoo Hong tells SBS Korean the exhibition is vitally important to pay homage to the Australian troops who fought on the peninsula.
“The courage of Australian soldiers fighting in a foreign land to safeguard freedom is worthy of remembrance.
“Their sacrifice is something present and future generations of Koreans and Australians should not forget, for it is an important part of our shared history."
Korean War veteran, Rear Admiral Ian Crawford saw nine months of active service during the Korean War onboard the HMS Ceylon.
The memories of the conflict are still vivid in his mind.
"I think of the people that I serve there with and the people who are no longer there, people who were killed in the war, people who have died since and the actual environment I think of cold.
“I think of the soldiers ashore but even in the ships when the spray came over the bow and hit the superstructure of the ships. It turned into ice. It was so cold. And we had to move the close-range weapons every 15 minutes because of the cold and the lubricating oil froze."
Crawford says the exhibition “goes beyond” the Battle of Kapyong, but also shines a direct light on it.
Korean War veteran Real Admiral Ian Crawford. Source: SBs Korean
“We have to recall that in the Battle of Kapyong, we lost more people in a battle than we have ever lost since the Second World War, but it goes beyond the Battle of Kapyong it tells the story of the whole of 1951 and there were so many events involving all three services in 1951, the scene was really set in October, November 1950 when the Chinese entered the war.”
The exhibition also aligns with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Korea.
Source: Korean Cultural Centre
This relationship was made all the more possible thanks to the efforts of the Australians during the Korean War, Minister for Veterans Dr Geoffrey Lee says.
"When Australian fought side by sides with Korean soldiers, it was fortuned in blood. That relationship has endured now 70 years, with 60 years of diplomatic relations.
"We have had decades of working together and you can only see more evidence of that in the trade relations but more importantly to people to people relationships and it’s about the Australian Korean community's wonderful contributions to the Australian way of life.”
What’s on exhibition?
The exhibition provides visitors with the chance to learn more about the key achievements of Australian forces within the overall war effort.
Visitors will be able to appreciate the earliest fighting traditions of the Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) and the significance of the Royal Australian Air Force's transition from vintage fighters to jets.
Curated by Senior Historian and curator of Sydney's Anzac Memorial, Bradley Manera, the exhibition showcases interactive walls that feature objects and images from both battles and an interview film with veterans.
"The Battle of Kapyong is very important to Australian veterans because it was recognised internationally.
"The Americans awarded the Australians the US Presidential Unit Citation. It was the biggest number of Australian causalities in the Korean War up to that time and really it was such an important battle because just a few hundred Australians stood in front of thousands of Chinese and they felt that they had purpose because they were standing in front of Seoul.
"They were not going to let the Communists take Seoul and so for a range of reasons, it is remembered with much affection and because of that international recognition the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment still wears."
The exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre gallery runs until July 2.
