#OTD Firstly, my apologies, this was meant for yesterday! Sorry all!
OTD 28 September 1950
Today marks the 70th anniversary of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment’s (3RAR) arrival in Korea.
@AWMemorial @AustralianArmy @BritishArmy @kate_kalinova #KoreanWar70years

Much like the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force, the fledgling Australian Regular Army was totally unprepared for war. When the Korean War began, 3RAR was preparing to move to Australia. There were approximately 550 men of a possible 1,000 in Japan.
2/10

A number of men were already in Australia attending courses or to take their discharge from the army.
Clever political manoeuvring by Minister for External Affairs, Percy Spender, ensured that 3RAR was committed to Korea.This led to the signing of ANZUS in 1951.
3/10

With 3RAR the only viable option to be deployed in a hurry, the government created K Force – a call for 1,000 volunteers in Australia and Britain who had served during the Second World War to enlist for a three year period, including one year in Korea.
4/10

Needless to say, when the recruiters’ doors opened around Australia and in England, the initial quota was met in minutes. So good was the uptake for recruits that 1RAR and later 2RAR were able to be reconstituted.
5/10

Throughout August the K-Force men were sent to Japan where they joined their ‘new army’ comrades and the process began to weld a battalion together.
6/10

One of the key appointments was Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green as commanding officer. He arrived in Japan on the 8th of September and added his experience to that of his senior officers and NCO’s in preparing the battalion for war.
7/10

On the evening of 27 September the battalion embarked on the transport ship USNS Aiken Victory. The ship left Kure harbour at 7.45 pm and docked at Pusan at 4pm the following afternoon.
8/10

After disembarking, the battalion was trucked to Taegu where they were welcomed to the 27th British Brigade by Brigadier Aubrey Coad. So pleased was he to have an Australian battalion under command, he re-named his brigade to the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade.
9/10

The men of 3RAR had little time to settle in to their new surrounds as they were soon on operations.
10/10