The ceasefire of 27 July 1953 brought about no immediate reduction of Australian forces in Korea...

The border between North and South Korea as it is today. On the right are the South Korean positions and the demilitarized zone, four kilometers wide, stretches away to the left. [AWM P05776.068]

The situation was still tense for the first year and it seemed possible the war might break out again. There were violations of the ceasefire. In October 1953 a communist raid on United Nations forces resulted in the deaths of four South Koreans and two Americans. Twice in 1954 aircraft were shot down in air-to-air combat. However, by September 1954 the United Nations armed forces in South Korea decided to reduce their commitment. Except for the United States of America which still maintains a force there, by 1957 all foreign troops had left South Korea.

Royal Australian Navy (RAN)

Korea after the ceasefire, 11 December 1954. Training exercises take the men of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), through some strange territory. Here a section of 1RAR, with the Bren gunner, Private (Pte) Les Doohan of Ryde, NSW (right foreground), giving covering fire, advances through an old burial ground. These cemeteries are generally located on the outskirts of villages but war has so altered the face of Korea that all traces of this former community has been obliterated. In Korean folk lore the two upright pillars are sentinels guarding the plot, one representing a fighting man or soldier and the other a wise man. The flat stone tablet in the fort of the grave mound is a table on which offerings of new rice and wine are placed by relatives of the buried person. This ceremony takes place on 15 August each year, the end of the harvest season.

Pictured, left to right: Unknown; Pte Graham Lambert of North Summit, SA, and Pte Fred Podbury of Ballarat, Vic. [AWM HOBJ5602]

The RAN maintained two ships in Korean waters until 1955. Their main task was to patrol the west coast and prevent North Korean infiltration to islands held by South Korea. The occasional presence of North Korean aircraft and ships created tension but there were no serious incidents. During HMAS Sydney’s deployment, from November 1953 to March 1954, Acting Sublieutenants M Beardsall and J Clinton were killed in air accidents. The formal commitment of the RAN to Korea ended when HMAS Condamine departed on 9 October 1955.

Australian Army

After the ceasefire 2 and 3 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) withdrew from the Hook, where days before they had repelled a Chinese assault. The Battalions were maintained at fighting efficiency, digging and improving the fortifications on the new Kansas Line. On 2 April 1954 1 RAR replaced 2 RAR which returned home after a year in Korea. In November with the reduction of the British Commonwealth Division to brigade strength, 3 RAR, after four years in Korea, sailed for Australia. The remaining Australian battalion 1 RAR was then replaced in the front line by South Korean troops. For the battalion’s remaining 17 months in Korea it lived at Gallipoli Camp, trained and patrolled the demilitarised zone. When the Commonwealth base at Kure was closed the last Australians to leave the theatre, 80 Army signallers, returned to Australia in August 1957.

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)

For the first year after the ceasefire 77 Squadron remained in South Korea during which time Pilot Officer H Andrews was killed in a mid-air collision. In October 1954 the Squadron ceased operations and returned to Australia via Japan. The aircraft and personnel were transported by the Australian aircraft carrier Vengeance. For 36 Squadron the flying of sick and wounded Commonwealth troops from Korea to Japan continued for a few months after the war ended. The Squadron returned to Australia in 1955. The other two RAAF units, 91 Composite Wing and 491 Maintenance Squadron were disbanded in Japan in 1954 and 1955. A transport flight of four RAAF aircraft continued operations until July 1956.