The First Commonwealth Division – The Story of British Commonwealth Land Forces in Korea 1950-1953

Description

Title: The First Commonwealth Division – The Story of British Commonwealth Land Forces in Korea 1950-1953

Author: Field-Marshal Earl Alexander Of Tunis Barclay

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition

Publication Date: 1954

ISBN: N/A

Cover: Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 236 pages

Comments: The concise and well written history of  British Commonwealth Land Forces in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. Includes mention of Australian forces. Now a scarce title.

The 1st Commonwealth Division was the name given, after July 1951, to Commonwealth land forces in the Korean War. The division was a multinational unit that was part of British Commonwealth Forces Korea, and whilst British and Canadian Army units formed the bulk of the division, Australian infantry, New Zealand artillery and an Indian medical unit were also a part of the division. As with the US “KATUSA” programme, numerous South Korean troops were seconded to the Commonwealth division to make up numbers under a programme known as “KATCOM” (Koreans attached to Commonwealth).

The unit was preceded by the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, which was the initial parent formation of Commonwealth army units in Korea, and which arrived in Korea in August 1950. Its two British Infantry battalions were joined by the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) in September, and by the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), in February 1951. The brigade was subsequently re-constituted as 28th Commonwealth Brigade in April 1951. In November 1950 the brigade was joined by 29th Independent Infantry Brigade, and in May 1951 by 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade. In July 1951 these units were combined to form 1st Commonwealth Division.

The 1st Commonwealth Division was part of the US I Corps, which also included the US 1st Cavalry Division, the US 3rd and 25th Infantry Divisions, and the ROK 1st Division. The division occupied the strategically important sector of front on the Jamestown Line, stretching from the Kimpo peninsula on the Yellow Sea coast to a point east of Kumhwa about 10.1 km, and just 48 km from the South Korean capital, Seoul.

It was deactivated in 1954 as part of the demobilisation of forces in Korea in the aftermath of the war, being reduced to a Commonwealth Brigade Group, and from May 1956 until its final withdrawal in August 1957 to a Commonwealth Contingent of battalion strength.

Previous owner’s name on front end paper.