The involvement of New Zealand in the Korean War began in 1950 as a response to the United Nations Security Council's call for combat assistance in the erupting Korean War. New Zealand was one of the first (of a total of sixteen) nations to respond with support. [1]
The Korean War lasted from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, however New Zealand forces remained in a reduced capacity until final troops were withdrawn in 1957.[2]
On 29 June 1950, just four days after 135,000 North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel in Korea, the New Zealand government ordered two Loch class frigates of the Royal New Zealand Navy – and – to prepare to make for Korean waters, and for the whole of the war, at least two NZ vessels would be on station in the theatre.[3] On 3 July, these two first ships left Devonport Naval Base, Auckland and joined other Commonwealth forces at Sasebo, Japan, on 2 August. These vessels served under the command of a British flag officer (seemingly Flag Officer, Second-in-Command, Far East Fleet) and formed part of the US Navy screening force during the Battle of Inchon, performing shore raids and inland bombardment.[4] Further RNZN Loch class frigates joined these later –,, and, as well as a number of smaller craft. Only one RNZN sailor, Able Seaman R.E. Marchioni, was killed throughout the conflict; during a raid on Sogon-ni on 26 August 1951 with HMNZS Rotoiti.
After some debate, on 26 July 1950, the Government of New Zealand announced it would raise a volunteer military force to serve with UN forces in Korea. The idea was opposed initially by the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Keith Stewart, who did not believe the force would be large enough to be self-sufficient. His opposition was ignored and the government raised what was known as Kayforce, 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, a total of 1,056 men.[5]
The force left Wellington on 10 December 1950, arrived at Pusan on New Year's Eve, and on 21 January joined the British 27th Infantry Brigade. The New Zealanders immediately saw combat and spent the next two and a half years taking part in the operations (most notably the Battle of Kapyong and the First Battle of Maryang-san) which led the United Nations forces back to and over the 38th Parallel (with the NZ naval vessels being especially active in the inner Han River estuary), later recapturing Seoul in the process.
Although overshadowed by 16 Field Regiment RNZA's contribution to the 1950–54 Korean War, New Zealand also contributed 10 Company, RNZASC as part of Kayforce. They totalled 408 personnel of all ranks and would serve with distinction in Korea from 1951 until 1956 as part of the 1st Commonwealth Division.[6]
Following the armistice, RNZN deployments continued, together with Army support elements until 1957 as Kayforce was gradually reduced in size. The majority of Kayforce had returned to New Zealand by 1955, though it was not until 27 July 1957 that the last New Zealand soldiers left Korea.[7] A single New Zealand military liaison officer on the Commonwealth Liaison Mission, Korea, remained in the country until 1971.
A total of around 6,000 New Zealand soldiers served in the Kayforce and RNZN between 1950-1957.[8] In total forty-five men died during the seven year period of conflict, thirty-three were killed in action.[9] Many were eventually buried at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan, South Korea. Other casualties included 79 wounded and 1 taken prisoner. The prisoner, from Cambridge, Waikato, was held in North Korea for eighteen months and repatriated after the armistices. A New Zealander flying with the Royal Australian Air Force was also captured when he was shot down near P'yongyang, and was repatriated at around the same time.[10]
No Royal New Zealand Air Force units were sent to Korea, but a number of New Zealanders flew with other air forces in the conflict. Two men flew Gloster Meteor jets with No. 77 Squadron RAAF; one, Vance Drummond, was shot down and captured. A New Zealand Army artillery lieutenant was attached to a USAF tactical control unit as an observer in light aircraft. New Zealand born Alan Boxer, later a British air marshal, flew B-29 Superfortress missions on USAF attachment. One New Zealander flying in Korea as a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy from HMS Ocean, Cedric Macpherson, was killed on 11 February 1953 when his Hawker Sea Fury was shot down by ground fire. Five New Zealanders took part in Royal Australian Navy missions over Korea from the Australian carrier HMAS Sydney. Some of these pilots were former RNZAF members, others joining directly the British and Australian forces.[11]
Born on 28 March 1924 in Palmerston North, Alan Cull was the Kayforce Dentist.[12] [13] [14] Studying dentistry at the University of Otago, Cull later worked at Wellington Hospital before joining the army as a reserve dental officer in the Territorial Dental Corps. Cull served two years in Korea in a Mobile Dental Unit associated with a field artillery regiment.[15] Cull left Wellington on December 10th 1950 on the Ormonde.[16] [17] Cull arrived on the 31st of December to freezing temperatures in Pusan and worked out of old schoolhouses, tents and trucks. Cull became lead of 2 Mobile Dental Unit in the territorials and was appointed major. In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II presented Cull with a MBE during her first visit to New Zealand. In March 2024, Alan Cull celebrated his 100th birthday.
Born in Masterton in 1928, Mackley joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force at 18 years old. He was a keen photographer from an early age, his first job being at a Kodak shop. Mackley was able to use his skill in photography during his time in the air force, taking aerial photographs for land surveying as well as documenting his fellow recruits during their medical examinations. He left Wellington on December 10th 1950 on the Ormonde. Mackley served with Charlie Troop, 162 Battery as a signaller for three months before he was appointed sergeant and the Kayforce's official photographer.[18] This position required Mackley to travel between Korea to photograph and then to the Kayforce base in Kure, Japan to process and print film. The purpose of these photographs were not for news or documentary purposes but to showcase New Zealand soldiers in action, for public relations.[19] After the Korean War, Mackley continued photographing, working for the Evening Post for 35 years and became President of the Wellington branch of the Korean Veterans Association. Mackley passed away on 24 April 2016 at 87 years old.[20]
Born in 1928 in Milson Palmerston North, Valentine volunteered to join the Kayforce after a friend had informed him he was joining.[21] He left Wellington on December 10th 1950 onboard the Ormonde. He served as a gunner with Easy Troop, 163 Battery and fought in the Battle of Kapyong.[22] Laurie passed away in January 2012 at age 83.
New Zealand service people knew very little about Korea before arriving to serve. Many New Zealanders who served volunteered for the sense of adventure and opportunity to travel overseas. Due to language the barriers between English speaking New Zealanders and Korean speaking locals, Kayforce members had very little friendship with the South Koreans.
The Korean War was noted to have had an incidental but significant economic impact on New Zealand. On the outbreak of war in 1950, the United States were urged to purchase vast quantities of wool. These large amounts of wool were not for uniforms but strategic stockpiles kept in reserve incase the conflict worsened.[37] The New Zealand wool boom skyrocketed New Zealand to the third largest wool producer in the world.
Commemorations to New Zealand service in the Korean War continue today, with the 60th anniversary of the Korean Armistice Agreement in Busan being attended by Prime Minister of the time, John Key and Michael Woodhouse, Veterans’ Affairs Minister.[38] Again, in 2023, marking the 70th anniversary, five veterans and their families travelled to Korea and were hosted for a week. This included a visit to the Korean Demilitarised Zone, Korean War Memorial and the United Nations Memorial Ceremony.[39]
In 1989, the inscriptions of the Korean Roll of Honour were added to Auckland War Memorial Museum's Hall of Memories. In 1992 a Korean War Memorial Stone was unveiled in Auckland's Dove-Myer Robinson Park as a gift from the people of South Korea to New Zealand.[40] Then, in 2005 a New Zealand Memorial Korea was opened.
