1st Commonwealth Division
Encyclopedia
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.
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. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
(3 RAR) became part of the brigade
in September, as did 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 6.3 miles (10.1 km), and just 30 miles (48.3 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.
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
land forces
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
was a multinational unit that was part of British Commonwealth Forces Korea
British Commonwealth Forces Korea
British Commonwealth Forces Korea was the formal name, from 1952, of the Commonwealth army, naval and air units serving with the United Nations in the Korean War. Australian, British, Canadian, Indian and New Zealand units were part of BCFK...
, and whilst British
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and Canadian Army units formed the bulk of the division, Australian
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, New Zealand
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
and an Indian
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
medical unit were also a part of the division.
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. The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
(3 RAR) became part of the brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
in September, as did the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
(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
Jamestown Line
The Jamestown Line was a series of defensive positions occupied by United Nations forces in the Korean War. Following the end of the 1951 Chinese Spring Offensive the war largely became one of attrition and trench warfare, fought along static defensive lines reminiscent of the First World War...
, stretching from the Kimpo peninsula on the Yellow Sea
Yellow Sea
The Yellow Sea is the name given to the northern part of the East China Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean. It is located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. Its name comes from the sand particles from Gobi Desert sand storms that turn the surface of the water golden...
coast to a point east of Kumhwa about 6.3 miles (10.1 km), and just 30 miles (48.3 km) from the South Korean capital, Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
.
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.
Commanding officers
- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
James Cassels, 28 July 1951 – 7 September 1952 - Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Michael WestMichael West (British Army officer)General Sir Michael Montgomerie Alston-Roberts-West GCB DSO and two bars was a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1960s. He served in World War II and the Korean War...
, 7 September 1952–1953
Divisional Artillery Commanding Officer (CRA)
- Brigadier William Pike, July 1951–1952
- Brigadier G. Gregson, 1952
Order of battle
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Commonwealth Division
- Divisional troops
- Signals
- 1st Commonwealth Division Signals, July 1951 – July 1953
- Artillery
- 45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, July–November 1951
- 11th (Sphinx) Battery, Royal Artillery, July–November 1951
- 170th Light Battery, Royal Artillery, July–November 1951
- 14th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery14th Regiment Royal Artillery14th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the training role.-Batteries:*1 Battery "The Blazers"*24 Battery *34 Battery-External links:*...
, November 1951 – December 1952 - 120th Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery, October 1951 – December 1952
- 42nd Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery, November 1951 – February 1952
- 61st Light Field Regiment, January 1952 – July 1953
- 20th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, December 1952 – July 1953
- 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand ArtilleryRoyal Regiment of New Zealand ArtilleryThe Royal New Zealand Artillery forms the artillery section of the New Zealand Army. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer units of artillery in New Zealand.-Modern structure:...
, July 1951 – July 1953 - 42nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, December 1953–
- 2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse ArtilleryRoyal Canadian Horse ArtilleryThe Royal Canadian Horse Artillery is the name given to the regular field artillery units of the Canadian Army. RCHA units are the senior units of the Canadian land field force, with a history dating back to the birth of Canada as a nation...
, July 1951 – May 1952 - 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, May 1952 – April 1953
- 81st Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, April 1953 – July 1953
- 1903 Independent Air Observation Post Flight, Royal Artillery, July 1951 – July 1953
- Engineers
- 28th Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, July 1951 – July 1953
- 64th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers, July 1951 – July 1953
- Armour
- 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars8th King's Royal Irish HussarsThe 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958....
, July 1951 – December 1951 - C Squadron, 7th Royal Tank RegimentRoyal Tank RegimentThe Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
, July 1951 – October 1951 - 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon GuardsThe 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1922 to 1992, when it was amalgmated into the Royal Dragoon Guards.-The beginning:...
, December 1951 – December 1952 - 1st Royal Tank Regiment1st Royal Tank RegimentThe 1st Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It was originally formed as 1st Battalion, Royal Tank Corps in 1934....
, December 1952 – December 1953 - 5th Royal Tank Regiment5th Royal Tank RegimentThe 5th Royal Tank Regiment was an armoured regiment of the British Army until 1969. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
, December 1953– - C Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...
, May 1951 – June 1952 - B Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), June 1952 – May 1953
- A Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), December 1953–
- 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
- Medical
- 60th (Para) Indian Field Ambulance, November 1950 – August 1953
- 26th Field Ambulance, RAMC, December 1950–
- No 25 Field Ambulance, RCAMC, May 1951 – April 1952
- No 25 Canadian Field Dressing Station, July 1951–
- No 37 Field Ambulance, RCAMC, April 1952 – May 1953
- No 38 Field Ambulance, RCAMC, May 1953–
- Signals
- 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade25th Canadian Infantry BrigadeThe 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade was Canada's primary combat-formation intending to be sent as part of the British Commonwealth Forces Korea. Originally composed of three infantry battalions and two armoured squadrons, several individual units rotated through the brigade...
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian RegimentThe Royal Canadian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Forces. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the Primary Reserve...
, April 1952 – March 1953 - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, February 1951 – April 1952
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light InfantryPrincess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry is one of the three regular force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army. The regiment is composed of four battalions including a primary reserve battalion, for a total of 2,000 soldiers...
, October 1951 – November 1952 - 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, July 1951 – November 1952
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, March 1953 – July 1953
- 1st Battalion, Le Royal 22e Régiment, April 1952 – April 1953
- 2nd Battalion, Le Royal 22e Régiment, July 1951 – April 1952
- 3rd Battalion, Le Royal 22e Régiment, April 1953 – July 1953
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment
- 28th British Commonwealth Infantry BrigadeBritish 28th Infantry BrigadeThe 28th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation which served during the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War.-Second World War:...
- 1st Battalion, The King's Own Scottish Borderers, July 1951 – August 1952
- 1st Battalion, The King's Shropshire Light InfantryThe King's Shropshire Light InfantryThe King's Shropshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army, formed in 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. The KSLI was amalgamated with three other county light infantry regiments in 1968 to became part of The Light Infantry...
, July 1951 – September 1952 - 1st Battalion, The Royal Fusiliers, August 1952 – July 1953
- 1st Battalion, Durham Light InfantryDurham Light InfantryThe Durham Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1968. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 68th Regiment of Foot and the 106th Regiment of Foot along with the militia and rifle volunteers of County Durham...
, September 1952 – July 1953 - 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment is a parachute infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Sydney. 3 RAR was initially formed in 1945 as the 67th Battalion and has seen active service in Japan, Korea, Malaya, South Vietnam, East Timor, the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan and Iraq...
(3 RAR), July 1951 – July 1953 - 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a regular light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion in 1945 and since then has been deployed on active service during the Korean War, the Malayan Emergency and the Vietnam War...
(1 RAR), June 1952 – March 1953 - 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment is a regular light infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 2 RAR was first formed as the Australian 66th Battalion in 1945 and since then it has seen active service during the Korean War, Malayan Emergency and Vietnam War...
(2 RAR), April 1953 – July 1953
- 29th Infantry BrigadeBritish 29th Infantry BrigadeThe 29th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade unit of the British Army. It was originally raised in 1914 and saw service during the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War.-First World War:...
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Northumberland FusiliersRoyal Northumberland FusiliersThe Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally raised in 1674, the regiment was amalgamated with three other fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.-Origins:...
, July 1951 – October 1951 - 1st Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment, July 1951 – November 1951
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Ulster RiflesRoyal Ulster RiflesThe Royal Ulster Rifles was a British Army infantry regiment. It saw service in the Second Boer War, Great War, the Second World War and the Korean War, before being amalgamated into the Royal Irish Rangers in 1968.-History:...
, July 1951 – October 1951 - 1st Battalion, The Royal Norfolk RegimentRoyal Norfolk RegimentThe Royal Norfolk Regiment, originally formed as the Norfolk Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the British Army. The Norfolk Regiment was created on 1 July 1881 as the county regiment of Norfolk...
, October 1951 – September 1952 - 1st Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, October 1952 – June 1952
- 1st Battalion, The Welch RegimentWelch RegimentThe Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
, November 1951 – November 1952 - 1st Battalion, The Black WatchBlack Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)It all began in 1725 when General Wade, as leader of the King's Army in Scotland, and involved in his great project of building the military roads there, set up six companies of the Highland "Watch". These were formed to stop fighting among the clans; controlling the roads was an important part of...
, June 1952 – July 1953 - 1st Battalion, The King's Regiment (Liverpool)The King's Regiment (Liverpool)The King's Regiment was one of the oldest infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 and numbered as the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1751...
, September 1952 – July 1953 - 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
, September 1952 – July 1953 - 1st Battalion, The Royal ScotsThe Royal ScotsThe Royal Scots , once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest, and therefore most senior, infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of Scotland...
, July 1953
- 1st Battalion, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
- Divisional troops