The 1st Commonwealth Division was the

military unit Military organization ( AE) or military organisation ( BE) is the structuring of the armed forces of a state so as to offer such military capability as a national defense policy may require. Formal military organization tends to use hiera ...

that commanded

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...

land forces Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land surface ...

in the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. The division was a part of the multinational British Commonwealth Forces Korea, with

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

units of the

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

Canadian Army The Canadian Army () is the command (military formation), command responsible for the operational readiness of the conventional ground forces of the Canadian Armed Forces. It maintains regular forces units at bases across Canada, and is also re ...

and

Australian Army The Australian Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of Australia. It is a part of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Army is commanded by the Chief of Army ...

forming the bulk of the division. Additionally, the

New Zealand Army The New Zealand Army (, ) is the principal Army, land warfare force of New Zealand, a component of the New Zealand Defence Force alongside the Royal New Zealand Navy and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Formed in 1845, as the New Zealand Mil ...

supplied

artillery Artillery consists of ranged weapons that launch Ammunition, munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and l ...

contingents and an Indian medical unit was also attached. As with the "

Korean Augmentation To the United States Army Korean Augmentation to the United States Army (KATUSA; ) is a branch of the Republic of Korea Army that consists of Korean enlisted personnel who are seconded to the Eighth United States Army (EUSA). KATUSA does not form an individual milit ...

" (KATUSA) programme, numerous South Korean troops were seconded to the Commonwealth division to make up numbers under a scheme known as "

KATCOM Korean Augmentation Troops to Commonwealth Division (KATCOM) refers to significant numbers of South Korean soldiers who were attached to the 1st Commonwealth Division during the Korean War. South Korean troops were included within Commonwealth un ...

History

Background

Following the outbreak of the

, the

27th British Commonwealth Brigade The 27th Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Army that saw service in the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War. In Korea, the brigade was known as 27th British Commonwealth Brigade due to the addition of Ca ...

, which was the initial parent formation of Commonwealth army units in Korea, arrived in the peninsula with two British Infantry battalions in August 1950. It was reinforced by the

3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) is the armoured infantry battalion of the Australian Army, based in Kapyong Lines, Townsville as part of the 3rd Brigade (Armoured Amphibious). 3 RAR traces its lineage to 1945 and has seen ...

(3 RAR) in September, and by the 2nd Battalion,

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricias) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...

(PPCLI), in February 1951. The brigade was subsequently re-constituted as the 28th Commonwealth Brigade in April 1951. Meanwhile, in November 1950, the brigade was joined by the 29th Independent Infantry Brigade, and in May 1951 by the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

Formation

In July 1951, the infantry brigades were combined to form the 1st Commonwealth Division, wherein the unit was 58% British forces, 22% Canadian forces, 14% Australian forces, 5% New Zealander forces, and 1% Indian forces. The 1st Commonwealth Division was part of the

US I Corps The I Corps is a corps of the United States Army headquartered in Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington (state), Washington. It is a major formation of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) and its current mission inv ...

, 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 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 and the UN May-June 1951 counteroffensive, the war largely became one of attrition ...

, stretching from the Kimpo peninsula on the

Yellow Sea The Yellow Sea, also known as the North Sea, is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula, and can be considered the northwestern part of the East China Sea. Names It is one of four ...

coast to a point east of Kumhwa about , and just from the South Korean capital,

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

Dissolution

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.

Commanders

*Commanding officers ** Major-General James Cassels, 28 July 1951 – 7 September 1952 ** Major-General Michael West, 7 September 1952 – 1953 ** Major-General

Horatius Murray General Sir Horatius Murray, (18 April 1903 – 1989) was a senior British Army officer who served with distinction during the Second World War and later in the Korean War. Early life and military career Educated at Peter Symonds School and th ...

, 1953–1954 *Divisional Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) ** Brigadier William Pike, July 1951 – 1952 ** Brigadier Guy Gregson, 1952 *Divisional Commander Royal Engineers (CRE) ** Colonel ECW Myers, RE *Divisional Commander Royal Signals (CRSigs) ** Lt Col AC Atkinson, Royal Sigs *Divisional Commander Royal Army Service Corps (CRASC) ** Lt Col MGM Crosby, RASC *Assistant Director Medical Services (ADMS) ** Col G Anderton, RAMC *Divisional Commander Royal Army Ordnance Corps (CRAOC) ** Lt Col MR Maclean, RAOC ** Lt Col GJH Atkinson, RNZAOC *Divisional Commander Royal Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (CREME) ** Lt Col HG Good, REME

Order of battle

* Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Commonwealth Division **Divisional troops ***Signals ****1st Commonwealth Division Signals ***Artillery ****45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery ( 25 pdr) ****11th (Sphinx) Battery, Royal Artillery ( 4.2 inch mortars) ****170th Light Battery, Royal Artillery (4.2 inch mortars) **** 14th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 pdr) ****120th Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery (4.2 inch mortars) ****42nd Light AA Battery, Royal Artillery (4.2 inch mortars) ****61st Light Field Regiment (4.2 inch mortars) ****20th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 pdr) ****16th Field Regiment,

Royal New Zealand Artillery The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery is the artillery regiment of the New Zealand Army. It is effectively a military administrative corps, and can comprise multiple component regiments. This nomenclature stems from its heritage as an of ...

(25 pdr) ****42nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (25 pdr) ****2nd Regiment,

Royal Canadian Horse Artillery The Royal Canadian Horse Artillery is the name given to the regular field artillery units of the Canadian Army. Organization The Regular Force has three RCHA regiments: ; 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery: this is the descendant of ...

(25 pdr) ****1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (25 pdr) ****81st Field Regiment,

Royal Canadian Artillery The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery () is the artillery personnel branch of the Canadian Army. History Many of the units and batteries of the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery are older than the Dominion of Canada itself. The first arti ...

(25 pdr) **** 74th (Battleax Company) Medium Battery, Royal Artillery ( 5.5 inch medium guns) ****1903 Independent Air Observation Post Flight, Royal Artillery ***Engineers ****28th Field Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers ****64th Field Park Squadron, Royal Engineers ***Armour ****

8th King's Royal Irish Hussars The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a Cavalry regiments of the British Army, cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries including the World War I, First and World War II, Second World Wars. ...

(

Centurion tank The FV4007 Centurion was the primary main battle tank of the British Army during the post-World War II period. Introduced in 1945, it is one of the most successful post-war tank designs, remaining in production into the 1960s, and seeing comba ...

Cromwell tank The Cromwell tank, officially Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell (A27M), was one of the series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second World War. Named after the English Civil War–era military leader Oliver Cromwell, the Cromwell was ...

) ****C Squadron,

7th Royal Tank Regiment The 7th Royal Tank Regiment (7th RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army from 1917 until disbandment in 1959. History The 7th Royal Tank Regiment was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. The regi ...

(

Churchill tank The Tank, Infantry, Mk IV (A22) Churchill was a British infantry tank used in the Second World War, best known for its heavy armour, large longitudinal chassis with all-around tracks with multiple Bogie#Tracked vehicles, bogies, its ability to ...

) ****

5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. It served in the Second World ...

(Centurion tank) ****

1st Royal Tank Regiment The 1st Royal Tank Regiment (1 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps and operationally under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade. History Formation The regimen ...

(Centurion tank) ****

5th Royal Tank Regiment 5th Royal Tank Regiment (5 RTR) was an armoured regiment of the British Army in existence for 52 years, from 1917 until 1969. It was part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps. It originally saw action as E Battalio ...

(Centurion tank) ****C Squadron,

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH(RC)) is a regular armoured warfare, armoured regiment of the Canadian Army and is Canada’s only tank regiment. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of 3rd Canadian Division' ...

(2nd Armoured Regiment) (

M4 Sherman The M4 Sherman, officially medium tank, M4, was the medium tank most widely used by the United States and Western Allies in World War II. The M4 Sherman proved to be reliable, relatively cheap to produce, and available in great numbers. I ...

) ****B Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (2nd Armoured Regiment) (M4 Sherman) ****A Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (2nd Armoured Regiment) (M4 Sherman) ***Medical ****60th (Para) Indian Field Ambulance ****26th Field Ambulance, RAMC ****No. 25 Field Ambulance, RCAMC ****No. 25 Canadian Field Dressing Station ****No. 37 Field Ambulance, RCAMC ****No. 38 Field Ambulance, RCAMC ***Logistics ****Ordnance *****No. 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Company *****28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Ordnance Field Park *****24th British Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Field Park *****1st Commonwealth Division, Stores Distribution Detachment ****Workshops *****10th Infantry Workshops, REME *****11th Infantry Workshops, REME *****16th Infantry Workshops, REME *****25 Canadian Support Workshop, RCEME *****191 Infantry Workshop, RCEME *****40 Canadian Infantry Workshop, RCEME *****42 Infantry Workshop, RCEME *****1st Commonwealth Division, Tank Workshop *****1st Commonwealth Division, Signals Workshop *****1st Commonwealth Division, Recovery Unit ****Transport *****54 Company, RCASC *****57 Company, RASC *****78 Company, RASC *****10 Company, RNZASC 1951–1956 ***Infantry **** 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade ***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Canadian Regiment The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked first in the order of precedence amongst Canadi ...

***** 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment ***** 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment ***** 1st Battalion,

***** 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry ***** 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry ***** 1st Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment ***** 2nd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment ***** 3rd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment **** 27th Infantry Brigade (aka

): *****1st Battalion,

Middlesex Regiment The Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1966. The regiment was formed, as the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), in 1881 as part of the Childers Re ...

*****1st Battalion,

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's) is a light infantry company (military unit), company (designated as Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland) and was a line infantry regiment of the British Army tha ...

*****2nd Battalion,

*****3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment *****16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery *****60th Indian Field Ambulance **** 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade (previously organised as

): ***** 1st Battalion,

King's Own Scottish Borderers The King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSBs) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division. On 28 March 2006 the regiment was amalgamated with the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, Royal Highland Fusiliers ...

***** 1st Battalion,

King's Shropshire Light Infantry The King's Shropshire Light Infantry (KSLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in the Childers Reforms of 1881, but with antecedents dating back to 1755. It served in the Second Boer War, World War I, World War II and Korea ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Fusiliers The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in continuous existence for 283 years. It was known as the 7th Regiment of Foot until the Childers Reforms of 1881. The regiment served in many war ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Durham Light Infantry The Durham Light Infantry (DLI) was a light infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1968. It was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) and ...

*****

(3 RAR) *****

1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) is a regular motorised infantry battalion of the Australian Army. 1 RAR was first formed as the 65th Australian Infantry Battalion of the 34th Brigade (Australia) on Balikpapan in 1945 and since ...

(1 RAR) *****

2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment The 2nd Battalion (Amphibious), The Royal Australian Regiment (2 RAR (Amphib)) is an amphibious reconnaissance battalion of the Australian Army part of the 1st Division Amphibious Task Group based at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. 2 RAR was ...

(2 RAR) **** 29th Infantry Brigade (previously organised as 29th Independent Infantry Brigade): ***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Raised in 1674 as one of three 'English' units in the Dutch Anglo-Scots Brigade, it accompanied William III to England in the November 1688 Glorious Revolution and ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Gloucestershire Regiment The Gloucestershire Regiment, commonly referred to as the Glosters, was a line infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 until 1994. It traced its origins to Colonel Gibson's Regiment of Foot, which was raised in 1694 and later became the ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Ulster Rifles The Royal Irish Rifles (became the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1 January 1921) was an light infantry rifle regiment of the British Army, first created in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 83rd (County of Dublin) Regiment of Foot and the 86th (Royal ...

From November 1950 to July 1951,1stRUR was part of 29th Independent Infantry Brigade ***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Leicestershire Regiment The Leicestershire Regiment (Royal Leicestershire Regiment after 1946) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, with a history going back to 1688. The regiment saw service for three centuries, in numerous wars and conflicts such as both ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Welch Regiment The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an infantry regiment line infantry, of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the am ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Black Watch The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment ...

***** 1st Battalion,

King's Regiment (Liverpool) The King's Regiment (Liverpool) was one of the oldest line infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 when a single battalion was raised as The Anne, Queen of Great Britain, Princess Anne of Denmark's Regiment of Foot. ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Duke of Wellington's Regiment The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) was a line 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 di ...

***** 1st Battalion,

Royal Scots The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment), once known as the Royal Regiment of Foot, was the oldest and most senior infantry regiment line infantry, of the line of the British Army, having been raised in 1633 during the reign of Charles I of England ...

Notes

References

* * * {{Australia in the Korean War Military units and formations established in 1951 Military units and formations disestablished in 1954 1 1st Commonwealth Division C C C C Military units and formations of India 1951 establishments in the British Empire 1954 disestablishments in the British Empire

Divisions of New Zealand Divisions of Australia Divisions of Canada