Great Britain and Commonwealth Ground Forces Korea

Great Britain and Commonwealth Ground Forces Korea Summary Organization[1]
v. 1.0 March 10, 2002

Richard A. Rinaldi

27^th Infantry Brigade (two battalions) moved from Hong Kong to Korea Aug 1950[2]. On 1 Oct 1950 it was redesignated 27^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade (3^rd Bn R Australian Regt joined Sep 1950). (Switched headquarters and became 28^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade 26 Apr 1951.)

29^th Infantry Brigade Group came out from the UK Oct 1950[3]. 25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade arrived in Korea Jun 1951.

1^st Commonwealth Division was formed 28 Jul 1951 in Korea, taking over 28^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, 29^th Infantry Brigade, and the Canadian 25^th Infantry Brigade. Artillery, engineers and armour were centralized under division control. However, the division attempted to have national units continue to support their brigades as much as possible.

28^th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade was disbanded Aug 1954 in Korea. 1^st Commonwealth Division was disbanded Nov 1954 in Korea. 29^th Infantry Brigade HQ left the same month, returning to the UK (and probably disbanded)[4]. 25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade departed Korea 2 Dec 1954 (although many units left Nov 1954). At that point the remaining forces became the Commonwealth Contingent, Korea.

27^th Infantry Brigade[5]

1 Oct 1950: became 27^th CW Infantry Brigade

26 Apr 1951: 28^th CW Infantry Brigade replaced 27^th CW Inf Bde

1^st Bn Middlesex Regt	Aug 1950 – May 1951
1^st Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders	Aug 1950 – Apr 1951
3^rd Bn R Australian Regt	Sep 1950 – Feb 1952
2^nd Bn Princess Patricia’s Cdn LI	Feb 1951[6] – Jun 1951 [to 25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade]
1^st Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers	Apr 1951 – Aug 1952 (replaced 1^st ASH)
1^st Bn King’s Shropshire Light Inf	May 1951 – Sep 1952 (replaced 1^st Middlesex)
1^st Bn R Australian Regt	Feb 1952 – Mar 1953 (replaced 3^rd Bn of regiment
1^st Bn Royal Fusiliers	Aug 1952 – Aug 1953 (replaced 1^st KOSB)
1^st Bn Durham Light Infantry	Sep 1952 – Sep 1953 (replaced 1^st KSLI)
2^nd Bn R Australian Regt	Mar 1953 – Apr 1954 (replaced 1^st Bn of regiment)
1^st Bn R Australian Regt	Apr 1954 – Aug 1954 (replaced 2^nd Bn of regiment)
1^st Bn Essex Regt	Aug 1953 – Aug 1954 (replaced 1^st R Fusiliers)
1^st Bn R Warwickshire Regt	Sep 1953 – Aug 1954 (replaced 1^st Durham LI)

16^th Field Regt RNZA	Jan 1951 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]

29^th Infantry Brigade[7] [Brigade Group to Jul 1951]

1^st Bn R Northumberland Fusiliers	Nov 1950 – Nov 1951
1^st Bn Gloucestershire Regt	Nov 1950 – Nov 1951
1^st Bn R Ulster Rifles	Nov 1950 – Oct 1951
Belgian Bn[8]	Mar 1951 – Jul 1951
1^st Bn R Norfolk Regt	Oct 1951 – Sep 1952 (replaced 1^st RUR)
1^st Bn R Leicestershire Regt	Oct 1951 – Jun 1952 (replaced 1^st RNF)
1^st Bn Welch Regt	Nov 1951 – Nov 1952 (replaced 1^st Glosters)
1^st Bn Black Watch	Jun 1952 – Jul 1953 (replaced 1^st R Leicester)
1^st Bn King’s Regt	Sep 1952 – Oct 1953 (replaced 1^st R Norfolk)
1^st Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regt	Oct 1952 – Nov 1953 (replaced 1^st Welch)
1^st Bn Royal Scots	Jul 1953 – Nov 1954 (replaced 1^st Black Watch)
1^st Bn KO Royal Regt	Sep 1953 – Nov 1954 (replaced 1^st King’s)
1^st Bn North Staffordshire Regt	Sep 1953 – Nov 1954 (replaced 1^st DWR)

8^th King’s R Irish Hussars	Nov 1950 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]
‘C’ Sqn, 7^th RTR[9]	Nov 1950– Jul 1951

45^th Field Regiment RA	Nov 1950 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]
11^th Indep LAA Bty RA[10]	Nov 1950 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]
170^th Indep Mortar Bty RA	Nov 1950 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]

25^th Canadian Infantry Brigade[11]

2^nd Bn R Canadian Regt	Jun 1951 – Apr 1952
2^nd Bn Princess Patricia’s Cdn LI	Jun 1951 – Nov 1951
2^nd Bn Royal 22^eRegiment	Jun 1951 – Apr 1952
1^st Bn Princess Patricia’s Cdn LI	Oct 1951 – Nov 1952 (replaced 2^nd Bn of regiment)
1^st Bn R Canadian Regt	Apr 1952 – Mar 1953 (replaced 2^nd Bn of regiment)
1^st Bn Royal 22^eRegiment	Apr 1952 – Apr 1953 (replaced 2^nd Bn of regiment)
3^rd Bn Princess Patricia’s Cdn LI	Oct 1952 – Oct 1953 (replaced 2^nd Bn of regiment)
3^rd Bn R Canadian Regt	Mar 1953 – Mar 1954 (replaced 1^st Bn of regiment)
3^rd Bn Royal 22^eRegiment	Apr 1953 – Apr 1954 (replaced 1^st Bn of regiment)
2^nd Bn Black Watch (RHR) of Canada	Oct 1953 – Nov 1954 (replaced 3^rd Bn PPCLI)
2^nd Bn QO Rifles of Canada	Mar 1954 – Dec 1954 (replaced 3^rd Bn RCR)
4^th Bn Canadian Guards	Apr 1954 – Nov 1954 (replaced 3^rd Bn R 22^eRegt)

‘C’ Sqn, Lord Strathcona’s Horse	Jun 1951 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]

2^nd Regiment RCHA	Jun 1951 – Jul 1951 [to 1^st CW Division]

57^th Indep Field Sqn RCE	Jun 1951 – Jul 1951 [to 28 Engineer Regt in 1^st CW Division]

1^st Commonwealth Division

8^th King’s R Irish Hussars	Jul 1951 – Dec 1951 [ex 29^th Inf Bde Gp]
‘C’ Sqn, 7^th RTR	Jul 1951 – Oct 1951 [ex 29^th Inf Bde Gp]
‘C’ Sqn, Lord Strathcona’s Horse	Jul 1951 – Jun 1952 [ex 25^th Cdn Inf Bde]
5^th R Inniskilling Dragoon Guards	Dec 1951 – Dec 1952 (replaced 8^th KRIH)
‘B’ Sqn, Lord Strathcona’s Horse	Jun 1952 – May 1953 (replaced ‘C’ Sqn of regiment)
1^st RTR	Dec 1952 – Dec 1953 (replaced 5^th RIDG)
‘A’ Sqn, Lord Strathcona’s Horse	May 1953 – May 1954 (replaced ‘B’ Sqn of regiment)
5^th RTR	Dec 1953 – Dec 1954 (replaced 1^st RTR)
‘D’ Sqn R Cdn Dragoons	May 1954 – Nov 1954 (replaced ‘A’ Sqn LSH)

45^th Field Regiment RA	Jul 1951 – Nov 1951 [ex 29^th Inf Bde Gp]
2^nd Regiment RCHA	Jul 1951 – May 1952 [ex 25^th Cdn Inf Bde]
16^th Field Regiment RNZA	Jul 1951 – Oct 1954
14^th Field Regiment RA	Nov 1951 – Dec 1952 (replaced 45^th Field Regt RA)
61^st Light Regiment RA[12]	Jan 1952 – Nov 1954
1^st Regiment RCHA	May 1952 – Apr 1953 (replaced 2^nd RCHA)
81^st Field Regiment RCA
20^th Field Regiment RA
42^nd Field Regiment RA
3^rd Regiment RCHA

170^th Indep Mortar Bty RA
11^th Indep LAA Bty RA[13]
120^th Indep Mortar Bty RA
42^nd Light Bty RA
74^th Medium Bty RA

28 Engineer Regiment[14]

1^st CW Division Signal Regiment

Commonwealth Contingent


1^st Bn Essex Regt	Aug 1954 – Oct 1954 [ex 28^th CW Inf Bde]
1^st Bn R Warwickshire Regt	Aug 1954 – Oct 1954 [ex 28^th CW Inf Bde]
1^st Bn R Australian Regt	Aug 1954 – Feb 1956 [ex 28^th CW Inf Bde]
1^st Bn Northamptonshire Regt	Nov 1954 – Dec 1955
1^st Bn R Irish Fusiliers	Nov 1954 – Dec 1955
1^st Bn QO Rifles of Canada	Dec 1954 – Apr 1955
1^st Bn QO Cameron Highlanders	Dec 1955 – Aug 1956 (replaced 1^st Northants)
1^st Bn Dorset Regt	Dec 1955 – Feb 1956 (replaced 1^st R Irish Fusiliers) [not replaced]
1^st Bn R Sussex Regt	Aug 1956 – Jul 1957 (replaced 1^st QOCH)

61^st Light Regiment RA	Nov 1954 – ?[15]

55 Field Sqn RE	Nov 1954 – Jul 1957

1^st CW Div Indep Signal Sqn

Battle Honours

Naktong Bridgehead	Middlesex
Sariwon	R Australian Regt
Youngyu	R Australian Regt
Chongju	Middlesex, R Australian Regt
Pakchon	ASH, R Australian Regt
Chongchon II	Middlesex
Uijongbu	R Australian Regt
Seoul	8^th KRIH, RNF, RUR
Chuam-Ni	Middlesex, R Australian Regt
Hill 327	8^th KRIH, Glosters
Maehwa-San	R Australian Regt
Kapyong-Chon	Middlesex
Imjin	8^th KRIH, RNF, Glosters, RUR
Kapyong	Middlesex, R Australian Regt, PPCLI
Kowang-San	8^th KRIH, RNF, KOSB, KSLI, R Australian Regt
Maryang-San	R L KSLI eicester, KOSB
Hill 227 I
The Hook, 1952	5^th RIDG, Black Watch
The Hook, 1953	King’s, DWR
Samichon	R Australian Regt
Korea 1950-51	8^th KRIH, RNF, Glosters, Middlesex, RUR, ASH
Korea 1950-53	R Australian Regt
Korea 1951-53	RTR, LSH, R Canadian Regt, PPCLI, R 22^eRegt
Korea 1951-52	5^th RIDG, R Norfolk, R Leicester, KOSB, Welch, KSLI
Korea 1952-53	R Fus, King’s DWR, Black Watch, DLI

Service and Support Units

Canada[16] normally operated in support of 25^th Cdn Inf Bde

No 54 Cdn Transport Coy RCASC	Jun 1951 – Apr 1953
No 23 Transport Coy RCASC	Apr 1952 – Mar 1953 (replaced No 54 Coy)
No 56 Transport Coy RCASC	Mar 1953 – Apr 1954 (replaced No 23 Coy)
No 3 Transport Coy RCASC	Mar 1954 – Nov 1954 (replaced No 56 Coy)

No 25 Cdn Field Ambulance	Jun 1951 – Apr 1952
No 37 Field Ambulance	Apr 1952 – Apr 1953 (replaced No 25)
No 38 Field Ambulance	May 1953 – Apr 1954 (replaced No 37) [renumbered Dec 1953 as No 4]
No 3 Field Ambulance	Mar 1954 – May 1956 (replaced No 4)
No 25 Cdn Field Dressing Station	Jul 1951 – Nov 1954

No 25 Cdn Inf Bde Ordnance Coy	Jun 1951 – Jan 1952[17]

No 25 Cdn Support Workshop RCEME	Jun 1951 – Jan 1952[18]
No 191 Cdn Inf Workshop RCEME	Jun 1951 – Apr 1953
No 23 Cdn Inf Workshop RCEME	Apr 1953 – Apr 1954 (replaced No 191) [renumbered Dec 1953 as No 40]
No 42 Inf Workshop RCEME	Mar 1954 – Feb 1955

India

60^th Indian Parachute Field Ambulance[19]

New Zealand

10^th Coy RNZASC[20]

United Kingdom

With 1^st CW Division

1903^rd AOP Flight RA

57^th Coy RASC[21]

58^th Coy RASC

10^th Inf Workshop REME[22]

11^th Inf Workshop REME[23]

26^th Field Ambulance RAMC[24]

27^th/28^th Bde Ordnance Field Park

29^th Bde Ordnance Field Park

249^th GHQ Provost Coy RMP

Command Troops in Korea

444^th Forward Delivery Sqn RAC

23^rd Heavy Recovery Section REME

1^st LofC Workshop REME

76^th Coy RASC

78^th Coy RASC

4^th Ordnance Depot

[1] Non-British units are shown in italics when subordinated to British or Commonwealth formations.

[2] The brigade was alerted for Korea 18 Aug 1950 (two battalions only), embarked 25 Aug and reached Korea 29 Aug 1950. It was placed in line 5 Sep 1950.

[3] The brigade group had been formed 1949. It arrived Pusan 3-18 Nov 1950 and was in action from 19 Nov (against guerillas).

[4] However, the brigade has also shown as remaining, to form the basis for the Commonwealth Contingent, or as a brigade within that force.

[5] Also included 27^th [later 28^th] Inf Bde Signal Sqn. This was reduced later (perhaps Dec 1951) to 28^th Inf Bde Signal Trp.

[6] This unit arrived in Korea Dec 1950; it spent time in anti-guerilla operations before joining 27^th Brigade.

[7] Also included 29^th Inf Bde Signal Sqn. This was reduced later (perhaps Dec 1951) to 29^th Inf Bde Signal Trp.

[8] Officially titled Corps de Volontaires pour le Coree [CVC]. It would be perpetuated Sep 1955 by 3^rd Bn of the Belgian Para Commando Regiment (formed 1952); the original Parachute and Commando Bns were the source of many CVC volunteers.

[9] Equipped with a variety of World War II-era specialized armour: Churchill tanks: flamethrower tanks, AVREs, flail tanks.

[11] Also included 25^th Cdn Inf Bde Signal Sqn, which was redesignated Dec 1951 as 25^th Cdn Inf Bde Signal Trp.

[12] RHQ resuscitated 12 Feb 1952 and regimented formed with 15^th Loc Bty RA, 42^nd Lt Bty RA, 120^th Lt Bty RA, and 248^th Lt Bty RA.

[14] Formed Apr 1951 in Libya for service in Korea. RHQ came out with 12 Field Sqn RE and 67 Field Park Sqn RE, taking over 55 Field Sqn RE already in Korea. In addition, 57^th (Sep 1951-May 1952), 23^rd (May 1952-Mar 1953), 59^th (Mar 1953-Mar 1954; renumbered Oct 1953 as 4^th) and 3^rd (Mar-Nov 1954) Field Sqns RCE served in succession with the regiment in Korea. New Zealand provided sections from 3 Field Sqn RZNE for service with 12 Field Sqn RE.

[15] The regiment was reorganized 15 Jan 1955 when 42^nd Lt and 15^th Loc Btys RA left; it then gained 170^th Fd Bty RA [the former 170^th Indep Mortar Bty RA] 15 Feb 1955. On 17 Jun 1955 248^th Lt Bty RA was placed in suspended animation to resuscitate 182^nd Lt Bty RA. On 1 Aug 1955 the regiment was redesignated 61^st Field Regiment RA, with 15^th Loc Bty RA and 42^nd, 120^th, 170^th and 182^nd Fd Btys RA. This non-standard organization suggests it might still have been in Korea at that time.

[16] In addition, No 57 General Transport Coy RCASC (renumbered Feb 1953 as No 58) was based in Japan.

[17] Reduced to nil strength 2 Jan 1952 and personnel transferred to 1^st CW Division’s Canadian Army Ordnance Elements.

[18] This unit also reduced to nil strength 2 Jan 1952.

[19] May have operated with 27^th/28^th CW Infantry Brigade before coming under 1^st CW Division.

[20] Support of 27^th/28^th CW Infantry Brigade.

[23] Support of 27^th/28^th CW Infantry Brigade.