Duties – Welfare work for sick and wounded patients in service hospitals, especially Brit Com patients. Posted to Korea from Japan with Joan (BRCS) on May 13^th 1952 for three months. Lived at 121 Evac American hospital over Hann River Bridge from Seoul, conditions and food different from Brit Com. Hospital in Kure, Japan.

Worked mostly at Canadian Hospital in Seoul but driven north by reg (Aust Red Cross Rep) by jeep to some M.A.S.H.E.S. quite often. Interesting, but hot and dusty as most roads unsealed. Returned to Japan for 3 months, then back to Korea in November 1952 and a Korean winter, such cold I’ve never known before or since!

Despite our special winter clothing jeep travel became something to be endured not enjoyed! There was often snow in Seoul and the countryside. After 3 months back to Kure, Japan. At Easter 1953 there was an exchange of sick prisoners and six Australian boys arrived in Kure, while Lorna, our senior Aus Red Cross did all the paperwork for N.H.Q.R+ I did all their shopping, great fun, one order was for 3 bride dolls, all different, from one man with 3 little daughters back home. Mission accomplished!

The Canadian hospital moved to Guie Jambu about 20 odd miles north from Seoul was taken over by British and Australian staff including Sisters from Kure. Suddenly the war was over, July 1953.

Part of the Canadian hospital became Britannia Camp for the reception of the Australian, British and Canadian POWs.

I was delighted to be sent back to Korea for the exchange of POWs. Stationed at Britannia Camp I was permitted to travel to Panmunjon whenever Australian prisoners were released. The exchange lasted about seven weeks and was a most exciting and interesting time.

All ex POWs were given R+ toilet articles, cigarettes, warm socks etc. The army issues new clothing, the paymaster some pay, telegrams and flowers could be sent to their families. The next morning they flew to Kure, Japan, where the British waited for a ship to the U.K. and the Australians flew to Sydney soon after their release. We returned to Kure with the last release of POWs.

In November 1954 returned to Korea to the British Commonwealth Forces in Seoul, winter again! But the Unit closed a few days before Christmas and I returned to Kure. In August 1955 I sailed for Australia on the Taiping with many, mostly happy, memories of my years of service in Japan and Korea.

If you would like to return home . .  

or just return to the last page . . .

This page was last modified on 13 March 2004.