Honouring an Armistice

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Mr Sangjin Lee lays a wreath.

HONOURING AN ARMISTICE – ŌTAKI STYLE

By Judith Martin

Mix dozens of children from a small-town school, a group of elderly veterans and some enthusiastic soldiers and their weaponry and what do you get?

A morning of perfect community collaboration to mark the 67 th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire.

Mingling alongside the youngsters, soldiers and snowyhaired veterans are a group of smiling, be-suited official representatives of the Republic of Korea, led by his Excellency Sang-Jin Lee.

Fronting up to the school and its immaculate grounds each year on the anniversary of the Armistice, the Light Gun and other weaponry in tow, has become something of a tradition for the soldiers and officers of 16 Field Regiment.

The event has a very New Zealand flavour: while the veterans drink tea with the teachers in the school’s staffroom, children pour out of classrooms, some in gumboots, some bare feet, and descend on the gunners and their kit.

The questions are endless and the experience very hands-on as the kids clamber over equipment, try packs for size, and suss out what’s involved in becoming a soldier. Timings are fluid and at 10.30 – more or less – the veterans and the Korean contingent move to a corner of the school where two memorials nestle under a pohutukawa tree. Five minutes earlier, on the dot, the catafalque guard formed up and is waiting as the veterans and visitors take their seats. They are welcomed, and then addressed by former Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral David Ledson.

“Today we remember the Korean War, which started on 25 June 1950 when North Korean forces launched a surprise attack across the border into South Korea. We remember too those who have fought and died in the three years of conflict including the around two and a half million civilians who lost their lives.

“The space here at Ōtaki School is a relatively small space but, in the words of the proverb, ahakoa he iti, he pounamu – it may be small but it is precious.

“In front of us are two small plaques. The plaque on the right tells us that the magnificent pohutukawa tree we can see was planted to mark the 40 th anniversary of the Korean War ceasefire; the guns falling silent with the signing of an armistice on 27 July 1953. The pohutukawa tree has a deep spiritual meaning for Māori, connecting the beginning and ending of human life. In Māori mythology the red flowers of the tree represent the blood of the warrior Tawhaki, a spirit ancestor who showed the way from earth to heaven but fell and died in doing so. So this memorial, plaque and tree is in its elements uniquely a New Zealand memorial.” Rear Admiral Ledson goes on to explain how the memorial on the left was donated in 2013 by the Korean embassy. “It is a simple stone, observing that in Korean culture for something to be special in nature it needs to be simple and natural. This stone therefore in its form, represents Korea. As so these two memorials, alongside each other, represent New Zealand and Korea and signal a joint commitment to remember the veterans of the Korean War and their service for both countries in a land and a war far from here almost seventy years ago. And that makes that occasion and this place in their own ways, unique and special.”

“Kia mau ki te kura whero, kei mau koe ki te kura tawhiwhi kei waiho koe hei whakamomona me te whenua tangata – when you have something of value guard it.”

Ōtaki School principal Rauru Walker, whose great uncle was killed in the Korean War, says he is delighted to host the commemoration of the armistice. “It’s important that kids understand that part of history, what happened and why. We talk about it in class and adjust the information to the age of the children.

“And it’s so great the soldiers take the time to come here. I had a boy come up to me last week during Matariki, and he mentioned a star you could wish upon. His wish was to become a soldier. I told him to hang on for a week and we’d have so many soldiers to talk to. It’s important they realise soldiers do what they do, but at the same time try not to glorify it.”

The New Zealand Army’s 16 Field Regiment has a special relationship with Korea. At least two of the soldiers who deployed to

Korea 70 years ago attended Ōtaki School,

and many people within the town “adopted” the gunners, writing to them and sending care packages.

New Zealand servicemen of 16 Field Regiment arrived in Korea on 31 December 1950, along with 10 Transport Company, a Divisional Signals detachment, joining the two Navy frigates that had arrived into theatre on 1 August 1950. As part of the 27 th Commonwealth Brigade they were eventually deployed north of Seoul in the area of the Kapyong Valley in early April 1951.

With Anzac Day approaching it was planned to acknowledge the day with the Australian 3 RAR Battalion and Turkish soldiers also in theatre. On 22 April however a massive communist offensive of some 30,000 troops put paid to this plan and the Battle of Kapyong began.

Kapyong Valley had long been used as an approach route to Seoul and should the communists break through the entire front would shatter. Elements of 6 Republic of Korea (ROK) Division, 3 RAR Bn, 2 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battalion (PPCLI) and The Middlesex Battalion supported by 16 Fd Regt were ordered to hold the line at all costs.

From 22–25 April, massed waves of communist soldiers were repulsed using a combination of infantry holding ground and artillery fire support. At times gun fire was directed onto friendly infantry positions as it was the only way to break up attacks, and by 26 April the communist forces had withdrawn.

The battle was intense; 16 Fd Regt fired some 10,000 rounds in its duration. For its role in halting the attack the Korean Presidential Citation was awarded to the Regiment.