The Korean War which began on 25 June 1950, was the result of the power vacuum caused by the defeat of Japan in 1945 together with the Cold War rivalry between the United States and Russia. After Japan's defeat the United States and the Russians agreed that the Soviets would accept the surrender of the Japanese troops in Korea north of the 38 Parallel and the Americans would accept the surrender of all those to the south.
As post-war relations between the United States and Russia continued to deteriorate the 38 Parallel began to take on the appearance of a frontier. The United States put the issue before the United Nations in 1947 and a UN Temporary Commission on Korea was set up to supervise elections which were to be held before 31 March 1948. The Russians refused the Commission access to the North and therefore the Commission was only able to supervise the Southern elections.
The situation erupted into conflict when North Korea invaded the South. The United Nations condemned the invasion and ordered the North to cease hostilities and withdraw. When this order was ignored, a resolution was passed in the United Nations asking all members to give South Korea as much assistance as required to resist the attack.
The New Zealand Government's initial response to the call from the United Nations was to despatch two frigates to serve in Korean waters. However the continued deterioration in the situation made the provision of ground forces crucial. The Chief of General Staff, Major General K. L. Steward, initially opposed the commitment of ground forces from New Zealand as they would be too small to be self-sufficient. The Regular Force in 1950 numbered only 3,500 and the introduction of Compulsory Military
Training in 1949 had over-stretched the Army's resources. Ignoring Major-General Stewart's opposition, the New Zealand government announced on 26 July 1950 that it would provide one artillery regiment for service with the United Nations ground force.
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New Zealand's original force comprised
- Headquarters Kayforce,
- 16th Field Regiment RNZA,
- a signals troop,
- a light aid detachment,
- a transport platoon, and
- a small reinforcement training
unit,
- the total strength being 70 officers and 974 other ranks.
The force arrived in Pusan, Korea by sea on New Year's Eve 1950, and was attached to the 27th British Brigade.
The 16th Field Regiment first went into action on 29 January 1951 and remained on active service for the next two and a half years. The Regiment's most famous battle was Kapyong in support of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, fought during April 1951. In July 1951 the land contingents from the various commonwealth nations amalgamated to form the Commonwealth Division.
After the signing of the armistice in July 1954, reductions to Kayforce's strength were gradually made. The 16th Field Regiment which had fired over three-quarters of a million
shells during the war, and other corps' elements were withdrawn in 1955. Residual members of the force were concentrated into the
10th Transport Company RNZASC. The last elements of Kayforce returned to New Zealand in 1957.
Casualties:
A total of 3,794 soldiers served in Kayforce during the Korean War:
33 died on active service, 79 were wounded and 1 was taken prisoner by the North Koreans.
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