Adelaide will now be home to a permanent Korean War Memorial to recognise the important contribution that local servicemen and women made during the Korean War, thanks to a significant state government funding boost.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Joe Szakacs MP, announced a total of $130,000 in state government funding to support the planning and development stages of the memorial to allow the veteran community to honour the service and sacrifice of South Australia’s Korean War veterans.
The South Australian Korean War Memorial Project Inc was established by the late Colonel Peter Scott DSO, OAM (Retd), a decorated Korean War veteran who sadly died in April, aged 96.
The funding, announced on Friday prior to a commemorative service by the RSL South Australia, Northern Territory and Broken Hill to mark the cessation of hostilities in 1953, comes as a result of Mr Scott’s advocacy for the project.
Rear Admiral the Hon Kevin Scarce AC, CSC, RAN (Retd.), Patron, South Australian Korean War Memorial Project Inc, acknowledged his organisation’s advocacy for the project.
“It’s time that we honour the service and sacrifice of South Australians who fought in the Korean War with a dedicated State Memorial,” he said.
Only five years after the end of the Second World War, Australia became involved in the Korean War. Personnel from the Royal Australian Navy, Australian Regular Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force were committed soon after the war began in 1950 and would serve for the next three years in the defence of South Korea.
Over 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War, of which 340 were killed and over 1,216 wounded. A further 29 became prisoners of war.
Often referred to as the ‘Forgotten War’ – overshadowed by the global scale of the Second World War and the cultural impact of the Vietnam War – more than 1,000 South Australians participated in the Korean War effort with 13 losing their lives.
In announcing the funding, Mr Szakacs – who last month paid tribute to Australian service personnel at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea – said:
“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that despite its moniker, the ‘Forgotten War’ is not forgotten.
“I want to wholeheartedly thank the late Colonel Peter Scott for his continued advocacy on behalf of all Korean War veterans.”
South Australia is the only state without a dedicated memorial to honour the sacrifice of its citizens who served in the war from 1950 – 1953. Korean War veterans are currently commemorated at seven memorials across the state from Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula to Mount Gambier in the South East.
The Korean War Memorial Project Inc has identified three possible locations in the Adelaide CBD for the memorial adjacent the Torrens Parade Ground and River Torrens. The South Australian Government will continue to provide support to the group as it works with the Adelaide City Council on planning and development and work to secure additional funding partners for the project delivery.
Sunday, 27 July, was Korean Veterans’ Day marking 72 years since the signing of the armistice that ended fighting in the war.
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Photo: Korean War veteran Patrick Forbes MC and Minister for Veterans’ Affair Joe Szakacs MP.
