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Korean War Australians Missing In Action

There are 43 Australian servicemen listed as missing in action in the Korean War, from a total of more than 17,000 Australians that served in the Korean War. There were 23 Australian Army soldiers, 18 Royal Australian Air Force airmen,
2 Royal Australian Navy aircrew who were classified "missing in action" with all presumed to have been killed in action.
We hope that one day we may be able to bring them home.

(New Case details as we get them, can now be seen on) www.ausmiakoreanwar.net.au

MISSING IN ACTION - MEMORIAL WALL PUSAN

John Saunders was killed in action in 1953 and is listed as Missing In Action. This page is dedicated to his son

Ian Saunders for his unselfish effort to bring closure to his family and the families of the other brave Australian Servicemen who gave their young lives as the ultimate price in the Korean War.

We are still trying to find living relatives as our list below shows. If you know of any person related to our MIA's. with a No, in our list. Please contact us.

UNMC Pusan , Ian & Ian.
Ian Saunders. Korean War son of MIA.

Ian Saunders with his Grandson Ian.

At: UNMC Pusan Memorial Wall.
Click on Photo to see full Picture which
includes JP the son of a ROK KIA.

Name Service Number Rank Unit MIA Date Location Family Located

Pilot Officer
Corporal
Private
Private
Flight Lieutenant
Pilot Officer
Private
Lieutenant
Pilot Officer
Sub Lieutenant
Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Private
Flying Officer
Private
Private
Pilot Officer
Squadron Leader
Private
Private
Squadron Leader
Private
Private
Corporal
Private
Flight Lieutenant
Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Private
Lieutenant
Private
Private
Private
Lieutenant
Pilot Officer
Pilot Officer
Sergeant
Pilot Officer
Private
Private
Private
Private

Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
-
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No

O22221
3/3706
2/401173
4/400156
O23665
O35079
5/2514

O5895

O33831
O21261
2/401322
O33625
3/10647
5/400213
O5309
O4425
5/400181
1/1641
O22005
2/400437
2/400919
3/400143
2/400798
O11561
O5672
O32536
O22422
2/5124
3/37672
3/400868
5/2103
1/400304
2/35020
O33843
O647
A2997
O32537
3/400376
3/400430
3/400608
3/10796

01.12.51
28.05.53
07.06.53
25.01.53
27.01.52
26.03.53
15.04.53
05.11.51
13.04.52
02.01.52
30.03.52
22.12.50
14.05.53
27.01.52
11.12.52
03.10.52
11.02.53
08.03.53
25.01.53
16.11.52
24.12.52
13.07.52
14.05.53
24.04.51
14.05.53
22.04.52
11.11.51
15.05.52
16.02.52
11.12.52
13.07.52
25.01.53
25.01.53
14.01.53
25.01.53
08.07.52
06.01.51
19.03.51
09.06.52
25.01.53
13.07.52
14.01.53
14.08.52

Not yet researched
SK DMZ
SK DMZ
NK DMZ
Not yet researched
Not yet researched
SK DMZ
Lost at sea
NK
Lost at sea
Not yet researched
NK
NK DMZ
Lost at sea
NK DMZ
Lost at sea
Not yet researched
Not yet researched
NK DMZ
SK DMZ
SK - researching
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
South Korea
NK DMZ
Lost at sea
Not yet researched
Not yet researched
Not yet researched
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK
SK DMZ
Lost at sea
Not yet researched
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ
NK DMZ

77 Squadron RAAF
2nd Battalion, RAR
2nd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
3rd Battalion, RAR
805 Squadron, RAN
77 Squadron, RAAF
805 Squadron, RAN
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
3rd Battalion, RAR
77 Squadron, RAAF
1st Battalion, RAR
RHU (Army)
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
3rd Battalion, RAR
1st Battalion, RAR
77 Squadron, RAAF
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
1st Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
77 Squadron, RAAF
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR
3rd Battalion, RAR

ARMIT, Ernest Donald
ASHE, John Berkley
BOURKE, Edmund George
BRADY, Francis
BROWNE-GAYLORD, DFC, Mark
CHALMERS, Peter Botley
CHRISTIE, John King
CLARKSON, DFM, Keith Elwood
COLEBROOK, DFM, Maxwell Edwin
COLEMAN, Ronald James
COWPER, Lionel Henry Cadogan
ELLIS, Donald Campbell
FOOT, Thomas Randolph
GILLAN, Bruce Thomson
GRIFFITHS, Leslie John
HALL, John Rogers
HALLEY, John Beverley
HILLIER, Donald
HODGKISSON, Joseph William
KUNKEL, William Rudolph
LAWRENSON, DFC,AFC, Frederick James
LORD, William Thomas Henry
McKANDRY, John Lawrence
MURPHY, William Kevin
NICHOLSON, John William
PURSSEY,DFC, Ian Goodwin Swan
ROBERTSON, Douglas Merson
ROBERTSON, Donald Neil
ROBINSON, Richard George
ROOTES, Reginald Donald
RYAN, Laurence Bonaventure
SAUNDERS, John Philip
SCURRY, Arthur John
SHENNON, Ronald William
SMITH, Francis Charles
SMITH, Kenneth Dudley
STEPHENS, Geoffrey Ingram
STRANGE, Harold Thomas
SURMAN, John Leonard
TERRY, Lionel John
WALLACE, Thomas George
WHITE, Peter
WHITEHOUSE, Dennis Edward

Australian Soldier Missing In Action Korea
CASE 1
MIA 24 April 1951. 3/400143 CPL MURPHY William Kevin. Royal Australian Infantry Corps. 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment
Born: Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. 13 February 1921.
Height: 5’ 9½” (1.76m) Weight: 137 Lbs (62Kg) Hair: Black Markings: Scar – Bridge of nose.

Last Known Position: GR CS 726933

CIRCUMSTANCES OF LOSS

During the Kapyong battle on 24 Apr 1951 L/Cpl Murphy, L/Cpl Devine and Pte Matchett were declared KIA by their Platoon Commander, Lt L.M. Montgomerie and Medic, Cpl J.T. McGivern. The bodies were placed together on B Coy 3 RAR’s withdrawal route at
GR CS 726933 and were last seen there by Cpl McGivern when he withdrew with B Coy at 1700 hrs. After B Coy's withdrawal
the enemy reoccupied the positions where the bodies had been left, and when they themselves withdrew, sometime after the battle,
all of the bodies with the exception of L/Cpl Murphy, were recovered, including L/Cpl Devine and Pte. Matchett. To date there has been
no sign of his body, or explanation as to why it was not recovered.

Comments

1. In the sworn statements by both Lt. Montgomerie and Cpl McGivern the Grid Ref where the three bodies were placed is shown
as GR CS 726933.
Though the inquest document shows GR CS 726923 in its conclusion, this reference is believed to be a typing error, as it is not
mentioned or shown, in any of the witness statements made to the Inquest.

2. L/Cpl Devine is now laid to rest in Grave 978 next to Pte Matchett in Grave 979
at the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Korea (UNMCK).

Chuchon 1:50,000

Contact Ian

www.ausmiakoreanwar.net.au

Queensland Korean War Memorial

Korean War Australians Missing In Action

MISSING IN ACTION - MEMORIAL WALL PUSAN

John Saunders was killed in action in 1953 and is listed as Missing In Action. This page is dedicated to his son

Ian Saunders with his Grandson Ian.