Private Rex Wilson 3 Royal Australian Regiment and 5th Cavalry, U.S. Forces
RSL (Port Pirie Sub Branch) Inc.Private Rex Thomas Wilson of 16 Main Road, Solomontown, Port Pirie left home to fight in the Korean War in August 1950. Rex had served four and half years in the Pacific theatre with the 2nd AIF during World War 2 and was sent to Puckapunyal for refresher training before heading overseas to Korea.
When the former Pirie Fire Brigade member arrived in Korea with the first detachment of volunteer troops, he stated: ”We joined up to fight but when we arrived we found our unit too far from the front line, so we just took off and headed for the noise of the firing.”
While their battalion was near Songju, Rex and his cobber Ernie Stone of Coburg, Melbourne, Victoria were determined to be the first Australians to cross the 38th Parallel so they went Absent Without Leave (A.W.L.) and left their battalion 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) and trudged several miles to the north on a dusty road before hitching a ride with a leading tank (US 5th Calvary) of a northbound convoy. On reaching the front the two Australians unofficially enlisted in an assault rifle squad.
Lieut. Col. E. J. Treacy (Officer Commanding 5th Cavalry, U.S. Forces) writes to the Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, Australian Forces in Korea.
“Tongjang, Korea, October 8 1950
Privates Ernie Stone (3640054) and Rex Wilson (4-400001) D Company. 3rd. Battalion, Australian forces, joined 1 Company of this battalion seeking action against the enemy. On October 6 these same two soldiers accompanied the leading platoon in the assault crossing of lmjin River. Both of them from the jump-off were with the foremost elements of the leading platoon. Private Wilson was wounded in action but has since re-joined 1 Company. Since their appearance to this date both soldiers have been performing duty as riflemen in 1 Company. Although their status has been irregular their conduct under fire has been exemplary a credit to their organisation and worthy of commendation. Both soldiers are on this date being returned to their own unit."
Written on the back of the above communication that Rex had in his possession was Wilson's laconic comment to his mother where he wrote:
"Dear Mum, We have been in action with the Yanks, but we had to go up there ourselves. My cobber and I are the only two Aussies in action so far. We are charged with being A.W.L., but it will be O.K., and we will get out of it, because we have been recommended for the Bronze Star for leading the attack on Hill 102 across the river. While we were away we were posted missing but take no notice of that. Hang on to this piece of paper for me."
During his 59 days service in Korea, Rex had sort out action but he also had a lucky escape from injury when a mortar shell landed 9 feet from him but failed to explode. He spent time at a base camp Hanamura, Japan before returning home to Australia.
- The Recorder http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article96260516
