– WILCO OUT

Jim" McFadzean

Service details

Signaler McFadzean was awarded a Mention in Dispatches in Korea. His courage under firein support of his company commander was legendary. After completing his military servicein various Australian and overseas appointments he retired to the Lismore area where heremains active in veteran affairs.

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Memories of events and incidents tend to lose focus and impact with thepassing of time, but my recollections of Korea in 1951-52 do not fall into that category.During that time I served with some of the finest men I have known and the experienceshaped my attitude to my own Army career.

During the lead-up period to Commando, C Company welded itself into atightly knit group - morale was high and an air of confidence prevailed, both in our ownability and in our leadership. This feeling existed throughout the Battalion.

The morning of 2 October opened as a mist shrouded entree to what wasto be six days of savage encounter. During that space of my life I was to witnessunsurpassed leadership, ability, mateship and sheer raw guts. To be there may have beenstupid, to have missed it would have been a tragedy.

The story of C Company has been well told elsewhere. My recollectionsof our first attack on 355 were three hours of frenetic activity, preceded by checking mygear for the 20th time (including a 36 pound radio), some forgotten, inconsequentialremarks to those nearby, knots in the stomach and adrenaline pumping. It's time to go andeverything is normal again. We attack the eastern face of the objective - the steepestslope. 7 Platoon is

Point Platoon. The terrain is extremely rocky and covered in typicalKorean stunted trees. The enemy reacts violently with mortar fire.... 7Platoon's reservesection is hit badly. I pass Alby Hart, 7's Platoon Sergeant, wounded and holding on to atree for support. The CSM, Arthur Stanley, steady, urging us on... where's the Major? Mustkeep up with him, he's like a bloody mountain goat ....the mortar and small arms fireincreases ..the ridge line at last ..the Major wants two of my grenades..he gets them, andraces over to a rocky outcrop and flushes out three or four enemy, then is back and wantsmore grenades, give him one, does he think I am a bloody mobile AP (ammunition point)? . Amortar sits me on my backside. I check the radio, it has a hole or two but still works..the enemy cracks,..he's had more than enough, those that can, retreat rapidly ..thereare several blood trails and by the amount some won't get very far. 7 Platoon exploits andclears the ridge line. By midday 355 is clear. The KOSB can now occupy their objectiveunmolested, by courtesy of C Company 3 RAR.

The recollections that stand out so clearly after so many years werethe examples set by the Company Commander, the leadership shown by Lieutenant Maurie Pearsand his section commanders with the assault platoon, the courage and ability of the Brengunner, Jimmy Burnett, the steadiness and drive of CSM Arthur Stanley and the diggers,with their determination to overcome a numerically superior enemy. There were nopassengers in C Company on that day. On 5 October D Company made a magnificentcontribution, literally tearing the heart out of the Chinese defences on the lowerfeatures leading to 317. The CO ordered C Company to move through D Company and take thefeature. We passed through D Company's position. which resembled something from Dante'sInferno, the residue of violent action. The pungent smell of high explosives, deadChinese, our wounded being moved to the rear, Chinese prisoners, shattered trees. My firstgood view of 317 was very daunting. We took it and held it, in the manner describedelsewhere. The Chinese were comprehensively beaten. In all that heavy fighting the troopsremained steady and aggressive. In isolated cases where individuals felt they could notsustain the effort any longer, the courage and determination of their mates strengthenedthem. The wounded were an inspiration to us all. There was some great work done on 317,including the Korean porters, who carried up re-supply and took wounded out, through theshelling.

On the morning of the 8th we were relieved by the KOSB. As we descendedfrom the summit I took time to look at those who were left in the Company. They werefilthy and exhausted but, by God, they looked magnificent.