“On Her Majesty’s Service”
The On Her Majesty’s Service exhibition toured venues across Australia during 1953 and 1954, with over 200 photographs – shot by “an army photographer” – demonstrating the organisation and achievements of the defence forces in Korea. The popular touring exhibition supported defence force recruitment efforts, with newspapers noting that ex-servicemen attending the exhibition found themselves pictured.
The un-named army photographer behind the images would have been employed by the Department of Public Relations, an army section which documented the activities of servicemen and servicewomen. Photographers were tasked with recording details and documenting people, place and units, providing a historical record that ended up as part of the National Collection at the Australian War Memorial, including the works of photographers such as Phil Hobson, Alan Queale and Harold Dunkley, who documented the Korean War with images that resonate across generations. As well as forming an archive of official photography, photographs were often circulated to newspapers, informing the public on military activities in Korea, and connecting stories, people and localities with the images of Australian serviceman.
Official photography from the Korean War can be viewed on the Memorial’s website. Amongst this collection are a number of striking portraits of servicemen taken outside in the traditional portrait form.
Curators do not have any information about the identity of these men or women, and often wonder why subjects’ names are not recorded. Perhaps the intention was to view them as photographic studies, or the original captions may have been damaged or lost before they ended up at the Memorial. Despite a number of past attempts, the Memorial has been unsuccessful in establishing identifications. This small gallery of portraits may prompt some suggestions, and we encourage anyone who recognises the subject of a photo to complete the Memorial’s online form, including a comparative portrait, so we can investigate and connect names to these images.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
Informal portrait of an unidentified Royal Australian Regiment major in Korea, April 1954.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
An unidentified sister from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service in the British Commonwealth General Hospital at Kure, Japan, February 1951. The unidentified patient has been evacuated from the Korean War.
An unidentified member of 3RAR gathering hay or grass for his tent, November 1950.
An unidentified sister from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service in the British Commonwealth General Hospital at Kure, Japan, February 1951. The unidentified patient has been evacuated from the Korean War.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
An unidentified soldier from 3RAR has a taste test of Korean snow during a rest break, November 1950.
An unidentified Royal Australian Army Nursing Service sister (left) and a British Matron (right) read through medical notes during a shift, probably at the British Commonwealth Occupation Force General Hospital in Kure, Japan, November 1950.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
An unidentified soldier from 3RAR stands in the snow reading information on sheets of paper, December 1950.
An unidentified serviceman with a head wound has his pulse taken by an unidentified corporal from the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service at the British Commonwealth Occupation Force General Hospital in Kure, Japan in October 1950. The soldier was probably wounded during the early months of the Korean War.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
Informal portrait of four unidentified members of 1RAR at the sergeant’s mess party at the 28 Brigade Headquarters in January 1953.
Trooper John Champs from Kent, England has his leg bandage checked by an unidentified Australian captain in the British Commonwealth general Hospital at Kure, Japan, February 1951.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
A platoon from D Company, 3RAR represented the battalion in a cross country march and shooting competition held by the 1st Commonwealth Division in Korea, October 1954. An unidentified member enjoys something to eat and drink after the competition.
Unidentified soldier from 3RAR, taken in the field in Korea, November 1951.
A platoon from D Company, 3RAR represented the battalion in a cross country march and shooting competition held by the 1st Commonwealth Division in Korea, October 1954. An unidentified member takes a drink after the competition.
An informal portrait of an unidentified soldier from 3RAR sitting in the open at a rest area, November 1950.
Two unidentified soldiers from 3RAR sit on ammunition boxes holding their rifles. The convoy has pulled up by a road near a Korean house, September 1950.
Informal portrait of an unidentified Australian soldier, probably a member of 3RAR using a battery powered portable field telephone carried on his back, 15 August 1952.
An unidentified sergeant, a reinforcement for 3RAR stands beside the No. 77 Squadron RAAF aircraft which brought him to Korea, November 1950.
Portrait of an unidentified private or non-commissioned officer belonging to 1RAR, taken during the visit of US General James van Fleet, commander of the 8th Army to the front lines.
An informal portrait of an unidentified soldier from 3RAR standing in front of a canvas Red Cross sign, possibly at a field hospital, November 1950.
An unidentified member of 3RAR in Korea, carrying a wooden box of supplies, July 1952.
An unidentified sergeant with 3RAR stands in a field and smokes a cigarette, November 1950.
An unidentified member of 3RAR works in the underground telephone and communications exchange, 15 August 1952
Two unidentified members of 3RAR reading letters from home on a hot summer afternoon, 15 August 1952.
Informal portrait of an unidentified Australian soldier, probably from 3RAR using a field telephone, 15 August 1952.
An unidentified soldier from 3RAR relaxes as he sits in a jeep and plays his harmonica, October 1950.
Two unidentified soldiers of 3RAR holding their company mascots, two young Korean deer, September 1953.
Two unidentified members of 3RAR resting outside the sandbagged 8 Platoon Command Post enjoying bottles of Fosters Lager and Ballarat Invalid Stout, July 1952.
Informal portrait of an unidentified soldier, possibly from 1RAR at camp in Korea, June 1952.
An unidentified signalman from 3RAR sends and receives signals on a radio set, while a convoy of vehicles is parked on the road in October 1950. Behind him another serviceman sits smoking a cigarette.
Two unidentified soldiers, probably from 1RAR share a biscuit during a break outside their dugout in Korea, June 1952.
An unidentified member of 3RAR gives his Bren gun a good clean during the hot summer weather, July 1952.
Two unidentified members of 3RAR take a break at a rest area and eat tinner food from their ration boxes, October 1950.
An unidentified soldiers, probably a member of 3RAR, celebrates receiving a Christmas parcel at a camp in Korea in early 1951. He is putting on a show for the camera swigging from a bottle of Melbourne Bitter Ale. In front of the soldiers is an open wooden box including Sweetacres Jaffas, Arnott’s milk coffee biscuits and cherry ripe biscuits. The boxes were provided by the Daily Telegraph Sydney Korean Christmas Box Fund.