Chinese Photo Album

MK comments: After fifty years, maybe it is time we made our own peace treaty with the "Chinese People's Volunteer Forces" - or, if not, maybe we should, at least, declare an honorable and peaceable cease fire.

After all, some of those who served in the CPVF gave Ron Cashman (#44), our Royal Australian Regiment buddy and mate, an album of photos, some of which are scenes of combat and other doings on or near "our" hills along the Imjin. Ron is passing along to me (us) a few of those photos which may be of special interest to the guys in the Bunker. Each of those photos will be put on a page which is indexed below. Below the index is Ron's story about how he chanced upon getting the photos and additional comments by me about the flag shown above and the background music you should be hearing. MK.

Index to Chinese Photo Album

Hill 317 Counterattack      Four Maryang-san Photos

Chinese Catchy-Catchy      more to come?

The acquisition story by Ron Cashman (#44):

Some years past I visited Beijing with an old KW mate; we were flying solo and doing our own thing. We had in mind to visit the Beijing Military Museum, check the KW section, and learn the serial number of an Australian Owen gun they have. Being diplomatic and ever hopeful, I took along a number of good combat photos from our side, plus a spare slouch hat.

Hiring an interpreter from outside The Forbidden City, we ventured forth into the museum and, by a stroke of luck and audacity, got to meet the big boss himself. Once again luck fell my way as the Director happened to be a keen student of our 'blue' and had just returned from visiting the very same regiment we had fought in 51.

These were the lads who manned 355 and 317 in October when 3 RAR fell upon them, they still exist as a unit and are based in Harden, Manchuria. To cut it short, we swapped photos and became friends and, even after he retired, we kept in contact.

I have been back to China a number of times - touring the interior is my favourite and being fixed up with a staff car for several trips helped.

When I was passing through last June, I had a documentary team with me. They are doing a film about Korean vets over some months. I arranged to meet my old General friend and he brought along a Chinese vet from the east coast area. This old fella had tangled with Koreans mainly.

Much to my shock and delight, the military presented me with a book they had produced for the 50th anniversary of them entering the war. This classic contains 280 pages of photos, many are B/S propaganda but just as many fair-dinkum warries.

Thus, when you receive one from me now and then, it is compliments of the Chinese Army and a few friends I have amongst them.

Regards,
Ron.

MK comments: Shown at the top of the page is the flag of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was adopted in 1949, shortly after the communist party defeated the Kuomintang party and assumed control of the government. The flag has one large star representing the communist party leadership surrounded by four smaller stars. These smaller stars represent workers.

The background music is Yiyongjun Jinxingqu (March of the Volunteers) and is now the People's Republic of China National Anthem. An English translation of the lyrics is:

Arise, you who refuse to be slaves.
With our flesh and blood let us build our new Great Wall.
The Chinese nation has come to the time of greatest danger
Every person must join in the ultimate cry:
Arise! Arise! Arise!
The masses are of one mind,
Brave the enemy's gunfire,
March on!
Brave the enemy's gunfire,
March on! March on! March on! on!

Ain't all this Chinese stuff a gas? MK.

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