Sydney Light Rail to honour Australian veterans

AUSTRALIA, SYDNEY: Images of Australians who served in the Korean War will be featured on the Sydney Light Rail to mark 70 years since the start of the war.

The Light Rail commemoration Lest Korea Forget will operate in Sydney from 22 June to 26 July 2020.

Images of eight Australians will be featured on the Light Rail carriages, bringing to life the enormous contribution Australia made to the Korean War.

One of the eight images featured is of veteran Rear Admiral (Ret’d) Ian Crawford AO AM (Mil), who is passionate about ensuring this war is not forgotten.

Mr Crawford sailed to Korea with the Australian Navy as a teenager. He served in missions to evacuate isolated United Nations units and to support operations behind the advancing North Korean line in extremely tough conditions.

“It is very moving to have the Korean War acknowledged for its important part and its ongoing relevance in the Australian story,” Mr Crawford said.

The other Australians to featured include Steve Dodd, Stafford Lenoy, Cecil Sly, Grace Bury, Warwick Bracegirdle, Brian Cooper, Francis Hassett and Len Montgomery’s platoon B Company 3RAR.

Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said the faces of eight Australians who served in Korea is a powerful tribute to the 17,000 Australians who fought in the conflict between 1950 and 1953.

“Over the course of the war 340 Australians were killed and over 1200 wounded defending South Korea from the communist forces of North Korea,” Mr Lee said.

The commemoration is an initiative of the Consul General of the Republic of Korea to thank Australia for the very personal cost of the war to our country.