Private Brian Edward Castle - 5/400197

 

Private Castle’s photo is on display near the main entrance gate of the UN Memorial Cemetery, (UNMCK), in Korea. On my visit to UNMCK in late 2022, my first thought was that his family must have paid a visit to this Cemetery, and I found out from my research that his sister, Dawn, and her daughter visited there in 2007.

 Photo of Brian Edward Castle (Right) on display at UNMCK- Personal Photo December 2022

Castle was born on 18 April 1929 in Narembeen but did his schooling in Kalgoorlie. After leaving school he worked on farms and became a skilled sheep judge.

There is an engagement notice in the Perth newspapers for Castle in July 1950, but his father is listed as his Next of Kin on his AWM circular so he must not have married prior to going to Korea.   Castle joined the army in November 1951 when he heard the UN were fighting to keep South Korea as an independent country. Following his basic training he was posted to the First Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, (1RAR). It was either during this training or after being posted to Korea in October 1952 that Castle became good friends with Allen Head from Gosnells.

Castle died a year after enlisting on 17 November 1952 at the age of 23.  He was on patrol during the battle for Majon-ni and was one of three fatalities on that day. His friend Allan Head was also killed the same day.  Castle and Head funerals were conducted by the same army chaplain on the same day, and they were buried in graves next to each other at the UN Cemetery in Korea. Their plaques in Kings Park are also next to each other.

https://honouravenueskingspark.com.au/present/hap-database/2620-pte-brian-castle.

Castle died from wounds caused by a missile to the left side of his chest and right leg. The 1RAR Unit Diaries for 17 November 1952 say it was a standing patrol that had a sharp clash with a strong enemy patrol which resulted in his death. 296 unspecified projectiles fell on B and C company of 1RAR overnight and it was probably one of these missiles that killed Castle in the early hours of that cold and overcast day.   

Castle’s mother had died prior to 1950 so the memorial notices in the newspapers after his death were placed by his father and sister Dawn. His sister describes last seeing Castle in West Perth when he was catching a tram to the airport to re-join 1RAR after some leave in 1952. Her visit to his grave 55 years later was a very emotional and breathtaking occasion.

Photo of Castle's grave at UNMCK

References

Australian Army War Unit Diaries from Korea AWM 85 Class 2 – I Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment – November 1952. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1370476. Accessed 1 May 2023

Biography of Brian Castle. https://honouravenueskingspark.com.au/present/hap-database/2620-pte-brian-castle. Accessed 24 April 2023

Brian Castle Burial Report UNMCK. https://www.unmck.or.kr/eng/04_memory/?mcode=0504020000&mode=2&no=171&country=AUSTRALIA&l_name=castle&page=1. Accessed 1 May 2023

Roll of Honour Circular for Brian Edward Castle. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1716295. Accessed 24 April 2023

They Are Engaged (1950, July 26). The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879 - 1954), p. 23. Retrieved May 5, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47876839.  Accessed 23 April 1950

 


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