Australia: Gillard pays tribute to Korean War diggers

ABC News: Gillard pays tribute to Korean War diggers
Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she hopes her presence in Korea has put a spotlight on the sacrifices made by Australian soldiers during the Korean War.

Ms Gillard joined about 300 people at Korea's national memorial in Seoul for an Anzac Day dawn service today.

She says Australians should remember the 100,000 Australian soldiers who have died in war, as well as their loved ones.

"We remember every family who mourns the loss of a loved one. We remember the ordinary Australians who we asked to do extraordinary things," she said.

"One thing I've wanted to achieve is to put a spotlight on the heroism and dedication of the Australians who served [in the Korean War] " she added.

Ms Gillard said today was a day of reflection for all Australians.

"Around the world, Australians are commemorating Anzac Day, a day that has become central to our identity as a nation, a day when we remember the Australian fallen, a day when we reflect on the price of war, a day when we reflect on our national identity," she said.

Ms Gillard also used her Anzac Day address to pay tribute to the most recent winner of the Victoria Cross, Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith.

The SAS corporal was awarded the VC earlier this year for acts of valour and gallantry in Afghanistan.

Ms Gillard said he represented the Anzac spirit.

"Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith singlehandedly assaulted two Taliban machine gun positions to enable his mates to continue their operation," she said.

"A typically reluctant hero and a humble man, Ben was prepared to give his life for his country. This was an extraordinary thing."

Ms Gillard shared breakfast with veterans who travelled to Korea for the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong, which saw Australian and Canadian troops holding off a Chinese division north-east of Seoul.

Vietnam War VC winner Keith Payne was among the veterans who visited the Kapyong battlefield over the weekend.

New South Wales veteran Bill Hall served in the battle and has been back to the country five times.

Mr Hall says the battle saved Seoul from falling to Chinese and North Korean forces and he is disappointed schoolchildren in Australia do not know anything about it.

"It is history like Kokoda and Gallipoli and places like that, but they are forgetting about Korea. It is an embarrassing situation because they've let it go so long," he said.

Australia's Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie, also made the journey to the site of the battle in rugged terrain north-east of Seoul.

"What hard men they were," he said.

"It is really rugged terrain and the whole of the peninsula is very mountainous and rugged.

"They didn't have a lot of the helicopter and vehicle support that we had, so they were hard men and that's the thing that's probably come through to me more than anything else. You know, this is one of the special times in my career."