R. Abey

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Ronald Abey

1925 - Present

Born on the 9th of July 1925, Ron grew up through the Great Depression. His family, though they struggled like all, did not suffer as bad as some others and eventually he was able to attend East Gore School. Ron had his introduction to war during his mid-teens when the Second World War began, and he saw his two older brothers go off to fight in the New Zealand armed forces. For the young Abey boys, it was a chance to follow in their father’s footsteps who had served in the famed Gordon Highlanders during the Boer War and the First World War.  For Ron’s part however, he was too young to join, though in 1940 he left school and began working on a small local farm. Soon after, his father lost his job, and the family moved to Tapanui on the South Island of New Zealand. Here, his father gained employment at a factory and was able to secure a position for his son also. Throughout the war years, Ron would continue to work in the factory, though also maintained other jobs along the way, primarily in the farming industry where he was a horseman tasked with herding sheep and cattle.

In 1945, the war was wrapping up, though now 20 years old, Ron was called up through the national service scheme. He was posted to the RNZAF and trained as ground crew. Later, he was having beers with some mates, when one of them suggested they should apply to transfer to the army so that they could serve in Japan as part of the occupation force. The couple attempted, and whilst his mate was successful, Ron was denied. The friend was deployed and later contracted cancer, possibly due to radioactive exposure in Hiroshima where the British occupation forces were garrisoned.

After serving his mandatory service, Ron discharged from the air force and began working for a concrete construction company as well as returning to labour on farms. He was at this job when in June 1950 the North Korean army poured across the 38th Parallel and invaded the South. Soon after, he went to Eden and volunteered for service in Kay Force, the New Zealand contingent to the UN Korea mission.

The New Zealand government had elected to commit one regiment of artillery, and so Ron found himself posted to Fox Troop, 163 Battery of the 16th Field Regiment of Artillery. He oversaw his guns limber and would be the man to bring the rounds to the loader whilst also ensuring that ammunition was well stocked. After a period of training, the contingent consisting of one artillery regiment, ten service corps companies and several other smaller support units, set sail. Ron was shipped aboard the troop ship Orundee. The route took them first to Brisbane before making their way up Manilla. Here, the gunners got their first shore leave and they went off into the city while they could. Things got out of hand and at one point Ron sold his personal watch in order to be able to buy more beer and eventually was gambling on turtle races, of which he was successful. His luck did not hold though, and he was soon pick pocketed of all he was carrying. With no cash, him and a mate got a taxi back to the ship. Upon arrival, Ron stayed with the cab driver so his friend could “go get some money from his bunk”. After ten minutes Ron went to check on his friend, and so the two got away with a free cab ride.

The next stop for the Kiwi’s was Pusan, South Korea. They arrived on the 31st of December and for their first night slept on the floor of the former Japanese barracks. These “barracks” were in quite a state of disrepair and were known to the men as “no roof factories”. Once their guns were unloaded, the regiment headed north. Having arrived in the middle of winter, the bitter cold was a sharp shock to the men. At the time, there were no winter uniforms to spare, and it would not be until they reached the front that the men would receive US issue m43 winter gear. The regiment joined the 27th Commonwealth Brigade in the area of Icheon, south-east of Seoul. The saw their first combat as support for the brigade as it advanced up the valley north of Yeoju. The Commonwealth troops had two successful campaigns as part of General Matthew Ridgeway’s counter offensives and were soon driving the remnants of the communist forces up the Kapyong Valley. By mid-April, the valley was secured, and the Brigade moved into reserve.

At this time, the Australian and New Zealand troops were preparing for ANZAC Day, when on the 23rd of April 1951, the Chinese forces surged across the border again in what was the start of their 5th Phase Offensive. The Commonwealth troops were scrambled north to the town of Kapyong and the New Zealand guns moved further up the valley to support the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 6th Division who had taken over the line a week prior. They found the division shattered and thousands of South Korean soldiers and civilians were streaming south. The Kiwi guns were at risk of being overrun by their own side, and so the order was given to retire back to the brigade area. By the time they reached their new positions behind the 1st Middlesex Regiment (who were the brigade reserve) it was dark and the Battle of Kapyong was well underway.

In the following hours, the Australians of 3rd battalion Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) fought desperately. In what would later cause some controversy, they received no support from the New Zealand guns until daybreak. The artillery regiment argued that by the time they had established their firing position, it was too dark and too chaotic to safely zone in the guns. However, Major Ben O’Dowd of A Company 3RAR, commanding the riffle companies in the battle, argued to the day he died that the New Zealanders were more then capable of rendering support, but failed to do so. Regardless, when day finally did break, the New Zealand guns, including Ron’s Fox Troop, opened fire and caused significant casualties amongst the attacking Chinese, ultimately halting their attack during the day time. 16th Field Regiment continued to support 3RAR and the Canadians of 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry throughout the battle until relieved by the Americans on the 26th of April.

Towards the end of his time in Korea, Ron transferred to the regiments catering section as a cook. Shortly after, he was sent to Tokyo to undergo an instructional course on cooking, but it so happened that a week into the course the camp was forced to relocate at the request of the Japanese Government, and he spent most of his time there loading and unloading trucks.

Eventually, Ron’s tour of duty came to an end. He was preparing to depart when his fellow gunners invited him for one last beer. He missed his truck as a result. However, fortune was on his side, and he was able to join another man who was being evacuated to Japan for illness. From Japan, Ron was sailed to Perth, Australia. He then took another ship to Sydney where he boarded a flying boat and finally went home to Wellington. He and other veterans returning on the plane were greeted by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Sidney Holland. Holland recognised Ron’s last name, and it turned out he was acquaintances with his father through the Labor Party.

All images courtesy of Martin Bramely