Mnemosyne I: Towards a field of sleep

Mnemosyne: Comprising two works (with 25 original and archival war photographs from the AWM collection) depicting Australia’s participation in the Korean War and the ongoing legacy of that conflict.

Mnemosyne I:“Towards a field of sleep”

8 colour photographs by Lee Grant, 6 B&W photographs from the AWM collection by Philip Oliver Hobson, Harold Vaughn Dunkley and Donald Albert (Tim) Meldrum. Digital pigment prints on archival rag photographique, 2019.

1.    Anotogaster sieboldii  (장수잠자리) aka General Dragonfly. Photo by Lee Grant, Civilian Control Zone, Gangwon-do, Korea, 2019.

2.    In a foxhole somewhere near the 38th Parallel, Corporal F. Lawless of Manly, NSW, and Corporal J. Lyons of Dubbo, NSW, are visited by their new Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel F. G. Hassett OBE (second from left), who has recently taken over command of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR). Major Archibald Frederick Phillip ‘Arch’ Lukyn of Glenunga, SA (left), Officer Commanding D Company, points out the features to Lt Col Hassett, whilst the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Crofts of Auburn, NSW, takes a peep at them through the field glasses. Also accompanying Lt Col Hassett is his Second in Command Major Archer Paterson ‘Armour Piercing Arch’ Denness MC of Ryde, NSW. Photo by Philip Oliver Hobson, July 1951, Korea (HOBJ2313).

3.    October skies over the Korean War Memorial. Photo by Lee Grant, Seoul, Korea, 2019.

4.    Summer Chrysanthemums. Photo by Lee Grant, Jeju-do, Korea, 2014.

5.    Hantan-gang: The Hantan River is a tributary of the Imjin River (the site of a significant battle during the Korean War), which eventually joins the Han River and empties into the Yellow Sea. The translation of Hantan into English is “lament” which is a suitable and poetic interpretation for one of three rivers where from 1999 to 2018, a total of 93 bodies of North Korean civilians were reported to the Ministry of Unification. These bodies were recovered from the Hantan, Imjin and Bukhan Rivers which all flow through the DMZ from North Korea. Photo by Lee Grant, Gangwon-do, Korea, 2019.

6.    Walking over snow-covered mountains, an Australian mortar fire control team moves to a forward position to bring support to a patrol. They are carrying SMLE No. 1 Mk III* .303 calibre rifles, sleeping bags, and their own webbing which is a mix of Australian and American equipment. The soldiers at left are also carrying 3-inch mortar rounds. The soldier at right is carrying a camera slung over his shoulder. Photo by Philip Oliver Hobson, c March 1951, Korea (HOBJ2106).

7.    Shaman/Shindo (신토) ribbons on Daegwallyeong Mountain (대관령). Photo by Lee Grant, Gangwon-do, Korea, 2011.

8.    Portrait of O4410 Flight Lieutenant Ian Russell Olorenshaw, of 77 Squadron RAAF, after returning from a combat mission in one of the unit’s P51 Mustang fighter aircraft. He is still wearing his flying uniform, helmet, goggles and oxygen mask. Photo by Harold Vaughn Dunkley, c 17 March 1951, Korea (DUKJ3997).

9.    Unidentified members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), have a wash in a shallow rocky river during a pause in their advance into North Korea. Photo by Philip Oliver Hobson, c October 1950, Korea (HOBJ1517).

10. An unidentified soldier from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR), stands at the entrance of an abandoned North Korean or Chinese bunker, during a patrol. He is carrying his SMLE No.1 MkIII (Lee-Enfield) rifle as he examines the entrance. Note the soiled enemy shirt amongst the objects lying on the ground next to the entrance to the bunker. Photo by Philip Oliver Hobson, c October 1951, Korea (HOBJ2459).

11. An abandoned military bunker in the DMZ, now used for training purposes. Photo by Lee Grant, DMZ, Korea, 2019.

12. Seven Australian soldiers who died during the Korean War are being reburied with full military honours in the United Nations Military Cemetery, Pusan. Their bodies had been handed over by the Communists (North Koreans), under an exchange of war dead scheme known as Operation Glory. Two Australian padres, Chaplain Frank Shine and Chaplain Leslie Crisp, both of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), are conducting the burial services. Men of more than twenty different nationalities are buried in the war cemetery. Photo by Donald Albert (Tim) Meldrum, 1 July 1955, Pusan, Korea (MELJ0916).

13. Brass cross from the war grave of Private A. Davidson of 3RAR who died aged 23 on 16th February 1951, and was buried in the UN Cemetery in Pusan. He and 280 other Australian soldiers are buried there. Photo by Lee Grant, Pusan, Korea, 2019.

14. Brian Leo King, served as a Private in The Royal Australian Regiment 1st Battalion (1RAR), from 23 Dec 1955 - 24 Mar 1956. “Great thing the way things are getting sorted out [on being asked about the unification of both Koreas]. It would be great if they could be fair dinkum about it”. Photo by Lee Grant, Canberra, 2019.