Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

On the morning of the 5th of October, 1951, 3RAR (3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment), along with other Commonwealth troops, began an offensive against communist troops along a series of hills near the Imjin River. It would become known as Operation Commando or the battle for Maryang San. The Australians' objective was to attack and clear the enemy off of Hill 317 (Maryang San). As 3RAR approached the hill, the morning mist began to clear and although they were exposed, the communist soldiers hesitated before firing. It wasn’t until the following morning that the Australians took the crest of the hill.

On the evening of the 7th of October, the enemy began an intensive concentration of fire upon B and C Companies of 3RAR. A number of counter-attacks at battalion strength, up to 1000 soldiers, made by the enemy were repelled. It was during one of these counter-attacks that Kevin was critically wounded, dying the following day.

Kevin was buried in the United Nations Memorial Cemetery (Tanggok Cemetery), Busan, Korea.

Kevin Sidney Griffiths was born on the 7th of November, 1926, in Corryong, Victoria. He was the fifth of eight children of Ernest and Hannah (nee Krausgrill) Griffiths. There are not many records relating to Kevin's service or personal history.