Icebergs, battles and royalty: Recollections from a Korean War veteran

22 July 2025
  • History & commemoration

From shore bombardments in the Korean War to escorting the Queen, Navy veteran Victor Jones recalls some of his most memorable experiences in the military.

Korean War veteran Victor Jones always knew he wanted to be in the Navy. 

“I was always interested in joining the Navy,” the now 94-year-old recalls. “In fact, when I was younger, I was in the Navy cadets and loved it so much I went into the Reserves when I could.”

Korean War veteran Victor Jones

Korean War veteran Victor Jones

At 19, Victor was eager to join the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) but was completing an apprenticeship to become a French polisher at the time. Unfortunately for Victor, he needed both parents’ written permission to join as he was still under the age of 21, and his father was adamant that completing his apprenticeship came first. 

“My mother was happy to sign the papers, but my father wouldn’t,” he says. 

“So, my mother thought to go to our doctor, without my father’s knowledge, to see if there was anything he could do. 

“Our doctor had a look and noticed that a doctor or solicitor could sign the papers. So, Doc signed them and said, ‘Mr. Jones was not fit enough to sign the papers’. Then I joined the Navy.”

Victor joined the Navy in 1949 and was sent directly to HMAS Cerberus, the RAN’s premier training base, to commence his training.

Korean War veteran Victor Jones in the Navy

Victor enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy when he was 19 years old

He would’ve done anything to stay in the Navy, even if that meant “tinkering” with some of his answers in a test that would’ve gotten him into the Air Force. 

“I was very good at writing backwards,” he recalls. 

“An instructor told me I could get into an aircraft carrier because of how good I was, but I didn’t want to do that. So, when I went to do the test, I purposely made so many mistakes it wasn't funny! Needless to say, I didn't get picked out for an aircraft carrier.

“My instructor said to me, ‘Nerves got to you, didn’t they?’, to which I replied, ‘Yeah, a bit!’.”

By 1951, Victor had finished his training and began his service with HMAS Bataan after putting his hand up to serve on any ship in the Southeast Asia region. 

The Korean War: Caught in enemy crossfire

On 8 January 1952, HMAS Bataan sailed for its second tour of duty in the Korean War. This time, it had Able Seaman Victor Jones aboard.

HMAS Bataan provided blockade enforcement, shore bombardment and escort duties predominantly around west coast of North Korea and South Korea. Victor was a radar operator, so his primary duties were to do with communications.

Navy veteran Victor Jones RSL Queensland

During the Korean War, Victor served as a radar operator on HMAS Bataan 

He remembers the terrible winter weather conditions, but also the perseverance his crew exhibited. 

“Winter was terrible, but everyone had to put up with it. There were even small icebergs on the water,” he says.

“At nighttime on patrol, we had to go really slow as we’d constantly hit chunks of ice. You would feel it while you slept – feel a little bit of a shake. The echo was just as bad; it sucked.”

Victor remembers most of his service during the war, but one memory that has stuck with him today was a near-miss when his ship was caught in enemy crossfire.

“We took some guerrillas ashore to a spot where they could lay mines and blow up some ammunition buildings,” he says. 

“On our way back out, there were splashes in the water around us, and the next thing I knew, we’d been hit.

Navy veteran Victor Jones service medals

Victor's service medals

“Thankfully, it did no major damage, but had it been a bit further forward, it would’ve hit four torpedos. Had it been four to six feet lower, it would’ve hit our steering mechanism. So, we were lucky to have got out.”

Another memory that hasn’t left Victor was the harrowing night his ship was involved with some shore bombardment in South Korea’s northwest.

“It was quite a big land battle, but we were offshore firing star shells every now and then so the North Koreans wouldn’t know when they were coming,” he says.

“We didn’t see our damage until days later. I often dream about that terrible scene.”

Life after the war

In 1954, Victor was one of two RAN representatives selected to be a personal escort to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip when they visited Australia.  

“I was standing next to one of the cars that just pulled up and opened the door for Prince Philip,” he recalls. 

“He said to me, ‘Do you find this boring, sailor?’. I didn’t answer so he asked me again, to which I replied, ‘It’s a little different, sir’. He said, ‘I find it boring’. Those were his exact words to me!” 

Soon after his duties with the Queen, Victor was medically discharged from the RAN.

Korean War veteran Victor Jones

Victor believes it's important to remember those who served in the Korean War

“I missed the Navy. I don’t know what it’s like in the Army or Air Force, but Navy life, living on a ship, I enjoyed it. It taught me a lot about life. 

“When I got out, I missed the routine that you get used to. I was disappointed that I was discharged. I could’ve had my own battleship if I’d lasted! But yeah, it was a bit hard to get back into civilian life.

“I didn’t stay in contact with many of my shipmates – even my best man. I just focused on trying to be a civilian again. I even joined my local RSL Sub Branch soon after I discharged but didn’t enjoy it at the time. 

“It wasn’t until some 15 years ago, when I had already moved here to Inala, that a friend of mine signed me up to Forest Lake and District RSL Sub Branch. I’ve been a member ever since. I enjoy it.”

On Korean Veterans’ Day (27 July), Victor says it’s important to remember those who served and sacrificed.

“Let’s not forget all,” he says. “It’s important to have a specific commemoration for the Korean War; there’s not many of us left.”

Korean Veterans’ Day | 27 July

On 27 July, join RSL Queensland in honouring the invaluable contribution of Australians who served in the Korean War.  

Learn more about Korean Veterans’ Day and how you can commemorate.

Korean Veterans’ Day