They didn't go to Korea but the British Army used Churchill Crocodiles in Korea for good work.
The best source on Australian Churchills:
Churchill
1 Armd Regt was only a single squadron until the Centurion was delivered, not reaching regt status (with only two sqns) until 1952. So for the three years A Sqn, 1 Armd Regt was active with the Churchill it would have been in mostly a training role. The CMF armd regts were equipped with the Grant/Lee tank until the Centurion was available.
Thanks for that, next step I suppose is a trip to Puka with my DSLR.
Thats the site I got the numbers from and the only place I have seen a reference to the Mk VIII.
I believe a number of Matilda's saw post war service with the CMF as well.
I read AUSTRALIAN ARMOUR - A History of the RAAC 1927 - 1972 probably about 20 years ago but can't remember much reference to the Churchill but the thing that did stick was the proposal to form a regular tank brigade consisting of 5 regiments of Centurions and two CMF brigades each of 5 regiments of Comets to form an Australian tank division. There was also reference to the Army adopting the US Pentropic structure but that it failed due to our failure to ensure a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles.
One thing that never ceases to amaze me, considering our close relationship with the US, is our failure to acquire any significant support from the US in equipping our forces along the line of MAP. I know there were offers made but it seemed that we always had an excuse or twenty ready why we couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't accept the offered aid, even when our servicemen were shedding blood side by side with the US and other allies through out the Cold War.
The impression I have is that the US through the 50's, 60's and 70's would happily have equipped any force we decided to raise. If we wanted an armoured division they would have transferred the vehicles we needed, if we wanted an airborne brigade the C-141’s would have been provided, strike carrier….was that one or two Essex, would you like a FRAM Gearing with that?
The only obstacle was what? Why didn’t we take advantage of what was offered so freely by the US to other allies, some of whom were not so loyal or reliable?