Canada's Army in Korea

Canada's Army in Korea Preface The First Canadians in Korea Background of the Conflict Formation of the CASF The Fighting in 1950 Canadian Troops in Action Political Aspects The Patricias at Kapyong Training at Fort Lewis The 25th Brigade Goes In Early RCN Operations The 25th Brigade in Action, 1951 The 2nd RCR at Chail-li Political Developments During June 1951 Canadian Operations During June and July Formation of the 1st Commonwealth Division Across the Imjin The "Rotation" of Canadian Troops Enemy Attacks During November The Political Front, July-December 1951 Holding the Line, 1951-1953 The First General Rotation Patrols Against the Boot and Hill 113 Canadian Troops on Koje Island The RCR on Hill 355 The Patricias' Second Rotation Winter on the Hook Korean Personnel with the Canadian Forces The Second General Rotation The End of the Fighting The Attack on the 3rd RCR Political Developments, 1952-53 Administration Behind the Canadian Brigade, Juny 1951-July 1953 Supporting Arms Air Support and Supply The RCN in Korean Waters, May 1951-July 1953 The Toll of the War Conclusion Main Provisions of the Armistice Agreement The Canadians After the Armistice Canadian Troops Withdraw Korea in Retrospect Books and Articles for Further Reading Abbreviations

[edit] Canadian Troops Withdraw

Both during and after hostilities, the United Nations Command carried out an extensive reconstruction programme in South Korea. They also helped to build up the ROK forces to a point where these could fight successful a defensive war if necessary. The member nations then began to cut their own commitments in the theatre-hence a gradual reduction of the 1st Commonwealth Division and the base, and of Canadian troop strengths both in Korea and in Japan. Between November 1954 and the following April, the Division's strength dropped from 20,000 to little more than 5000; by September 1955 it was down to 4000. The full story of the reduction cannot yet be told, for at the time of writing (March 1956) the process is still not quite complete. We can however consider the main stages by which Canadian troops have been withdrawn from Korea.

Early in November 1954 the Commonwealth Division's right sector and the Canadian Brigade's covering position north of the Imjin became the responsibility of the 28th ROK Division. The 25th Brigade's operational role ended on the 8th. Already the 2nd Black Watch had sailed for Canada, and all but two of the remaining Canadian units in Korea-the Queen's Own Rifles and No. 3 Field Ambulance-followed close behind. Brigadier Clift, whose headquarters "closed down" on 2 December, was succeeded as Senior Canadian Officer in the Far East by the Commander of the Military Mission in Tokyo. On 1 February 1955, Brigade Headquarters, reestablished at Camp Borden, Ontario, was redesignated Headquarters 4th Infantry Brigade.

The 28th Commonwealth Brigade had passed into history at about the same time as the 25th Brigade. Units of either formation which were to remain in the theatre for a time came under command of the 29th British Brigade, whose headquarters was soon afterwards converted to an integrated divisional headquarters. The "Division" now consisted of:

• 42nd Field Regiment RA
• 55th Independent Field Squadron RE
• 1st Commonwealth Division Independent Signal Squadron
• 1st Dorset Regiment
• 2nd Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
• 1st Royal Australian Regiment
• No. 10 [Transport] Company RNZASC
• No. 3 Canadian Field Ambulance
• 1st Commonwealth Division Independent Ordnance Field Park
• No. 16 Infantry Workshop REME
• 1st Commonwealth Division Independent Provost Company.

Not listed here are two British battalions which were to leave the theatre about the end of 1954.

The second stage of the withdrawal of Canadian troops took place in April 1955. The Queen's Own returned to Canada and were not replaced; other elements were rotated on an individual basis rather than as a body. Thus No. 3 Field Ambulance, already the only Commonwealth unit of its kind in Korea, became the only Canadian field unit in the theatre.

A third stage was announced on February 1956. The Commonwealth force in Korea was now to be reduced to a battalion group. To it Canada would contribute medical and dental personnel amounting to about 40 individuals.

During hostilities this country had sent 22,066 troops to the Far Eastern theatre. A further 7000 served there between the cease-fire and the end 1955.