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 in Action

In September 1950 Canada had established, in Tokyo, a Military Mission to provide liaison with the U.N. Command. The Mission was headed by Brigadier F. J. Fleury.* Its first major task was to prepare the arrival of Canadian troops.

An advance party of some 350 all ranks sailed from Seattle in the latter part of October. The intention that the main body should go to Okinawa for further training, thence to Korea. By the time advance party reached Japan, however, certain changes of plan developed. In view of the prospect of early victory and an apparent lessening in the need for further ground forces, the immediate Canadian commitment was cut to one infantry battalion. Okinawa for training had been dropped in favour of an area in Korea. The advance party disembarked at Pusan on 7 November.

The appointment was subsequently held successively by Brigadiers J. P. E. Bernatchez, A. B. Connelly, R. E. A. Morton and C. B. Ware and Colonel E. D. Elwood.

The Canadian unit selected serve in the Far East was the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Stone. The Patricias left Seattle on 25 November, aboard the American troopship Pvt Joe P. Martinez, and arrived at Pusan on 18 December. Here they "staged" for nine days, then moved to Miryang, between Pusan and Taegu. Being only Canadian unit in the theatre, the Patricias required certain administrative elements not normal for an infantry battalion; hence the formation of an "Administrative Increment", for which personnel were drawn from the CASF advance party. The remainder of the party, less certain personnel attached to British and American formations, rejoined the main body in North America at the turn of the year.

During the latter half of December the Eighth Army continued to hold its positions on the Imjin without any major contacts being made. But the New Year opened with another crushing offensive by the Chinese. The Eighth Army's right flank collapsed, forcing a further general withdrawal. Seoul again fell to the Communists on 4 January. During the next three days the left flank pulled back to a line 40 miles south of the former capital. This line, which was later extended to the east coast, marked the limit of the U.N. forces' withdrawal.

While these events were taking place the newly arrived Canadian battalion underwent such further training in weapons and tactics as it required before being committed to battle. A degree of realism was effected by the performance of limited operational tasks, such as anti-guerilla patrols. These discovered caches of ammunition and dispersed parties of enemy. In the third week of January company exercises were carried out, followed closely by battalion exercises.

In mid-February the Patricias moved from Miryang to join the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade in the line of battle. This formation consisted of two British battalions - the 1st Middlesex Regiment and the 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders - and the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. Artillery support was provided by the 16th New Zealand Field Regiment, and immediate medical care by the 60th Indian Field Ambulance. The British battalions had been the first Western troops, other than American, in the theatre.

The Chinese winter offensive having been halted, the Eighth Army was soon to launch another general advance towards the 38th Parallel. In the central sector the 9th and 10th U.S. Corps were already attacking. On 17 February, by which time it had reached a point immediately north of Yoju, the Commonwealth Brigade passed from operational control of the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division (of the 10th Corps) to that of the 9th Corps. On the same date the 2nd PPCLI, then ten miles to the south, came under command of the Brigade. Four days later the 9th Corps regrouped, resuming the advance with the 27th Brigade moving between the 1st U.S. Cavalry Division (actually infantry) and the 6th ROK Division.

The PPCLI axis followed the valley which ran north from the village of Sangsok. The hills on either side ranged from 800 to 1400 feet. Wet snow had turned roads and tracks into quagmires, and as the advance continued a heavy fog descended. Only minor contacts were made during the first two days. On the third, the battalion faced a formidable height known as Point 419; and to the right stood a still more commanding feature (Hill 614). On 23 and 24 February Colonel Stone's companies attacked 419, but without success; and an attempt by the 3rd RAR to take 614 also failed. On the 27th the Australians again attacked, driving the enemy off the higher feature and thus obliging him to quit Point 419 as well. Next day the Canadians occupied the latter. The next noteworthy action of the 27th Brigade occurred on 7 March, at which time the Brigade was under the 1st Cavalry Division. The objectives were Hills 410 and 532, the latter being assigned to the Patricias. The valleys, which hitherto had run north and south, henceforth cut across the axis of advance; each ridge afforded the enemy a natural line of resistance. At first it appeared that the Chinese (the 125th Division) intended to make a determined stand. The Canadians attained only a bare foothold on their objective. On the right, the RAR failed to take Hill 410; and on the left a Greek battalion also suffered a repulse. Elsewhere on the Corps front, American and South Korean attacks were similarly unsuccessful. During the night, however, the enemy withdrew.

In the days that followed it became apparent that the Chinese were retiring all across the front. Seoul was liberated by the 1st ROK Division on 16 March. Twelve days later the front extended along a line about ten miles south of the 38th Parallel. The 24th U.S. Infantry Division was advancing towards the Parallel on an axis west of the Kapyong River. The Commonwealth Brigade joined in this advance at a point five miles south of the head of the Chojong valley. (The Chojong River flows generally southwards into the Pukhan, as do also the Kapyong and Kuun Rivers. The Pukhan itself continues southwards to join the Han 20 miles east of Seoul).

The mountains on either side of the Chojong rose to heights of between 2000 and 4000 feet. The axis to which the Patricias were allotted followed the crest line on the right. The shaded slopes were covered with over four feet of snow, while the line of the crest was broken by steep rock faces. The route being impassable to vehicles, close fire support was limited to one section of two 81-millimetre mortars. Supplies were brought forward through the almost superhuman efforts of Korean porters. Fortunately the Canadian battalion did not encounter any serious resistance during this bold and arduous operation.

By the end of March the Brigade had reached the head of the Chojong valley. It then began to advance up the valley of the Kapyong. On 8 April the Patricias successfully attacked objectives across the 38th Parallel. At this time almost the entire Eighth Army front lay north of that line. As early as 28 March, in fact, South Korean troops operating along the east coast had advanced beyond the Parallel.

Before touching on certain political issues raised by the re-entry of the U.N. forces into North Korea, it is necessary to turn back to November 1950.