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] The Canadians After the Armistice

The three days immediately following the cease-fire saw the forward troops busily engaged in salvaging or destroying defence material in what became the Demilitarized Zone. The Commonwealth Division then moved back to the Kansas Line, with the Sami-chon as its left boundary and its right in line with Hill 355. While the 28th Commonwealth and 29th British Brigades, now south of the Imjin, guarded "Pintail" and "Teal" bridges, the 25th Canadian Brigade maintained a divisional screen north of the river. This arrangement lasted approximately fifteen months. Should the war break out afresh, the 25th Brigade was to hold its ground for a limited time; it would next take over the defence of the two bridges and then, if necessary, withdraw into divisional reserve. In the meantime, the Canadians were to report enemy activities opposite the divisional front and prevent unauthorized entry, by agents or troops of either side, into the Demilitarized Zone. (An example of authorized entry would be an unarmed party recovering any remaining dead for decent burial.) While minor infringements with respect to the Demilitarized Zone were not uncommon, no serious incidents occurred.

Work parties from all three brigades set about improving the Kansas defences. The rest of the troops were employed mainly on the construction of "semi-permanent" camps near the positions which they were to occupy in the event of a renewal of hostilities. For the infantry and armour, this meant a welcome change from bunkers to huts or winterized tents. Training received due attention. Considerable emphasis was also placed on sports, and the already liberal scale amenities was enlarged. Major-General Horatius Murray, who succeeded General West as GOC 1st Commonwealth Division in October 1953, was impressed with the high morale of his force. This he attributed to the troops' realization of the importance of their role, their readiness to man their battle positions on short notice and to carry out whatever operational tasks might be allotted to them, and to the increased emphasis on welfare. The spirit of the Canadian Brigade was further boosted by a feeling of being in the forefront.

One of five battalions of the Division to leave Korea on rotation between the cease-fire and the end of the year was the 3rd Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Its relief by the 2nd Black Watch, plus a number of redesignations which took place at about this time, resulted in this apparently new Canadian order of battle in January 1954:

• "A" Squadron Lord Strathcona's Horse
• 4th Regiment RCHA (formerly 81st Field Regiment RCA)
• 4th Field Squadron RCE (formerly 59th Independent Field Squadron)
• 3rd Royal Canadian Regiment
• 3rd Royal 22e R?giment
• 2nd Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada
• No. 5 Transport Company RCASC (formerly No. 56)
• No. 4 Field Ambulance RCAMC (formerly No. 38)
• No. 25 Field Dressing Station RCAMC
• No. 25 Field, Dental Unit RCDC
• No. 40 Infantry Workshop RCEME (formerly No. 23).

The Canadians were now setting up a brigade recreation centre, to be known as known as "Maple Leaf Park". A brigade radio station was already operating, and a theatre, a gymnasium and a library were completed by the end of January. The centre was also to include a canteen, a gift shop and a hobby shop. But not even these amenities relieved units of the responsibility of conducting their own welfare programmes which, as we have seen, had proved so important during hostilities.

U.N. and ROK officials, civil and military, gathered at the Seoul airport on 7 March to meet an RCAF aircraft. As the machine landed, a Korean battery fired a 19-gun salute; for the principal passenger was the Canadian Prime Minister, on a world tour. Next morning Mr. St. Laurent laid a wreath at the Korean War Memorial and visited President Rhee. He then flew to the Commonwealth Division's area, and at a luncheon given in his honour at Brigadier Allard's headquarters met all the corps commanders of the Eighth Army, the commanders of neighbouring divisions, and representatives of all the Commonwealth forces. During the next 24 hours he called at Maple Leaf Park, where he unveiled a plaque dedicating the recreation centre to the use of the 25th Brigade, and visited various Canadian camps and observation posts. Returning to Seoul on the afternoon of the 9th, Mr. St. Laurent, accompanied by the Brigade Commander, attended a state dinner. He emplaned for Japan next day, while a ROK Army band played Vive la Canadienne.

In the third general rotation of Canadian troops, in the spring of 1954, the following newly-arrived units came under Brigadier Allard's command:

• "D" Squadron Royal Canadian Dragoons
• 3rd Regiment RCHA
• 3rd Field Squadron RCP
• 4th Canadian Guards
• 2nd Queen's Own Rifles of Canada
• No. 3 Transport Company RCASC
• No. 3 Field Ambulance RCAMC
• No. 42 Infantry Workshop RCEMES.

Brigadier Allard was succeeded mid-June by Brigadier F. A. Clift.