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 First General Rotation

With the winter of l95l-52 a new phase of the Korean war began. Until the end of hostilities in 1953, the United Nations forces held and improved their positions, patrolled in No Man's Land and beat off local Communist attacks.

The 25th Canadian Brigade continued to hold the positions which it had taken over in November until the third week of January l952. This period was one of what came to be called "normal" activity. Already the defensive layouts were assuming their final form and units were occupying and reoccupying the same familiar ground. The Canadians were relieved by the 28th Commonwealth Brigade and thereafter spent six weeks in divisional reserve. They then relieved the 29th British Brigade in positions astride the Sami-chon, with two battalions west of the valley and one to the east. The welcome end of winter saw some increase in enemy activity against the Commonwealth sector. On the night of 25-26 March a company of the Chinese 188th Division (63rd Army) surrounded and attacked a 1st Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry platoon position immediately west of the Sami-chon, but withdrew two and a half hours later, leaving behind 25 dead and one prisoner.

By this time preparations were well under way for the rotation of Canadian units in the theatre. Advance parties of some of the relieving units had already arrived by air, the main bodies following by sea. The first major unit to be relieved was No. 54 Transport Company RCASC, which completed "handover" to No. 23 on 11 April.

Between the 14th and the l9th the divisional boundaries were shifted eastward by two battalion frontages. The new right sector was taken over by the 29th Brigade, the 28th going into reserve. The 25th Brigade's right flank - the position east of the Sami-chon, held by the 2nd Royal 22e R?giment - became the left. The 2nd Royal Canadian Regiment and the 1st Patricias, on being relieved by battalions of the 1st U.S. Marine Division (which now held the 1st U.S. Corps' left flank), assumed responsibility for what became the centre and right, respectively, of the Canadian front.

While these adjustments were in progress the 1st RCR, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel P. R. Bingham, and Lieut.- Colonel L. F. Trudeau's 1st Royal 22e began to replace their second battalions. Men not eligible for rotation with the 2nd RCR were concentrated in two rifle companies which were to come under Colonel Bingham's command, while the "ineligibles" of the 2nd Vingt-deux were absorbed into all four of Colonel Trudeau's rifle companies. The turn-over of the Royal 22e was completed on 24 April and that of the RCR next day.

The fourth major unit to leave Korea was No. 25 Canadian Field Ambulance, which gave place to No. 37 on 27 April. On the same date command of the Brigade Group passed to Brigadier M. P. Bogert, whom Brigadier Rockingham, on his return to Canada, was to succeed as Director General of Military Training. In May the 57th Independent Field Squadron RCE was relieved by the 23rd Field Squadron, and the 2nd Regiment RCHA by the 1st RCHA. The last of the original CASF units to depart was "C" Squadron Lord Strathcona's Horse, which was replaced by the Strathconas' "B" Squadron on 8 June. No. 2 Administrative Unit, No. 25 Reinforcement Group and other Canadian units in the Far East continued to function under the same names, though with new personnel.

Rotation and other developments had brought about many changes in the Commonwealth Division's order of battle. By the end of June 1952 the major armoured, artillery and infantry components were:

• 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
• "B" Squadron Lord Strathcona's Horse
• 1st Regiment RCHA
• 14th Field Regiment RA
• l6th Field Regiment RNZA
• 61st Light Regiment RA [**Three mortar batteries and one locating and light anti-aircraft battery.]
• 25th Brigade: 1st Royal Canadian Regiment, 1st Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, 1st Royal 22e R?giment.
• 28th Brigade: 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers, 1st King's Shropshire Light Infantry, 1st Royal Australian Regiment, 3rd Royal Australian Regiment.
• 29th Brigade: 1st Royal Norfolk Regiment, 1st Welch Regiment, 1st Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). Divisional Headquarters, which had become more widely "Commonwealth" in its composition, now included 27 Canadians. Lieut.-Colonel N. G. Wilson Smith was now GSO I, command of the 1st Patricias having passed to Lieut.-Colonel J. R. Cameron. The original Assistant Director of Medical Services (the senior medical appointment in a division), a British officer, had been succeeded by Colonel G. L. Morgan Smith, a Canadian.