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 Patricias at Kapyong

The military stabilization which the United Nations were prepared to accept did not imply an immediate reversion to the defensive. The advance which had begun in February 1951 continued. But meanwhile the enemy was building up for a counter-offensive, the aim of which appears to have been to recapture Seoul by attacks converging south and south-west along the river valleys leading to the city.

On the night of 22-23 April, Chinese and North Korean forces struck a mighty blow in the western and west-central sectors. Both the 1st and the 9th U.S. Corps were ordered to withdraw. The 6th ROK Division (of the 9th Corps), falling back through the Kapyong valley, was in grave danger of being cut off and completely destroyed. To hold open a withdrawal route for the south Koreans the 27th Commonwealth Brigade, then in Corps reserve, was ordered to establish a defensive position north of the village of Kapyong.

Near the junction of the Kapyong and Pukhan Rivers the Kapyong valley is some 3000 yards wide, becoming narrower towards the north. Turning north-east in sweeping curves, it is overlooked by Hill 504 on the right and Hill 677 on the left. Continuous crest lines running west from 677 and east from 504, and connecting with north-south crest lines, provide avenues of approach - though no easy approach - to both these hills. The 3rd RAR, with an American tank company in support, established itself between the Kapyong and Hill 504. The 2nd Patricias dug in on 677. The 1st Middlesex took up a position south of the PPCLI area. The 1st King's Own Scottish Borderers, just arrived in the theatre, were in the Brigade area but not in action. The leading elements of the Chinese 118th Division reached the Commonwealth Brigade area late in the evening on 23 April. The Australians were the first to come under attack. During the night both sides were reinforced. A company of the Middlesex and additional tanks joined the Australian battalion, but in the meantime the attacking force was built up to almost two full brigades. Next afternoon the RAR withdrew, under great pressure, to the Middlesex area. Its supporting tanks thickened the fire of the artillery on the pursuing enemy, and also did a commendable job of evacuating casualties.

While the Australians were thus engaged the Patricias energetically improved their own positions. The weight of the defence faced north-west, "A" Company holding the right, "C" the centre, and "D" the left flank. "B" Company, on the south-eastern portion of Hill 677, guarded the right rear. The extreme steepness of the slopes - however discouraging to the attacker - hampered the defence in that the placing of platoons in mutually supporting positions was very difficult, and artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire tasks were generally limited to the ridge lines.

Throughout the day the forward companies observed the Chinese building up for a major attack, and during the afternoon "B" Company reported enemy movement about the village of Naechon. At nine-thirty that evening (24 May) some 400 Chinese formed up for an attack on the right rear. The commander of "B" Company promptly called for artillery and mortar fire on the area. Despite this fire, the enemy surged up the hill to rush the foremost platoon position. The platoon disengaged itself, and by eleven had completed a withdrawal to the company defensive perimeter. The enemy did not press his attack in this area. In the meantime, two smaller parties of Chinese had attempted to infiltrate at points still more to the south. Both were driven o, by machine gun fire. The next attack was to come from west of the hill, in the rear of the PPCLI position. At half-past one "D" Company reported enemy movement off to the left, and the company commander called for defensive fire. Half an hour later the Chinese, about 200 strong, assaulted. One Canadian platoon was cut off, while another platoon position and a machine gun section were overrun. The company commander now called for supporting fire right on his own position. Blasted off his newly-gained ground by artillery and mortars, the enemy reorganized for a fresh attack. But this and further attempts, in which he persisted all night, were effectively countered by our supporting fire. As daylight approached on the morning of the 25th the Chinese withdrew, and thereafter contented themselves with harassing "D" Company with machine-guns and mortars. The isolated platoon remained where it was, while the position which had been lost was reoccupied.

Although he had failed even to close with the Patricias' main defences, the enemy now apparently surrounded the battalion position. His normal lines of communication cut, Lieut.- Colonel Stone requested air supply; and at mid-morning ammunition and rations were dropped on the area. Already the Middlesex Regiment had cleared enemy groups from the rear, and by two o'clock that afternoon the road leading into the PPCLI position was reported open. Additional supplies were ordered forward by vehicle. The battalion was now prepared to meet further Chinese attacks, should any develop; but none did. The enemy had departed, leaving the ground so important to the Brigade's defence in good hands.

Canadian losses in this action numbered 10 killed and 23 wounded - much lighter than those of the Australians on Hill 504, and somewhat lighter than the Canadians themselves had suffered in an earlier, less significant engagement (the attack on Hill 532 in March, which had cost seven killed and 34 wounded). For their stout and successful stand at Kapyong the Patricias received the U.S. Presidential Citation. This distinction they shared with two other Commonwealth units: the Australian battalion and the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment (of the 29th British Brigade), who had been almost annihilated in a gallant action on the Imjin River to the north-west. "By their achievements," the Citation read in part, "they have brought distinguished credit on themselves, their homelands, and freedom-loving nations.

The 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, on being relieved by the 1st KOSB, were withdrawn from the theatre on "rotation". Almost immediately after the battle the Commonwealth Brigade's number was changed from 27 to 28.

By 1 May the enemy offensive had ended. The 1st and 9th Corps then held an irregular line up to 20 miles south of the 38th Parallel and forming an arc north of Seoul. For the next three weeks their front was relatively quiet. In mid-May, however, the Chinese launched an offensive in the eastern sector, driving the Eighth Army's right flank back some 25 miles.

Let us at this point return to the North American scene.