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] Training at Fort Lewis

The decision to dispatch only one Canadian battalion to Korea for the moment had left the question of the employment of the rest of the Force in the air. While awaiting final orders the Force was to undergo collective training. No existing Canadian camp readily lent itself to such a programme, especially during the winter months. Fortunately, at the time when it was assumed that the whole Brigade would move to Korea shortly, a suitable site in the United States had been reserved as a staging camp: namely Fort Lewis, Washington. This was now to serve the Canadians as a training area.

The bulk of the CASF concentrated in Fort Lewis between 11 and 22 November 1950. Supporting arms and services joined the three infantry battalions to form the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group, under the command of Brigadier J. M. Rockingham. To fill the gap soon left by the departure of the departure of the 2nd PPCLI for Korea a third battalion of the same regiment was created. Third battalions of the RCR and the Royal 22e also were raised, as reinforcement training battalions. All remained at Fort Lewis for the time being, though only the 3rd Patricias operated on the same training programme as the second battalions. In the main, the training facilities were more than adequate. The armoured squadron, the artillery and the infantry battalions' anti-tank platoons carried out firing practices at Yakima, 80 miles from the camp. The services performed the same duties as would be required of them in operations. For the infantry, some further basic training proved necessary; but by the turn of the year Brigadier Rockingham was able to report good progress. The culminating point of the training was Exercise "Ignes Bellum", held during the first three weeks of February. The code name may have been doubtful Latin, but the exercise went well. It was highlighted by a brigade attack with live ammunition.

On 21 February the decision emerged that the whole Brigade Group was to go to Korea as originally planned. The preparation of vehicles for shipment overseas made it impossible to continue formation training beyond mid-March. The emphasis now passed to physical training, range work, practice patrols and night exercises. In this period Brigadier Rockingham visited the Far East in order to observe the battle front and to make various arrangements in connection with the arrival of his troops in the theatre. Towards the end of March he visited the 2nd Patricias, who were soon again to come under his command. He returned to Port Lewis early in April.

The Brigade Group (less the 3rd PPCLI and certain smaller elements) sailed from Seattle between 19 and 21 April, on the American troopships Marine Adder, General Patrick and President Jackson. The 3rd Patricias, together with the other third battalions, afterwards moved to Wainwright, Alberta; there they became part of a new training formation.

Although by the eve of its departure the Special Force had taken on over 10,000 men, its effective strength remained at approximately 8000 - the figure reached in the first three weeks of its existence. About 500 men were either absent without leave or had deserted, while another 1500 had been discharged. Such wastage was largely a by-product of the speed with which the force had had to be recruited.