"On 25 June 1950, the forces of the Communist State of North Korea launched a sudden invasion of South Korea. This aggression led to intervention by international armed forces - the first and, to date [at time of writing in January 1955] the only United Nations 'police action' in history. The war, which thus began, turned out to be Canada's third most costly overseas conflict. In it, Canadian soldiers served as part of a Commonwealth army formation which in the last analysis was not Canadian, not British and not American; it was a United Nations command." Canada's Army in Korea, Canadian Army Journal, January 1955.
Thus, in a far-off land that few Canadians had heard of, Canada, as a member of the United Nations, entered the Korean War 1950-53. In all, 27,000 Canadian servicemen - army, navy and air force - served in Korea. The War, in one form or another, caused the death of 516 Canadians - mostly soldiers - with an additional approximately 1800 wounded. One Canadian F86 Sabre jet pilot, on exchange duty with the US Air Force, was captured, interrogated, tortured and interned in China. Several years later, he was released and repatriated to Canada via Hong Kong. Of the twenty-one nations that responded to South Korea's plea of assistance, Canada's contribution ranked third behind the United States and United Kingdom respectively.
For the Canadian army, several battles remain fixed in its history but four stand out: Kapyong, Chail-li, Hill 355 known as 'Little Gibraltar,' and Imjin.
At Kapyong, the 2nd PPCLI, along with units of Australia and USA, withstood repeated ferocious Communist attacks during 22/23 April 1951. During the battle, the Communists drove the Australian and Americans off their respective positions; this left the Canadians as the only force opposing the Communist onslaught. Repeated attacks by the determined Communists were part of a formidable Chinese counter-offensive.
"On the night of April 22/23 1951, Chinese and North Korean forces struck in the western and west-central sectors. Both the 1st and the 9th US Corps were ordered to withdraw. In the 9th Corps sector blow fell on the 6th ROK Division. Overwhelmed and forced to retreat, it was in grave danger of being cut off and completely destroyed.
"Fortunately, the location of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, then in Corps reserve, was ideal for an escape route along which the South Koreans could withdraw. The area lay in the valley of the Kapyong River near its junction with the Pukhan River. Here the valley was some 2800 metres wide. To the north it narrowed and curved and was dominated by surrounding hills, From these hills the exits and entrances to the valley could be controlled. A defensive position was establish with the 3rd Royal Australian Regiment at Hill 504, the 2nd PPCLI dug in on Hill 677 and the 1st Middlesex Regiment south of the Patricias." Valour Remembered, Canadians in Korea, p.7.
The stage was set for the encounter between the UN and the Communists. The Australians came under heavy engagement and were forced to withdraw. The Australian withdraw exposed the Patricia's position to enemy attack. About mid-evening, Communist mortar bombs began to rain down on the Patricia's position. Shortly thereafter, a forward platoon came under attack. While partially overrun, the platoon was able to disengage itself and move back to the main company position; from there, a counter-attack was organised.
While this attack was underway, the Communists attempted to infiltrate other points including a probe against tactical headquarters. These attacks were driven off by heavy machine gun fire and by battalion mortar fire.
All the while, the Communists were attacking in strength along the exposed Northwest sector where 'D' Company wore the brunt. The enemy attacked in large numbers from two sides. As one platoon and machine gun position was overrun and another cut off, the company commander called for supporting fire to be brought down on his own position. Two gruelling hours later, the enemy advance was stopped although throughout the night the Communists persisted in attacks; each of which was driven off.
"Although the Patricias had maintained their positions, the battalion was surrounded and the supply route was controlled by the enemy. With ammunition reserves and emergency rations depleted, Lieutenant Colonel Stone requested air supply. The parachute drop was made within hours of the request. By 2 p.m. the Middlesex Regiment had cleared enemy groups from the rear and the road to the PPCLI position was re-opened.
"The Canadians in this action had maintained their position - vital to the brigade defence - while at the same time inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy." [ibid.]
Canadian casualties were 10 killed and 23 wounded.
For their gallant stand at Kapyong, the 2nd PPCLI and the 3rd RAR received the United States Presidential Citation.
While few Canadians were aware of Korea prior to 25 June 1950 and while few Canadians turned out to salute returning Canadian soldiers - and sailors and airmen - the country can be proud of its armed forces personnel. The stand by the 2PPCI at Kapyong stymied the Communists' planned advance and stopped its counter-offensive. It has been recorded that the gallant stand by the Canadians and Australians at Kapyong was a turning point in the war. Had the Communists broke through and advanced as they planned, the outcome of the War might have been rather different. Bravo to the heroic Canadians and Australians. Good triumphed over evil!
Bob Orrick is a private tutor of English grammar, literature, poetry and Canadian history to off-shore youngsters. His pupils hail from such places as Taiwan, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea and Venezuela. He was previously in international marketing, was a ministerial assistant to a provincial cabinet minister, spent a few years as a reporter then editor of a community newspaper and enjoyed a career in the Royal Canadian Navy.
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