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Kap'Yong

Canada Timeline

 
 
 
 
 

In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
U.S. President Bill Clinton 

 

The story of Canada at War is a dramatic and heroic tale. This section deals with the history of warfare in Canada and Canadians at war or peacekeeping abroad.

 
   
         
 
 

Kap'yong gap

 
 

PPCLI

 
         

This Battle occurred just after the replacement of General Douglas MacArthur by General Mathew Ridgeway as the commander of the UN forces in Korea. Australian (Royal Australian Regiment- 3rd Battalion), British(1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, New Zealand forces  and Canadian (2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) forces had been combined into the 27th Commonwealth Brigade and had already seen action in the war. In mid-May they had been moved into reserve for a rest as constant advances had been taking place along the front and the Brigade had just fought in the Battle of Maehwa-San.

In April of 1951 the Chinese launched what was known as the Spring Offensive and quickly began to force UN units back. One of the points of retreat was through the Kap'yong valley where the South Korean forces were retreating between to large escarpments towards Seoul to the south. The Canadian and Australian Battalions took up positions on each side of the valley to support the retreating forces. On the night of April 22nd the Chinese forces began to try and infiltrate the Australian positions on hill 504. Heavy fighting ensued and eventually the Australian forces where pulled back to new defensive positions. The Chinese than turned their attentions t the Canadians on Hill 677 and once again launched a fierce night attack which failed to dislodge the PPCLI. A breakthrough of the UN forces had been prevented and the Chinese division withdrew back up the valley as the  offensive ground to a halt.

 
Battle: Kap'Yong

April 22-25, 1951

Campaign:    
War: Korean War 1950 - 1953
 
Where: Kap'Yong
South Korean
Korean Peninsula
 
 

Opponents

Belligerents: Canada North Korea
United States China
South Korea  
Australia  
New Zealand  
UN Peace Keep forces  
 
Commanders:
 Matthew Ridgeway - US
 James Van Fleet - US
 Brian Burke - Br
James Stone - Can
Bruce Ferguson - Au
Peng Dehuai - Ch
Song ShiLun - Ch
Wen Yuchen - Ch
 
 
Forces:   Men - 1 Brigade  00 Men - 1 Division
 
Result:

United Nations Victory

 
Casualties: Canadian 10 KIA, 23 Wounded, Opponents
Australian 32 KIA, 59 Wounded, 2 Missing Killed -  1000
US 3 KIA, 12 Wounded
New Zealand 2 KIA, 5 Wounded

 
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