Kapyong 1951
 

On the night of 23-24 April 1951, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment fought an action at Kapyong, Korea alongside the 2nd Battallion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry against overwhelming North Korean and Chinese forces.
On April 23, 3RAR and PPCLI occupied prominent hills on either side of a 3 1/2 mile wide valley, the Australians on Hill 504 on the east and the Canadians on the western feature Hill 677. Early in the evening, retreating South Koreans broke and ran from the Communist onslaught and tanks from the US 1st Marine Division were overrun. Throughout the evening and night, the Communists repeatedly pressed the thinly spread Australians, attacking in human waves over their dead and wounded. A Coy, 3RAR launched a dawn counter-attack that breached the Chinese lines and was followed up by B Coy fighting hand to hand in trenches and bunkers, clearing the Communists from Hill 504. The position could not be held by the small number of Australians, and reinforcements could not be supplied by the US 1st Marine Division who had fallen back thinking the Australian position had been wiped out in the night. The Australians withdrew to prepared positions further back, supported by Artillery fire from the New Zealand 16 Field Regt. This led to the Communists being able to put intense pressure on the PPCLI position who fought a similar battle on the night of 24-25 April before themselves being relieved on 25 April under NZ artillery cover. 3RAR suffered 32 dead and 53 wounded and 2PPCLI 10 dead and 23 wounded. It was estimated the Communists suffered approx 1200 casualties from an attacking force of 7000. For this action, 3RAR, 2PPCLI and 16 Fd Regt NZRA were awarded the US Presidential Unit Citation.

What I'd like to know, are there any books or references that deal with the Canadian experiences of this battle?

Re: Kapyong 1951
 

Hi Tony;

This book deals with 2 PPCLI at Kapyong:

'BEYOND THE DANGER CLOSE, THE KOREAN EXPERIENCE REVEALED, 2nd BATTALION, PRINCESS PATRICIA'S CANADIAN LIGHT INFANTRY'

- by Hub Gray
- published 2003
- published by Bunker to Bunker Publishing, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- ISBN 1-894255-24-0

Cheers :)

Re: the book 'BEYOND THE DANGER CLOSE'
 

Hi Tony;

More info and how to obtain a copy of the book 'BEYOND THE DANGER CLOSE' is located here

Cheers :)

Correction
 

3RAR and 2PPCLI recieved the US Presidential Distinguished Unit Citiation, while 16 Fd Regt, NZRA recieved a Presidential Unit Citation from South Korean President Syngman Rhee.

Re: Re: the book 'BEYOND THE DANGER CLOSE'
 

Thanks, Mark, I've sent them an e-mail.:salute:

Re: Re: Re: the book 'BEYOND THE DANGER CLOSE'
 

Even though it was about the 'OTHER REGULAR ENGLISH SPEAKING INFANTRY REGIMENT' here in Canada, I answered your post anyways :D

Cheers :)

Pro Patria

Hey, Mark:

Ya just can't give up on slagging the PPCLI, can ya?

Jealous, 'cause you can't wear the Citation?

Besides, I think your reference to "The Other English Speaking Regiment" might have gone over Tony's head.:rolleyes:

"Never Pass a Fault". :salute:

Pro Patria

Kapyong 1951
 

Tony....
In regard to the battle at Kapyong, I am not sure whether Art Johnson was in this particular action but if he was he can give you the true information right from the horses mouth. As you know Art was a line soldier and was severely wounded in Korea. That sure was a hell of a war.

Norm.

Jon;

What can I say, old habits die hard....... :D

Re: The RCR in Korea
 

Hi Norm;

The Royal Canadian Regiment in Korea (1951-1954):

2 RCR (25th Cdn Inf Bde) May 1951 to April 1952
1 RCR (25th Cdn Inf Bde) April 1952 to March 1953
3 RCR (25th Cdn Inf Bde) March 1953 to March 1954 - relieved by 2 QOR

Cheers :)

Re: Kapyong
 

Hi Tony;

The Regimental Colour of 2 PPCLI with the Kapyong streamer emblematic of the United States Presidential Unit Citation.

Cheers :)

Hey ... MY DAD WAS WITH P.P.C.L.I. ... whassamattah fo you :mad: ... :bang: :bang: :bang: (frying pan on head sounds of Ma :yappy: banging the carp out of yo haid!)

:D

I wouldn't say that to loudly, considering that everyone else in the family tree was with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles....:p

OK, now ya got me interested. S'plain me Lucy, WHY the felt-duel here between the two regiments? Eh?

Re: Kapyong 1951
 

TONY,

I hope you'll forgive me for going off-track on your thread. Blame it on Mark instigating this :D

Karmen

That's only because they couldn't pronounce "PPCLI" when they joined up...

Ah, regimental rivalries...

Probably Norm is the best one to describe this phenomena, although any of the rest of us could as well, but I suspect to some lesser degree.

How about it, Norm?

Me not Norm :p

I'm feeling guilty about highjacking this thread so am going to start a whole new fun thread about REGIMENTAL RIVALRIES :D:D:D:smoker::smoker:

...okay folks ... follow Little Pixie Witch Missy Ma :yappy: to a new thread in this history section called REGIMENTAL RIVALRIES??? (or not :D)

http://mapleleafup.org/forums/showth...&threadid=3759

:salute:

Karmen, I started this thread as something of a "Leading Question" and expected it to get out of hand, as Kapyong has something for quite a few of MLU's residents. Canadians, Aussies, Kiwis, Brits and US Marines in action together. Not only that, but they were still using CMP's and carriers! Perhaps there was a Dutch connection, too?:D
The anniversary is next week, but Kapyong always gets overshadowed by Anzac Day and is largely forgotten, sadly like much of the Korean War.

Hello Master TIM-TAMS-TONY ... I'm glad you aren't offended that I've wandered in here :D

I tell you, if I were to be given exams on the info I've read in this place I'd never pass. There is just too much information about too many different things to absorb it all ... especially when I'm only able to absorb "a wee bittie bit in me wee bittie selfs brain" :rolleyes:

:teach: take :note: I am not an easy student, and know I am sometimes quite disruptive to the class, even I'll fess up to this! Thank goodness they no longer give the STRAP (I can still feel the grade school stings on me wee bittie hands! ... you-all can't reach me anyways :D )

Karmen

PPCLI
 

My boss is ex PPCLI , he might say STILL PPCLI, so lets say retired PPCLI . We chatted about the presidential citation one time and he said he could only wear it when he was posted to one of the three PPCLI sites. I can't remember which one , but he named a few different dress codes he had to remember based on which PPCLI he was with. Winnipeg's PPCLI of course is now gone to Edmonton so it would seem that the Royal Winnipeg Rifles have the last laugh.
Sean

Re: PPCLI
 

Sean;

Only serving members of the PPCLI, posted to the 2nd Battalion (2 PPCLI) wear the citation.

Cheers :)

On this bright, sunny ANZAC Day morning, it is appropriate to recall that this morning is the 55th Anniversary of the end of the 3 day Battle of Kapyong. Forgotton by many, remembered by a few.

This poem is written by an NZ Gunner, Maurie Glasson:

"I am standing in my garden, in the early morning haze,
Looking up towards the hillside where the quiet cattle graze,
And the fog which night has gathered on the swamp which lies between,
Forms a blanket which enhances this, my early morning scene.

But now further up the valley, from the quarry neath the hills,
Comes the sound of early blasting which my peaceful scene dispels
For the sound I hear recalls to me the echo of a gun,
In a valley in Korea in the spring of fifty one.

And the fog which shrouds the swamp land, now assumes a deeper hue
Like the gunsmoke on the paddi, in that valley that I knew,
I smell the cordite once again, and as the daylight comes,
I see spread across the valley floor, that regiment of guns.

The Middlesex ahead of us, Australians to the right,
And to the left Canadians have held on through the night.
With target after target from our O.P. on the crest,
The gunners feed the guns, their bodies crying out for rest.

For the guns, now like an orchestra, the targets they engage,
With a symphony of anger, a cacophony of rage.
And from the hill above me, just beyond the nearest crest,
Comes the stutter of the bren guns from the infantry hard pressed

From the road which lies behind us come the Army Service Corps,
Dump their load of ammunition and then speed back off for more.
I see walking wounded moving through our lines, while overhead,
Fly the choppers which are lifting out the dying and the dead.

And now at last, the foe repelled, the storm and fury done,
Each weary gunner lays him down and sleeps beside his gun.

Now I hear a pheasant calling, and a stirring in the trees,
And I feel the cool caresses of an early morning breeze
I feel a hand upon my arm, a voice beside me say,
"What are you thinking of my love? You seem so far away"

My aging eyes refocus on the farmlet that we share,
The orchard with the apple trees, the peach, the plum, the pear,
The sun is up, the mist is gone, the cattle on the hill,
Are back to grazing peacefully, and all is calm and still.

You sometimes smile and tell me of the things that I forget,
People's names and missed appointments, little things like that, and yet
Despite the years that lie between, my mind can still recall,
How we held the line that April, on the road that led to Seoul.


M. E Gasson, May 2003 "
SOURCE

Re: PPCLI
 

Actually, just to keep facts straight, 2 PPCLI that was stationed in Winnipeg is now in Shilo, Manitoba. Edmonton is now the home of the 1st and 3rd battalions.

Cheers, Steve

Thank you for that, Tony. Outstanding.

:salute:

Hey John, how does that joke go again...you know, the one about RCR's, chickens, and guntape?


:yappy: CHIMO! :yappy:

Re: Re: PPCLI
 

However, in the days of our fathers, any member of the battalion who fought at Kapyong could wear the citation for the remainder of his career, regardless of uniit.
Which PPCLI battalion won the Commander-in-Chief'c commendation? Also, now that JTF2 was awarded the US Presidential Citation, we can expect to see this worn in unusual places when these soldiers are posted elsewhere in their careers.

69th Anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong today.

In South Korea, the planned ceremonies have been cancelled and downgraded due to the Pandemic crisis, but rest assured that the service and sacrifice of Australians, Canadians, New Zealanders, Britons and Americans are gratefully remembered on this day by generations of people in a free and prosperous nation.

Lest we forget
:remember:remember:remember

When I was a young militiaman, we had an old sigs Sgt who wore the swimming pools on his uniform, even though he was now militia in an armoured unit (FGH). Ed still carried shrapnel in him which would set off the detectors at the airport. He told the story that it was a field telephone that he had slung that caught the shrapnel and saved his family jewels.
Eventually Ed was released for being too old. Turns out he had lied about his age to go to Korea, and eventually lied about his age the other way in order to stay in the militia.



When I was posted to 2PPCLI in the late 80s/early 90s, the battalion had set up a large diorama of the hill, and gave a presentation of the battle to each company. When we were getting our presentation, they told the story of having had the Vickers gun overrun, and that on a $5 bet, "tiny" (I think that was his nickname, but it was a lot of years ago) ran up to retrieve the Vickers. He made it, and came running back with the Vickers, the tripod, and the water can dragging from the hose. As it turned out, "Tiny" was sitting in the bleachers with us on our presentation as one of the visiting veterans that day. He was, even at that age, a large and impressive man.


I was cleaning out the furnace-room yesterday, and there, hanging on their hangers, were my sand colored Cypress shirts with the swimming pools on the sleeve.

Thanks Rob. That's incredibly moving. I've shed a tear.