Kapyong 1951

[servicepub (RIP)]

Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
Sean;

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

Cheers

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.

[Tony Smith]

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

[rob love]

Originally Posted by servicepub (RIP)

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.

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.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

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

Originally Posted by rob love

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 coloured Cypress shorts with the swimming pools on the sleeve.