CANADA REMEMBERS

THE BATTLE OF KAPYONG

INTRODUCTION pushed back almost to the Chinese border. By the time the
Canadians’ ship reached its destination, however, the
The Korean War took place in the Far East from 1950 to situation had completely changed as China had intervened
1953 and more than 26,000 Canadians served in the cause in support of North Korea and had launched a major
of peace and freedom in this struggle. Some of the heaviest offensive that retook much of the lost territory. The
fighting our soldiers experienced in the war took place 2 PPCLI joined the action in mid-February 1951 under
during the Battle of Kapyong in April 1951. the command of the 27th British Commonwealth Infantry
Brigade that was taking part in the UN advance pushing
the enemy once again back across the 38th Parallel.
THE KOREAN WAR ERUPTS
The Cold War was the tense struggle for dominance in THE BATTLE OF KAPYONG
Troops of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry on patrol, March 1951. Photo: Library and Archives Canada PA-11564

international affairs between the forces of communism and

democracy that arose in the aftermath of the Second World In late April 1951, the retreating Chinese and North
War. One of the places this played out was in the Korean Korean forces regrouped and counter-attacked in the
Peninsula in East Asia where, after the occupying Japanese western and west-central sectors of the front. The South
had been defeated, a communist regime was established in Korean forces in one area were overwhelmed and
the North while a democratic government was established hurriedly fell back, putting them in danger of being
in the South. overrun and wiped out. The 27th British Commonwealth
Infantry Brigade—along with its Canadian contingent—
On June 25, 1950, after years of rising tensions, North was called up from reserve to the Kapyong Valley to cover
Korean forces poured over the border at the 38th Parallel this desperate retreat.
and into South Korea. This invasion touched off more than
three years of fighting in the place traditionally known as Less than three kilometres across at its widest point, the
the “Land of the Morning Calm.” The United Nations Kapyong Valley was dominated by the surrounding hills.
(UN) responded to this aggression with a call to its A defensive position was quickly established with the 3rd
members to form a multinational force under the Royal Australian Regiment on Hill 504, the 2 PPCLI on
command of the United States to restore the peace, Hill 677, and the 1st Middlesex Regiment (a British unit)
and Canada agreed to help. situated south of the Canadians.

During the night of April 23, the Australians came under

CANADA RESPONDS
heavy attack, holding out until the next day before
being forced to withdraw. Their retreat left the Canadians
Canadians would serve at sea, in the air and on the ground
exposed and, at 10:00 p.m. on April 24, the communist
during the Korean War. The early stages of the conflict saw
assaults began.
major swings in momentum. When the first Canadian
soldiers—members of the 2nd Battalion, Princess
It was a wild battle and some of our positions were
Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI)—set sail
overrun; at one point the Canadians even called in an
across the Pacific on November 25, 1950, the war looked
artillery strike on their own location to hit the enemy
to be nearing its end as the communist forces had been
soldiers amongst them. The Canadians took cover while

veterans.gc.ca
 the attackers bore the brunt of the fire. The risky move relatively light in view of the fierce fighting there and a
worked and the enemy was driven off. The danger was not testament to the skill and organization of the defenders.
yet over and the morning of April 25 saw an intermittent Our fallen soldiers at Kapyong were among the 516
exchange of fire. Canadian Veteran Gerald Gowing was Canadians who died in service during the Korean War.
there:
LEGACY
“We were surrounded on the hills of Kapyong and there was a
Holding at Kapyong by Edward Zuber. Photo: CWM 19900084-001. Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. © Canadian War Museum.

lot of fire. We were pretty well out of ammunition and out of The Battle of Kapyong was an important episode in the
food too. We did get some air supplies dropped in, but we were Korean War. The soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, Princess
actually surrounded.” Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry persevered in the face of
great adversity to help prevent a potentially costly defeat
The enemy was soon cleared from one side of the for the South Korean and UN forces. Their heroic efforts

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, represented by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 2018.
Canadians, however, and a supply line was re-established. did not go unnoticed with the Americans awarding them
Our soldiers had done it, holding out in the face of a much the United States Presidential Unit Citation—a very rare
larger force while inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy honour for a Canadian unit.
and helping the Commonwealth brigade maintain its
position. By May 1, the larger communist offensive had CANADA REMEMBERS PROGRAM
come to a halt.

Cat. No.: V32-248/2018 ISBN: 978-0-660-25840-9 Printed in Canada

The Canada Remembers Program of Veterans Affairs
The Korean War soon moved into a new phase as truce Canada encourages all Canadians to learn about the
negotiations began in July 1951 and the front lines began sacrifices and achievements made by those who have
to stabilize. For the Commonwealth contingent, the served—and continue to serve—during times of war and
remainder of the conflict became largely a “war of patrols,” peace. As well, it invites Canadians to become involved in
with few large-scale battles taking place. On July 27, 1953, remembrance activities that will help preserve their legacy
an armistice finally ended the active fighting. for future generations. To learn more about Canada’s role
in the Korean War, please visit the Veterans Affairs Canada
SACRIFICE website at veterans.gc.ca or call 1-866-522-2122 toll
free.
Holding the line at Kapyong was an impressive
achievement, but came at a cost. Ten Canadians were killed This publication is available in other formats upon request.
and 23 were wounded, a total that could be considered