Australia's Battle of Kapyong
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- čas přidán 22. 04. 2024
- The Battle of Kapyong has come to be known as the most significant and important battle for Australian troops in the Korean War.
In April 1951 the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) launched their Spring Offensive, aimed at retaking the city of Seoul.
The PVA overran Republic of Korea (ROK) forces defending the valley of the Kapyong River. Further south, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade hastily occupied defensive positions in the Kapyong Valley, on a key route south, in an attempt to halt the Chinese advance. As part of this, on 23 April, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), and the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), occupied prominent hills on either side of the seven-kilometre-wide valley. 2 PPCLI occupied Hill 677 while 3 RAR occupied Hill 504.
They were supported by headquarters units, tanks and artillery, particularly the 16th Field Regiment (16 NZFR) of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery. Also present were other 27 Bde units, such as the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and US attachments. The Kapyong Valley was large, and the brigade was spread thinly even with these attachments.
Throughout the night of the 23rd of April, 1951, the Chinese repeatedly attacked 3 RAR positions on Hill 504, attacking over their own dead and wounded. Contact with higher command was lost overnight and the battalion was presumed overrun.
Fighting continued throughout 24 April with 3 RAR holding their positions through attacks and counter-attacks, which included close-quarters combat with grenades, bayonets and hand-to-hand fighting. By late 24 April, with their position on Hill 504 now untenable and back in contact with higher headquarters, 3 RAR were forced into a fighting withdrawal down a ridge to the valley, where they rejoined 27 Bde. Chinese attacks on 2 PPCLI continued, however by the afternoon of 25 April the road through to the Canadians had been cleared and 2 PPCLI was relieved. On Anzac Day 1951, the Australians rested after a long fight.
32 Australians were killed, 59 were wounded and 3 captured during the battle. The determination, courage and sacrifice shown by the Australian soldiers at Kapyong has ensured it will forever be remembered as part of the Anzac legend.
For their actions, 3 RAR were awared the US Distinguished Unit Citation (now Presidential Unit Citation) and the battle honour 'KAPYONG', which the unit still bears on its colours today.
The Cove proudly brings to you the fourth instalment in our Australian Army Battle Honours Series, the history of Australia's Battle of Kapyong.
This video has been a collaboration between The Cove, Australian Army History Unit, Interserv, and Effective Animations.
Original post: cove.army.gov.au/article/aust...
More on Australian Army Battle Honours Series: cove.army.gov.au/article/aust...
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3:51 I'm the great-grandson of Charles Green, and seeing him talked about in the context of his military career makes me very proud to be one of his relatives
You should be considerably proud. of Lt. Col. Charles Hercules Green DSO.
The youngest Infantry Btn. Commander in the AIF and one of if not the finest leader of men in WW2. His care for his troops was above all else. There was no leader more respected in the AIF. His leadership in Korea was legendary. His death in Korea shattered all hie men. They had lost a father figure as well as a Leader. Theres a couple of books about Charlie worth reading.
He could have achieved General Rank well he would have given the chance.
They where all very brave men, both sides, just different causes
Be very proud! I've been reading a lot of books covering 3RAR in South Korea. Every single book speaks such high praises of Charles Green. I don't remember who exactly, but a very high ranking officer (possibly CO of 27th commonwealth brigade?) said that Charles Green was the finest commanding officer he has ever seen. His exploits in battle was legendary, and I believe if he was in command of 3RAR when Kapyong happened, it potentially could of gone better. (not dismissing Bruce Ferguson or 3RAR's performance, they done wonderful).
Make's me very proud to be Australian
Brilliant work on the video, it's as quality as any mainline Ops Room release
Didnt think i would see you here, but agreed its super high quality tbh they just need good thumbnails and it would do well tbh
Yooo Rimmy
Hello Mr rimmer
Excellent presentation. Duty First.
2PPCLI of the Canadian Army fought at that important battle., pivotal battle in the war really. The Canucks and Aussies held firm, against terrible odds. 2PPCLI won a Presidential Unit Citation for that battle, a ribbon they still wear on their dress uniform.
I'm pleased the Army is investing in some good quality media. Many, many more videos like this please.
Seconded
@@marcusluciani1620 Look at this guy :D
Excellent video, and better than others that I have seen - perfect timing as I am giving a presentation on the battle tomorrow!
As a teenager, my cadet corps paraded weekly in Kapyong Drill hall in Griesbach Barracks where the PPCLI were stationed.
I like the way you showed the old Canadian flag before shifting to the new one.
An impressive addition to the library depicting Old Faithful's efforts.
Cant believe the accuracy they were able to stop 20,000 Msao Dong's with 300 Aussies and 3oo canadians and the NZ Artillery.
That’s how it be.
Kiwi artillery performed brilliantly. They always punch above their weight.
Australians are notoriously hard to move.
@donttellmeitsraining8160 161 battery may have " punched above it's weight" but ol narrator mate still thinks Kapyong was Australias fight and doesn't deem Enzed worthy of inclusion. Effing West islanders, pull those same stunts on ANZAC commemorations. No NZ all you get is AAC ( Make a hoiking noise ) commemoration.
Another fascinating video featuring some incredibly brave Aussies and Canucks 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Absolutely top shelf.
Phenomenal effort.
There is a fantastic doco on Amazon prime about this battle, it has veterans from Australia, China and Canada to speak on their perspectives.
Very interesting and well presented.
Love to see more vid like this
I lived in Chuncheon for a year awhile back which is not far from Kapyeong. Difficult terrain to fight over, for sure.
Can we please get one of these for the Great Emu War?
American here. Australians always seem like such a friendly and laid back people. But then you see how they play football and read about their exploits in war and it become clear why no one wants to tangle with them.
I’ve had a lot of fun tangling with Aussie girls.
As kids we heard a story from a veteran that their snap orders included that the enemy force outnumbered them at least 3:1. During a lull in the battle an officer checking the perimeter found this veteran asleep in his foxhole on the side of the hill and was rudely awakened and ask why he was asleep. He laconically answered, “I’ve shot my 3 sir”. Pointed to the evidence and resumed his nap.
Reg Saunders signed up for 2AIF, made sergeant by 1940 and when the post-war government decided a professional army was required he joined. By Kapyong he was a Captain and commanded C coy, 3RAR. And through it all he wasn't even a citizen, being an Aborigine and therefore excluded from official census counts, and the constitutional amendment via referendum changing this didn't occur until 1967.
Friendly fire is not very friendly 😢 Great historical presentation of an eclipsed war.
About ten yrs ago I was honoured to attend a dinner at a baracks in Adelaide with the surviving members of 3RAR. They were old then. I doubt that there are many left today. It was a wonderful event. I spent the night seated next to a general, a wonderful character, who was promoted in the field at just 24 yrs old. It took him just 6 yrs to make it from private to general. Such was the nature of this war. Their memories must be kept alive as they are always overshadowed by the events of ANZAC day, which falls the day before Kapyong day.
Those Canadians sure hooked in.
The Aussies would of too if had a better advantage for defence. Canadian hill was way better for advantage for defending.
The Canadians were on a small mountain. The Australians were on a very shallow rise. It didn't help that the Americans bombed the Australian position. All things considered, the Australians performed magnificently.
I imagine having your commander fly over and shout "You're on your own boys" simplifies the decision making process. Those were some incredibly heroic young men.
💯/💯
Nice…
Wow
In memory of 2Lt Dennis Fielden, RNZA. Killed in action on the night of 24 April while acting as a FOO with A Coy 3 RAR at Kapyong for which he was awarded an immediate MiD.
3RAR just commemorated the Battle of Kapyong the day before ANZAC day. It should be taught in every school.
Quality over quantity
What were the names of the three Australian POWs captured at Kapyong?
Also in what unit was Captain (Major Lewis) fighting? Thank you.
Back in the day they said there were no chinese or Russians fighting with NK.
I spoke to a bloke once who seen chinese human wave attacks pouring over a hill.
Tens of thousands of them and they were all just obliterated by Artillery and Air.
Most of what happened was not released to a public sick and tired of War.
Another thing he told me was about the cold. -40 when the coldest you have been is a snowy day in the Dandenongs. Men frozen stiff in place just like Russia WW2.
Back in what day? It has been known since the Chinese crossed the Yalu that the Chinese were fighting in Korea. Why do you think Truman fired Macarthur? Because Macarthur panicked and wanted to nuke China.
Yank here. A salute to our Aussie cousins.....and the to the Pats. From Korea to Afghanistan, never fuck with the infantry.
Men of those days surely were the best of us.
The description of Soviet and Chinese aid prior to the declaration of War is a little underdone in relation to the contemporary KIMH (2001) Korean War. U Nebraska Press.
Infantry training Platoons at Singleton NSW are named after battles.
Kapyong being one of them.
Don’t miss the army at all.
🥤
i remember reading somewhere that chinese forces of the time didn't really have protocol to call off attacks, so once they started attacking, they'd feed units in at a linear rate until the entire force was exhausted, they won, or got wiped out. can't remember where it was though.
human wave theory i think
also possibly a indignant opinion that you can only win. did the chinese have AT ?
Kapyong, I think, is one of the stand outs, not just in Australian military history but also Canadian military history. The action, or the lack there of, of the American Chemical Mortar Battalion was reprehensible. Although it sounds like the American tank battalion did solid work. There are so many blue on blue actions as a result of the lack of American battlefield awareness and assessment. Personally I believe American military training is seriously lacking, because they rely almost completely on advanced weaponry supremacy. Kapyong was an heroic defence, in an indefensible war of political power play and post WW2 chest beating.
How bout one on the Malayan Campaign, My Uncle George was with the 2/26th
fought back to Singapore, where he went into captivity....They fought a good fight.
He was killed on Anzac Day 1945 in an Allied bombing raid on the Japanese Airfield at Sandakan Borneo.
Lest we Forget
🦘🦘🦘🦘🦘
um, why the heck was korea split and given to usa to begin with ? who ever thought that would work out had rocks
Bill ‘Slim’ Madden GC was my cousin
12:50 Why was the order for B Coy to fall back rescinded? Such a shame to order those men off the line only to have them fight their way back at the point of a bayonet and get pushed back.
Info coming into HQ may not be organised or timely, leading to confusion. They may have been ordered off due to poor intel and then ordered back when that intel was superseded.
his was a real cock up, poor soldiers
18:41 my God they are berely old enough to shave... Sent to the slaughter... Very sad
Brave
Watch the Chinese spy ops demonetize this baby
B
conveniently leaving out that south Korea was the aggressor that crossed the parallel first. Haeju was taken by the south on the 23rd and eventually led to our nation being brought into a bloody conflict that is ongoing, has caused the suffering of millions and continues to cause tension in the Asia pacific
this is a Myth. the two battalions that supposedly took Haeju, that being the 1st and 2nd of the 17th Ongjin regiment never set foot in Haeju. Communication was lost to these two units, the South Koreans claimed they had taken Haeju on the 26th and American Pacific command ran with it, only for the battered and utterly depleted battalions to show up on the 28th at Incheon Harbor. The theory you are referencing comes from and Indian Scholar called Karunakar Gupta, who looked at the report from Pacific command stating that Haeju was taken and ran with it. There is exactly zero evidence that the 17th Ongjin regiment took the area on the 23rd, and a literal mountain that they where attacked and essentially routed as early as the 24th.
Oh and the only record of orders to the 17th in relation to Haeju are dated to the 25th.
Gupta is what we would call, not a very good scholar. Who on earth takes the American Military at face value, I mean jeez.
This unfortfunately is lower than average quality compared to other documentaries and war histories. The narration and visuals are on point but there is an atrocious lack of detail and analysis. There's simply no point trying to cover this much historical material in such a short time - it doesnt do it justice.
Move on
thanks, i watched another vid by this channel with similar comments , very well put together , but lacking some important details, not good to see soldiers not mentioned when its produced by army
3rd show I've watched one after the other.....as a 66yr old "History Buff" that has "watched it all"
I AM IMPRESSED!
World Class doco's by the Australian Army
Well I never...
rj fishbourne ex PONPC, RAN
Good Work Army
[don't tell anyone I said that]
26 Apr 24