Korea, (year dates)
Post Second World War
Date
1950-1953
Geographical parameters
(No geographical parameters defined)
Context
A theatre honour for the United Nations Operations — Korea, 1950-53 and incorporating the separate engagement “KapyongFootnote 1 ” .
Description
In its eagerness to reap the ‘peace dividend’ that came with the conclusion of the Second World War, the Government of Canada slashed its military strength and its military budget to the bone. The Canadian Army had asked for a peacetime establishment of 55,000 personnel. It was told that its establishment would be 25,000 and that it would be permitted to recruit just 75% of that figure. Thus, when war broke out in Asia on 25 June 1950, and the Canadian Government sought to answer the United Nation’s call for armed intervention, there was little available to send. To meet the crisis the Army recruited second battalions for each of its three, single-battalion, infantry regiments. The new units were created as a separate component of the Army called the ‘Canadian Army Special Force’ and were then grouped as the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Recruiting a complete formation, virtually off of the streets, created its own challenges as did a lack of training areas in the depth of a Canadian winter. The newly recruited Canadian soldiers, fortunately a number being veterans of the Second World War, were thus sent to Fort Lewis, Washington to train.
The early successes of American arms in Korea led to the conclusion that the Canadians would only arrive in time to form a portion of the occupation force and so with that idea in mind the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was dispatched ahead of the other units, leaving for Korea by ship on 25 November 1950.
Overseas the war’s nature changed rapidly with the October 1950 intervention of the People’s Republic of China and so when the first Canadians arrived they found themselves earmarked for battle as a part of the 29th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade. Thus it was under British command, in a brigade that also included Australians and New Zealanders, that the Canadians first saw action in Korea. Later the Canadian 25th Infantry Brigade would become a component of the 1st Commonwealth Division, a British-led formation.
After serving for one year in Korea the 2nd Battalions of the three infantry regiments were relieved by the original “1st Battalions” of the three units. A year further on the “1st Battalions” would be relieved by newly-raised “3rd Battalions” of the same units at which point the fighting ended with an armistice that is still in effect today.
Although only Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was in receipt of a battle honour (Kapyong) other than the theatre honour, the other two infantry regiments had been engaged in several significant actions such as the Royal 22e Régiment at Hill 355 in November 1951 and The Royal Canadian Regiment at the same location in October 1952.