On 25 June 1950, approximately 135,000 troops from the North Korean People’s Army (NKPA) advanced across the 38th parallel, and for months the conflict with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and its allies ebbed and flowed. Rolling southwards, the NKPA overwhelmed the ROK defenders and allied counterparts, before pushing them into a small perimeter around the southern port of Pusan. The tide then changed in the UN’s favour when on 15 September 1950 an amphibious landing far up the west coast at the port of Inchon enabled the recapture of Seoul and advances into North Korea itself.
Unfortunately, doing so brought China into the conflict, with the People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) crossing the Yalu River that constituted the Chinese-North Korean border, to threaten the UN’s hard-fought gains. Control of the South Korean capital switched between the United Nations and the communists in seesawing engagements through to the end of the year.
Early 1951 brought little respite to the ever-shifting front lines, although once more it was UN Command’s turn to strike. In February, a counteroffensive dubbed Operation Killer – immediately followed by the codenamed Operation Ripper in March – was launched to push the PVA back north. The Chinese retreated and regrouped but were far from defeated. They were now intent on a bold spring offensive, the plans of which came to a head on 22 April 1951 with a campaign hellbent on again seizing Seoul.
In the Kap’yong Valley, a region of scrub-covered hills and a Y-shaped river confluence on its floor, was the 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade (27 BCIB) in reserve. This multinational formation – commanded by Brigadier Brian Arthur Burke – consisted of the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR),Highlanders (also a British unit), the 16th Field Regiment Royal New Zealand Artillery, and the 60th Indian Field Ambulance. Serving in IX Corps, US Eighth Army, most of these men were positioned behind the 6th ROK Division that in turn was located to the north and tasked with holding the line. In the Australian base, preparations were underway to commemorate the upcoming Anzac Day (25 April) with their New Zealand comrades and representatives from the Turkish Brigade. Old friends and former-enemies-turned-allies had hoped to recognise the 36th anniversary of the disastrous Gallipoli landings during the First World War. Unknown to them at that stage, another potential catastrophe loomed without 27 BCIB’s imminent intervention.
