Official History of the Canadian Army in Korea STRANGE BATTLEGROUND NOTE In the writing of this volume the author has been given full access to relevant official documents in pos- session of the Department of National Defence; but the in- ferences drawn and the opinions expressed are those of the author himself, and the Department is in no way responsi- ble for his reading or presentation of the facts as stated. P.J. Tomelin STRANGE BATTLEGROUND OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE CANADIAN ARMY STRANGE BATTLEGROUND THE OPERATIONS IN KOREA AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE DEFENCE POLICY OF CANADA By LIEUTENANT-COLONEL HERBERT FAIRLIE WOOD The Army Historical Section Maps by SERGEANT E. H. ELLWAND Royal Canadian Engineers Published by Authority of THE MINISTER OF NATIONAL DEFENCE ROGER DUHAMEL, F.R.S.C. QUEEN’S PRINTER AND CONTROLLER OF STATIONERY OTTAWA, 1966 ©Crown Copyrights reserved Available by mail from the Queens Printer, Ottawa, and at the following Canadian Government bookshops: OTTAWA Daly Building, Corner Mackenzie and Rideau TORONTO Mackenzie Building, 36 Adelaide St. East MONTREAL AEterna-Vie Building, 1182 St. Catherine S. West WINNIPEG Mall Center Bldg., 499 Portage Avenue VANCOUVER 657 Granville Avenue or through your bookseller A deposit copy of this publication is also available for reference in public libraries across Canada Price $8.50 Catalogue No. DA3-4965 Price subject to change without notice ROGER DUHAMEL, F.R.S.C. Queen’s Printer and Controller of Stationery Ottawa, Canada 1966 TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. TROUBLE IN KOREA The Invasion ..................................................................................................................3 The Background of the Conflict.....................................................................................3 The Korean Peninsula is Divided...................................................................................4 Progress Towards Self-Government ..............................................................................5 Reaction to the Invasion.................................................................................................8 The United States Acts ................................................................................................ 10 The Canadian Dilemma ............................................................................................... 12 The Growth of the United Nations Forces ................................................................... 16 II. CANADA FACES THE FAR EAST The Condition of Canada’s Army in 1950................................................................... 18 The Impact of the Crisis............................................................................................... 21 Pressures to Send Ground Forces................................................................................. 24 The Special Force is Authorized.................................................................................. 27 III. GROWING PAINS Raising and Organizing the Force................................................................................ 31 The Situation in Central Command.............................................................................. 31 The Enlistment is Speeded Up..................................................................................... 33 Officers for the Special Force ...................................................................................... 36 The Order of Battle and the Supply Problem............................................................... 38 IV. PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE Training Plans.............................................................................................................. 44 Winter Training Problems............................................................................................ 46 The Move to Fort Lewis .............................................................................................. 50 V. THE CANADIANS IN KOREA PREPARE FOR BATTLE The Chinese Intervention............................................................................................. 54 The Canadians Arrive in Korea ................................................................................... 57 Eighth Army Calls for Immediate Action.................................................................... 58 The New Chinese Offensive ........................................................................................ 64 Hunting Guerrillas ....................................................................................................... 66 Problems of Command and Control............................................................................. 67 The P.P.C.L.I. Leave for the Front............................................................................... 67 VI. THE FIRST ENCOUNTERS Advance to Contact 19-28 February ............................................................................ 70 The Advance is Resumed, 7-13 March 1951 ............................................................... 73 The “Wastage” Crisis................................................................................................... 76 The Thirty-Eighth Parallel Again ................................................................................ 77 Following a Retreating Enemy, 29 March – 19 April.................................................. 79 The Action at Kap’yong, 23-25 April.......................................................................... 82 The Chinese Offensive is Halted ................................................................................. 90 VII. THE SPECIAL FORCE IN FORT LEWIS AND THE ARMY IN CANADA Changes in the 25th Brigade........................................................................................ 92 Training for Battle ....................................................................................................... 92 Expansion of the Canadian Army August 1950—April l951....................................... 94 The Cost Expansion..................................................................................................... 95 The Brigade for Europe is Formed............................................................................... 99 The Attempted Conversion from Special to Active Force ......................................... 100 The Future of the 25th Brigade.................................................................................. 101 Fort Lewis in Retrospect............................................................................................ 103 v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE VIII. THE THIRD U.N. ADVANCE TO THE 38TH PARALLEL The Arrival of the 25th Brigade .......................................................................... 105 The Move to the Front......................................................................................... 106 The Eighth Army Fights Back Again.................................................................. 107 Difficulties with Headquarters ............................................................................ 110 The Advance Continues 21 May–30 May........................................................... 110 25th Brigade in Action ........................................................................................ 111 The Attack on Chail-li......................................................................................... 113 The Commonwealth Forces Concentrate............................................................. 118 Fighting on the Imjin, June 1951......................................................................... 119 Patrolling at Ch’orwon........................................................................................ 120 IX. THE ENEMY TALKS PEACE AS THE COMMONWEALTH DIVISION IS FORMED The First Steps Towards Cease-Fire.................................................................... 125 The Truce Talks Begin........................................................................................ 127 The Commonwealth Division is Organized ........................................................ 129 Problems of Adjustment...................................................................................... 133 Along the Imjin–August 1951............................................................................. 136 Across the Imjin to Stay–Operation “Minden”.................................................... 139 Operation “Commando”, 3–8 October 1951 ....................................................... 143 X. 1951 IN RETROSPECT Administrative Developments............................................................................. 149 The Canadian Units in Japan............................................................................... 150 The Rotation Question ........................................................................................ 153 The Welfare Controversy .................................................................................... 154 Ancillary Units of the Special Force ................................................................... 157 25 Canadian Infantry Brigade Replacement Group............................................. 158 XI. OPERATIONS TO DECEMBER 1951 The First Autumn Rotation October—November 1951 ...................................... 161 Operation “Pepperpot” ........................................................................................ 163 Chinese Attacks, 2-6 November.........................................................................