Australian soldiers fought epic battle in ‘forgotten war’

In April 1951, Australian troops joined a United Nations force deployed to South Korea after it was attacked by North Korea and later its ally China, in what would become the Korean War.

Weeks later, the Chinese army launched a lightning offensive in the Kapyong Valley with the aim of recapturing the strategically vital city of Seoul, just 60 kilometers away.

But they faced a major obstacle: the hills overlooking a key road were occupied on one side by soldiers of the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) and on the other by Canadian infantry.

These units, supported by soldiers from the United States, New Zealand and Great Britain, bore the brunt of the Chinese attacks for more than two bloody days.

Although the UN force, consisting of approximately 2,800 men, was well trained and equipped with artillery and tanks, they were confronted by an attack force of approximately 20,000 Chinese soldiers.

The Australian and Canadian defenders faced large waves of attacking enemy day and night, with much of the fighting involving bloody close-quarters fighting.

Commanders later ordered a strategic withdrawal, but their heroic actions helped UN forces achieve a decisive victory. Seoul was saved from another fall into communist hands and would not be threatened again for the rest of the war.

The Australian and Canadian battalions each received a United States Presidential Unit Citation for their part in the battle.

Australian War Memorial senior historian Craig Tibbitts says the Battle of Kapyong is one of the most famous actions in the country’s military history.

“The Allied force (27 Commonwealth Brigades, supported by US tanks and air support) held key positions in the path of the Chinese offensive and managed to hold it against overwhelming numbers long enough to make a difference.”

He says it was the most important battle for Australian troops in Korea

However, the battle came at a high cost: the Australians had 32 killed, 59 wounded and three captured; the Canadians suffered 10 dead and 23 wounded; the New Zealanders lost two men and three Americans were also killed.

Historians estimate that between 2,000 and 5,000 Chinese soldiers were killed during the battle.

Overshadowed by longer, more expensive battles fought in Vietnam and the Middle East since the 1950s, Korea is often considered the “forgotten war.”

A total of 17,000 Australian soldiers, sailors and aircrew served in the conflict, which resulted in 339 deaths and 1,216 injuries. 

Earlier this year, the Royal Australian Mint issued a special 50 cent coin to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong.

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