Battle of the Imjin River

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Date	22 - 25 April 1951
Location	Imjin River, Korea
Result	Chinese victory

Combatants

People's Volunteer Army

United Nations forces; including United States, United Kingdom

Commanders

General Peng Dehuai

General Matthew Ridgway [1]

Korean War
Pusan Perimeter – Inchon – Chosin Reservoir – Imjin River – Gloster Hill– Kapyong – Hill Eerie - The Hook - Pork Chop Hill - Bloody Ridge - Heartbreak Ridge

For the similarly named battle during the Seven-Year War, see Battle of Imjin River (1592).

The Battle of the Imjin River took place between April 22 – April 25, 1951 during the Korean War.

The opposing forces were the attacking People's Volunteer Army aiding North Korea and the defending British Force sent to aid South Korea and under the command of the United Nations. The Chinese won the battle, but the delay of three days provided time for the United Nations forces to re-group and block the Chinese advance on Seoul.

During the course of the battle, (and true to their actions at Battle of Alexandria in 1801 for which the regiment has the distinction of wearing badges both at the front and at the back of their head-dress), the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (the Glorious Glosters), and their mortar battery — numbering at most 750 men in total — fought on when surrounded on Gloster Hill by at least 4 Chinese divisions of 10,000 men.

In this action two Victoria Crosses and one George Cross were awarded:

Lieutenant-Colonel Carne, who commanded the battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Lieutenant Curtis, who had recently learnt of his wife's death and who died in a lone counter-attack on enemy machine-guns, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross .
Lieutenant Waters, who died in captivity, was awarded a posthumous George Cross for his conduct shortly after capture.

Three Commonwealth Regiments were awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation for their part in the battle:

The 1st Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment, together with C Troop 170 Heavy Mortar Battery Royal Artillery
The 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, (Battle of Kapyong April 22-25, 1951).
The 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Regiment. (Battle of Kapyong April 22-25, 1951)

On the 8 May 1951, by the command of President Truman, General van Fleet presented the President's Distinguished Unit Citation to the Glosters, together with C Troop 170 Heavy Mortar Battery, which had given invaluable support throughout the battle. The citation says:

The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, British Army and Troop C. 170th Independent Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery, attached, are cited for exceptionally outstanding performance of duty and extraordinary heroism in action against the armed enemy near Solma-ri, Korea on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th of April 1951.

The 1st. Battalion and Troop C were defending a very critical sector of the battle front during a determined attack by the enemy. The defending units were overwhelmingly outnumbered.

The 63rd Chinese Communist Army drove the full force of its savage assault at the positions held by the 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and attached unit. The route of supply ran southeast from the Battalion between two hills.

The hills dominated the surrounding terrain northwest to Imjin River. Enemy pressure built up on the battalion front during the day, 23 April. On 24 April, the weight of the attack had driven the right flank of the battalion back. The pressure grew heavier and heavier and the battalion and attached unit were forced into a perimeter defense on Hill 235. During the night, heavy enemy forces had by-passed the staunch defenders and closed all avenues of escape. The courageous soldiers of the battalion and attached unit were holding the critical route selected by the enemy for one column of the general offensive designed to encircle and destroy I Corps. These gallant soldiers would not retreat. As they were compressed tighter and tighter in their perimeter defense, they called for close-in air strikes to assist in holding firm. Completely surrounded by tremendous numbers, these indomitable, resolute, and tenacious soldiers fought back with unsurpassed fortitude and courage. As ammunition ran low and the advancing hordes moved closer and closer, these splendid soldiers fought back viciously to prevent the enemy from overrunning the position and moving rapidly on the south. Their heroic stand provided the critically needed time to regroup other I Corps units and block the southern advance of the enemy. Time and again efforts were made to reach the battalion, but the enemy strength blocked each effort. Without thought of defeat or surrender, this heroic force demonstrated superb battlefield courage and discipline. Every yard of ground they surrendered was covered with enemy dead until the last gallant soldier of the fighting battalion was overpowered by the final surge of the enemy masses. The 1st. Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment and Trop C. 170th. Independent Mortar Battery displayed such gallantry, determination, and esprit de corps in accomplishing their mission under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as to set them apart and above other units participating in the same battle. Their sustained brilliance in battle, their resoluteness, and extraordinary heroism are in keeping with the finest traditions of the renowned military forces of the British Commonwealth, and reflect unsurpassed credit on these courageous soldiers and their homeland.

The Belgian United Nations Command (BUNC), which was attached to the British 29th Brigade and replaced the 900 men of The Royal Ulster Rifles on 20 April 1951 was awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for their conduct during the battle.

US citation:

By decision of the President concurrent with the dispositions of the execution order 9396 (Sec. I, War Department Bulletin 22, 1943) etc. ... , the following unit is mentioned on the daily order as a public testimonial of deserved honor and distinction.

Citation : The Belgian battalion with the Luxemburg detachment of the UN Forces in Korea is mentioned for exceptional execution of its missions and for its remarkable heroism in its actions against the enemy on the Imjin, near Hantangang, Korea during the period from 20 till 26 April 1951. The Belgian battalion with the Luxemburg detachment, one of the smallest units of the UNO in Korea, has inflicted thirty-fold losses on the enemy compared to its own, due to its aggressive and courageous actions against the Communist Chinese. During this period considerable enemy forces, supported by fire by machine guns, mortars and artillery, repeatedly and heavily attacked the positions held by the battalion but, Belgians and Luxembourgers have continuously and bravely repulsed these fanatic attacks by inflicting heavy losses to the enemy forces. When the Chinese troops had succeeded in occupying positions endangering the liaison with the allied neighboring units, The Belgian battalion with the Luxembourg detachment launched furious counter-attacks with the bayonet. The enemy, surprised by the tenacity of these attacks became disorganised and withdrew in disorder. Finally, the Belgian-Luxembourg battalion withdrew by order of higher authority, evacuated its wounded, was resupplied and requested to be put back in the line. Having arrived at the frontline again, numerous enemy infantry and cavalry units were observed heading south. When the enemy was sufficiently close, the Belgian-Luxembourg battalion launched a rain of mortar shells with the devastating effect that its front area was covered with bodies. When the Chinese communists continued to bring in fresh troops in the attack, the Belgian-Luxembourg troops fought a successful delaying battle which enabled the adjoining positions to be methodically evacuated with minimum losses. The Belgian battalion with the Luxemburg detachment has shown so much proof of courage, decision and esprit de corps in the accomplishment of its missions during these actions in difficult and hazardous circumstances, that it has to be placed above any other units participating in these actions. The extraordinary courage shown by the members of this units during this period has bestowed extraordinary honor on their country and on themselves

By order of General VAN FLEET.

Henri I. HODES. Major general, US Army. Chief of Staff.