The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, commemorates the Battle of Kapyong with battle parade
It was a battle that would make history, but 74 years ago it was just the small number of allied soldiers and the overwhelming 10,000 Chinese soldiers they were up against in the Kapyong river valley.
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It was a battle that would become one of the most famous moments for Australia during the Korean War, but 74 years ago it was just the small number of allied soldiers and the overwhelming 10,000 Chinese soldiers they were up against in the Kapyong river valley.
On April 23, 1951, Australian soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) stood atop hills on either side of a seven-kilometre-wide valley alongside Canada’s Light infantry as South Koreans began their retreat from an onslaught of Chinese soldiers as they attempted to retake the South Korean capital, Seoul.
A strong offensive from the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army overran American tanks into the evening and were soon pressing up against the Australian forces.
After violent counter attacks using hand to hand combat, grenades and bayonets 3RAR put up a strong defensive effort into the day of April 24.
New Zealand artillery was called to action as the Australians were forced into a fighting withdrawal and rejoined the brigade.
The Chinese halted their attacks after failed attempts to obtain the Canadian position and on Anzac Day 1951, the soldiers rested after a long and arduous battle.
A total of 32 Australians died during the battle with 59 wounded and three taken prisoner.
It was estimated 2,000 Chinese soldiers were wounded or killed.
On Thursday this week, ‘Old Faithful’ commemorated those important few days with a parade attended by former battalion officers and veterans.
Commanding Officer of 3RAR, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Ellis said the Diggers who stalled the enemy “did so using grit and determination”.
“They were surrounded at points, they were being shelled and they were being fired at by overwhelming forces but they held their ground,” he said.
“I think the big thing that we want to do while we’re doing (the parade) is ask ourselves if we measure up to the standard of those soldiers and officers that were in the Kapyong guard.”
To emulate the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Ellis ensured the soldiers on parade were dressed in their battle uniforms with riflemen donning their guns and body armour.
“We wanted to mark it with a battle parade and really focus on the fact that Kapyong day was a hard fought and hard won battle,” he said.
“None of us were dressed exactly the same as you normally see on a parade.”
“It wasn’t about looking pretty today, it was about demonstrating that we are ready to deploy on operations.”
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Originally published as The 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, commemorates the Battle of Kapyong with battle parade
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