Post War

Artifact PW2-10: Kap’yong Memories

Submitted by: General (Ret’d) Ramsey Withers

The following picture, taken in 1983, shows the PPCLI monument at Kap’yong, Korea where, in late April 1951, the Regiment’s Second Battalion valiantly defended Hill 677, while completely surrounded, against the onslaught of a Chinese force numbering an estimated 6,000 seeking to clear their way to attack Seoul, some 40 kms to the southwest. For this brave stand the battalion received the US Presidential Unit Citation. Standing on the left is an unidentified Republic of Korea official. Beside him are Lieutenant-Colonel John Bishop, CF Attaché to Korea and General Ramsey Withers, then Chief of the Defence Staff, who was making an official visit to the country and was the last Korean War veteran from the nations that had contributed to the UN Forces who was head of his country’s forces. He was also the third CDS who was a Korean War Veteran, the first two being Generals Allard and Dextraze. Lieutenant-Colonel John Bishop had been a Lance-Corporal Bren gunner during the battle.

The next picture is of General Withers laying a wreath on the PPCLI Memorial. Ten Canadians were killed at Kap’yong and a further 23 wounded.