Battle of the Imjin River

Template:Battlebox The Battle of the Imjin took place between April 22 – April 25 1951 during the Korean War.

The opposing forces were the attacking Chinese Forces 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 the 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 perhaps 750 men in total — fought on when surrounded on Gloster Hill by at least one Chinese division of 10,000 men. In this action two Victoria Crosses were award.

Lieutenant Colonel Carne was awarded the Victoria Cross. It was also posthumously awarded to Lieutenant Curtis, who died in a lone counter-attack on enemy machine-guns. 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 8th 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.

External links

• Office of the Defence Attache, British Embassy Seoul: The Battle  (http://www.britishembassy.or.kr/english/overview/defence/imjin.htm)
• UK Defence Today (2001): Fiftieth anniversary of the Glorious Glosters' stand at the Imjin (http://news.mod.uk/news/press/news_headline_story.asp?newsItem_id=1113)