History

Wars & Campaigns

Boer War
First World War

►►Western Front

►►►Trench Warfare: 1914-1916

►►Allied Offensive: 1916

►►►Allied Offensives: 1917

►►►German Offensive: 1918

►►►Advance to Victory: 1918

►►Siberia
Second World War
►►War Against Japan

►►North Africa
►►Italian Campaign

►►►Sicily

►►►Southern Italy

►►►The Sangro and Moro

►►►Battles of the FSSF

►►►Cassino

►►►Liri Valley

►►►Advance to Florence

►►►Gothic Line

►►►Winter Lines
►►North-West Europe

►►►Normandy
►►►Southern France
►►►Channel Ports

►►►Scheldt
►►►Nijmegen Salient

►►►Rhineland

►►►Final Phase
Korean War
Cold War
Gulf War

Operations 

GAUNTLET Aug 1941

(Spitsbergen)

HUSKY Jul 1943

 (Sicily)

COTTAGE Aug 1943

 (Kiska)

TIMBERWOLF Oct 1943

(Italy)

OVERLORD Jun 1944

(Normandy)

MARKET-GARDEN Sep 44

(Arnhem)

BERLIN Nov 1944

(Nijmegen)

VERITABLE Feb 1945

(Rhineland)

Battle Honours

Boer War

►Paardeberg

18 Feb 00

First World War
Western Front
Trench Warfare: 1914-1916

Ypres, 1915

22 Apr-25 May 15

Gravenstafel

22-23 Apr 15

St. Julien

24 Apr-4 May 15

Frezenberg

8-13 May 15

Bellewaarde

24-25 May 15

Festubert, 1915

15-25 May 15

Mount Sorrel

2-13 Jun 16

Allied Offensive: 1916

►Somme, 1916

1 Jul-18 Nov 16

►Albert

.1-13 Jul 16

►Bazentin

.14-17 Jul 16

►Pozieres

.23 Jul-3 Sep 16

►Guillemont

.3-6 Sep 16

►Ginchy

.9 Sep 16

Flers-Courcelette

15-22 Sep 16

Thiepval

26-29 Sep 16

►Le Transloy

. 1-18 Oct 16

Ancre Heights

1 Oct-11 Nov 16

Ancre, 1916

13-18 Nov 16

Allied Offensives: 1917

►Arras 1917

8 Apr-4 May 17

Vimy, 1917

.9-14 Apr 17

Arleux

28-29 Apr 17

►Scarpe, 1917

.3-4 May17

►Hill 70

.15-25 Aug 17

►Messines, 1917

.7-14 Jun 17

►Ypres, 1917

..31 Jul-10 Nov 17

►Pilckem

31 Jul-2 Aug 17

►Langemarck, 1917

.16-18 Aug 17

►Menin Road

.20-25 Sep 17

►Polygon Wood

26 Sep-3 Oct 17

►Broodseinde

.4 Oct 17

►Poelcapelle

.9 Oct 17

►Passchendaele

.12 Oct 17

►Cambrai, 1917

20 Nov-3 Dec 17

German Offensive: 1918

►Somme, 1918

.21 Mar-5 Apr 18

►St. Quentin

.21-23 Mar 18

►Bapaume, 1918

.24-25 Mar 18

►Rosieres

.26-27 Mar 18

►Avre

.4 Apr 18

►Lys

.9-29 Apr 18

►Estaires

.9-11 Apr 18

►Messines, 1918

.10-11 Apr 18

►Bailleul

.13-15 Apr 18

►Kemmel

.17-19 Apr 18

Advance to Victory: 1918

Amiens

8-11 Aug 18

►Arras, 1918

.26 Aug-3 Sep 18

►Scarpe, 1918

26-30 Aug 18.

►Drocourt-Queant

.2-3 Sep 18

►Hindenburg Line

.12 Sep-9 Oct 18

►Canal du Nord

.27 Sep-2 Oct 18

►St. Quentin Canal .29 Sep-2 Oct 18
►Epehy

3-5 Oct 18

►Cambrai, 1918

.8-9 Oct 18

►Valenciennes

.1-2 Nov 18

►Sambre

.4 Nov 18

►Pursuit to Mons .28 Sep-11Nov

Second World War

War Against Japan

South-East Asia

Hong Kong

 8-25 Dec 41

Italian Campaign

Battle of Sicily

Landing in Sicily 

   9-12 Jul 43

Grammichele 

15 Jul 43

Piazza Armerina

16-17 Jul 43

Valguarnera

17-19 Jul 43

Assoro 

  20-22 Jul 43

Leonforte

 21-22 Jul 43

Agira

24-28 Jul 43

Adrano 

29 Jul-7 Aug 43

Catenanuova

29-30 Jul 43

Regalbuto

29 Jul-3 Aug 43

Centuripe

  31 Jul-3 Aug 43

Troina Valley

 2-6 Aug 43

Pursuit to Messina

 2-17 Aug 43

 Southern Italy

Landing at Reggio

 3 Sep 43

Potenza 19-20 Sep 43
Motta Montecorvino 1-3 Oct 43
Termoli 3-6 Oct 43
Monte San Marco 6-7 Oct 43
Gambatesa 7-8 Oct 43
Campobasso 11-14 Oct 43
Baranello 17-18 Oct 43
Colle d'Anchise 22-24 Oct 43
Torella 24-27 Oct 43

The Sangro and Moro

The Sangro

19 Nov-3 Dec 43

Castel di Sangro

.23-24 Nov 43

The Moro

5-7 Dec 43

San Leonardo

8-9 Dec 43

The Gully

..10-19 Dec 43

Casa Berardi

 ..14-15 Dec 43

Ortona

20-28 Dec 43

San Nicola-San

.31 Dec 43

Tommaso

.
Point 59/ 29 Dec 43-

Torre Mucchia

4 Jan 44

Battles of the FSSF
Monte Camino

.5 Nov-9 Dec 43

Monte la Difensa-

2-8 Dec 43

 Monte la Remetanea

.
Hill 720

25 Dec 43

Monte Majo

3-8 Jan 44.

Radicosa

4 Jan 44

Monte Vischiataro

8 Jan 44

Anzio

22 Jan-22 May 44

Rome

.22 May-4 Jun 44

Advance

.22 May-22 Jun 44

to the Tiber

.
►Monte Arrestino

25 May 44

►Rocca Massima

27 May 44

►Colle Ferro

2 Jun 44

Cassino
►Cassino II

11-18 May 44

►Gustav Line

11-18 May 44

►Sant' Angelo in

13 May 44

Teodice

.
►Pignataro

14-15 May 44

Liri Valley
Liri Valley

18-30 May 44

►Hitler Line

18-24 May 44

►Aquino

18-24 May 44

►Melfa Crossing

24-25 May 44

►Ceprano

26-27 May 44

►Torrice Crossroads

30 May 44

Advance to Florence
Advance

17 Jul-10 Aug 44

to Florence

.
Trasimene Line

20-30 Jun 44

Sanfatucchio

20-21 Jun 44

Arezzo

4-17 Jul 44

Cerrone

25 - 31 Aug 44

Gothic Line
►Gothic Line

25 Aug-22 Sep 44

►Monteciccardo

27-28 Aug 44

►Montecchio

30-31 Aug 44

►Point 204 (Pozzo Alto)

31 Aug 44

►Monte Luro

1 Sep 44

►Borgo Santa Maria

1 Sep 44

►Tomba di Pesaro

1-2 Sep 44

►Coriano

3-15 Sep 44

Winter Lines
►Rimini Line

14-21 Sep 44

►San Martino-

14-18 Sep 44

San Lorenzo

.
►San Fortunato

18-20 Sep 44

►Casale

23-25 Sep 44

►Sant' Angelo

11-15 Sep 44

 in Salute

.
►Bulgaria Village

13-14 Sep 44

►Cesena

15-20 Sep 44

►Pisciatello

16-19 Sep 44

►Savio Bridgehead

20-23 Sep 44

►Monte La Pieve

13-19 Oct 44

►Monte Spaduro

19-24 Oct 44

►Monte San Bartolo

11-14 Nov 44

►Lamone Crossing

2-13 Dec 44

►Capture of Ravenna

3-4 Dec 44

►Naviglio Canal

12-15 Dec 44

►Fosso Vecchio

16-18 Dec 44

►Fosso Munio

19-21 Dec 44

►Conventello-

2-6 Jan 45

Comacchio

.
►Granarolo

3-5 Jan 44

Northwest Europe
Dieppe

19 Aug 42

Battle of Normandy
Normandy Landing

6 Jun 44

Authie

7 Jun 44

Putot-en-Bessin

8 Jun 44

Bretteville

8-9 Jun 44

       -l'Orgueilleuse .
Le Mesnil-Patry

11 Jun 44

Carpiquet

4-5 Jul 44

Caen

4-18 Jul 44

The Orne (Buron)

8-9 Jul 44

Bourguébus Ridge

18-23 Jul 44

Faubourg-de-

18-19 Jul 44

       Vaucelles .
St. André-sur-Orne

19-23 Jul 44

Maltôt

22-23 Jul 44

Verrières Ridge-Tilly--

25 Jul 44

         la-Campagne .
Falaise

7-22 Aug 44

Falaise Road

 7-9 Aug 44

►Quesnay Road

10-11 Aug 44

Clair Tizon

11-13 Aug 44

►The Laison

14-17 Aug 44

►Chambois

18-22 Aug 44

►St. Lambert-sur-

19-22 Aug 44

       Dives

.

Dives Crossing

17-20 Aug 44

Forêt de la Londe

27-29 Aug 44

The Seine, 1944

25-28 Aug 44

Southern France
Southern France

15-28 Aug 44

Channel Ports
Dunkirk, 1944

8-15 Sep 44

Le Havre

1-12 Sep 44

Moerbrugge

8-10 Sep 44

Moerkerke

13-14 Sep 44

Boulogne, 1944

17-22 Sep 44

Calais, 1944

25 Sep-1 Oct 44

Wyneghem

21-22 Sep 44

Antwerp-Turnhout

   24-29 Sep 44

Canal

.

The Scheldt

The Scheldt

1 Oct-8 Nov 44

Leopold Canal

6-16 Oct-44

►Woensdrecht

1-27 Oct 44

Savojaards Platt

9-10 Oct 44

Breskens Pocket

11 Oct -3 Nov 44

►The Lower Maas

20 Oct -7 Nov 44

►South Beveland

 24-31 Oct 44

Walcheren

31 Oct -4 Nov 44

Causeway

.

Nijmegen Salient
Ardennes

Dec 44-Jan 45

Kapelsche Veer

31 Dec 44-

.

21Jan 45

The Roer

16-31 Jan 45

Rhineland
The Rhineland

8 Feb-10 Mar 45

►The Reichswald

8-13 Feb 45

►Waal Flats

8-15 Feb 45

►Moyland Wood

14-21 Feb 45

►Goch-Calcar Road

19-21 Feb 45

►The Hochwald

26 Feb-

.

4 Mar 45

►Veen

6-10 Mar 45

►Xanten

8-9 Mar 45

Final Phase
The Rhine

23 Mar-1 Apr 45

►Emmerich-Hoch

28 Mar-1 Apr 45

Elten

.
►Twente Canal

2-4 Apr 45

Zutphen

6-8 Apr 45

Deventer

8-11 Apr 45

Arnhem, 1945

12-14 Apr 45

Apeldoorn

11-17 Apr 45

Groningen

13-16 Apr 45

Friesoythe

14 Apr 45

►Ijselmeer

15-18 Apr 45

Küsten Canal

17-24 Apr 45

Wagenborgen

21-23 Apr 45

Delfzijl Pocket

23 Apr-2 May 45

Leer

28-29 Apr 45

Bad Zwischenahn

23 Apr-4 May 45

Oldenburg

27 Apr-5 May 45

Korean War
Kapyong

21-25 Apr 51

Domestic Missions

FLQ Crisis

International Missions

ICCS            Vietnam 1973

MFO                 Sinai 1986-

Peacekeeping

UNMOGIP

India 1948-1979

UNTSO

 Israel 1948-    ....

UNEF

Egypt 1956-1967

UNOGIL

Lebanon 1958    ....

ONUC

 Congo 1960-1964

UNYOM

Yemen 1963-1964

UNTEA

W. N. Guinea 1963-1964

UNIFCYP

 Cyprus 1964-    ....

DOMREP

D. Republic 1965-1966

UNIPOM

Kashmir 1965-1966

UNEFME

Egypt 1973-1979

UNDOF

Golan 1974-    ....

UNIFIL

 Lebanon 1978    ....

UNGOMAP

Afghanistan 1988-90

UNIIMOG

Iran-Iraq 1988-1991

UNTAG

Namibia 1989-1990

ONUCA

C. America 1989-1992

UNIKOM

Kuwait 1991    ....

MINURSO

W. Sahara 1991    ....

ONUSAL

El Salvador 1991    ....

UNAMIC

Cambodia 1991-1992

UNAVEM II

Angola 1991-1997

UNPROFOR

Yugosla. 1992-1995

UNTAC

Cambodia 1992-1993

UNOSOM

Somalia 1992-1993

ONUMOZ

Mozambiq. 1993-1994

UNOMUR

 Rwanda 1993    ....

UNAMIR

Rwanda 1993-1996

UNMIH

Haiti 1993-1996

UNMIBH

Bosnia/Herz.1993-1996

UNMOP

Prevlaka 1996-2001

UNSMIH

Haiti 1996-1997

MINUGUA

Guatemala 1994-1997

UNTMIH

Haiti 1997    ....

MIPONUH

 Haiti 1997    ....

MINURCA

C.Afr.Rep. 1998-1999

INTERFET

E. Timor 1999-2000

UNAMSIL

Sie. Leone 1999-2005

UNTAET

E. Timor 1999-2000

Exercises

 

Kapyong
 
 

Kapyong was a Battle Honour awarded for actions fought during the Korean War from 22 April to 25 April 1951.

Background

A Chinese spring offensive began on the evening of 22 April 1951, aimed at recapturing the South Korean capital of Seoul. United Nations positions were initially overrun by the People's 118th Brigade of the People's Volunteer Army, which attacking with overwhelming numerical superiority on a wide front. A defence mounted by the 27th Commonwealth Brigade ultimately halted the advance and prevented the capture of Seoul. The brigade included Canada's initial contribution to the UN effort in Korea, the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which had arrived in Korea in December 1950.

Defences

The 6th Republic of Korea Division collapsed in the face of mounting pressure and a large number of South Koreans and Americans were forced to withdraw in disorder through positions partially held by Australian troops. The 27th Commonwealth Brigade was ordered to block two approaches to Kapyong, and prepared defensive positions.


Holding at Kapyong, by Edward Fenwick ("Ted") Zuber. This painting depicts resupply of Canadian troops during the Battle of Kap'yong, 24-25 April 1951.
CWM Holding CN 90041.

 
An attack by the 118th Chinese People's Volunteer Division engaged the two forward battalions of the Brigade on the evening of 23 April. Early on, the 1st Battalion, The Middlesex Regiment and the 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery were in danger of being encircled and cut off. Forward positions held by 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, enabled the Middlesex and RNZA forces to withdraw. The New Zealand gunners went back into action, providing close fire support for those troops still engaged. The 72nd Heavy Tank Battalion of the United States Army also provided fire support.
 


Lieutenant-Colonel Jim Stone, commanding 2nd Battalion PPCLI, inspects his unit shortly after arrival in Korea. Man in civilian clothes is James Plimsell, Australian representative in Korea. Canadian Press Photo via Windsor Star, 22 Feb 1951


A Chinese attack also struck 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, causing them to withdraw from positions on Hill 504, followed by massed attacks on the PPCLI throughout the night of 22-23 April. Captain Mills, Officer Commanding "D" Company, was forced to call down artillery fire on his own position on Hill 677 several times during the night to avoid being overrun. Lieutenant Mike Levy commanded "D" Company's No. 10 Platoon, which was isolated during the battle. He personally directed the fire onto his own positions. It was the first battle of the Korean War for Canadian forces.

 

It was a terrifying night of positions lost and retaken, hand-to-hand fighting in the dark, with bayonets, grenades, rifle butts, and shovels.

At one point, the Chinese attacked battalion headquarters from the rear. If HQ fell, the Canadians would be driven off the hill and the road to Seoul would be open. It did not fall, in part thanks to (Lieutenant) Hub Gray.

 

He was in charge of a small mortar-machine gun unit. Coming at them: about 500 battle-hardened Chinese. With the enemy almost on top of them, Gray’s men opened fire, the Chinese attack stalled, and then fell apart, described by one Canadian as “like kicking the top off an ant hill.” The Canadians were down to their last bullets when the Chinese advance finally broke. Hub’s machine guns had saved HQ. And so Kapyong did not fall. Nor did Seoul.

Hub Gray was a real-life hero whose courage and initiative made the difference. Five men in other units were (rightly) decorated for bravery that night. Hub Gray was not among them. In later years he wrote his own account of Kapyong (”Beyond the Danger Close”) with a vivid account of the fighting, but made no mention at all of his own vital role. You’d scarcely know he was there.
1

 


Lieutenant Hub Gray, photographed in 1950. Gray passed away in November 2018 at the age of ninety.2


The Chinese had infiltrated the brigade position by the morning of the 23rd, surrounding the PPCLI who had to be resupplied by air. By the evening of April 23, both the Commonwealth 27th and 29th Brigades were strongly pressed by the Chinese 118th Division. Throughout April 24 many close-range actions were fought, and the Australians were ordered to withdraw to new defensive positions late in the day.

The Canadians defended their position until eventually the Chinese assault collapsed. By the afternoon of 25 April the road through to the Canadians was cleared of enemy troops and US units were able to relieve them.


Lieutenant Mike Levy of the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI. Allegedly denied a valour decoration for Kapyong because he was Jewish, Levy had served in the Second World War with the British SOE in southern Asia, served as investigator for the War Crimes Tribunal in Hong Kong and Singapore, retired from service in 1948 and returned to the colours in 1950 for Korea. He stayed in PPCLI after his time in Korea and served in Calgary, Germany, Edmonton and Esquimalt. Promoted major in 1960, he served with the International Commission for Supervision and Control in Vietnam, and later was deputy commander of the Canadian contingent of UNFICYP (United Nations Forces in Cypus). He retired from the CF in 1974. Postmedia Photo

It was felt that the actions by the Australian and Canadian forces prevented a massive breakthrough that would certainly have resulted in the fall of Seoul.

The Chinese, despite overwhelming numerical superiority, had been found to be poorly trained and used ineffective tactics including massed infantry charges. Some troops had been poorly armed. Australian losses were 31 killed, 59 wounded and 3 captured; Canadian losses were 10 killed and 23 wounded; New Zealanders had 2 killed and 5 wounded. The Chinese losses are estimated at over 1,000 killed and an unknown number of wounded.

The 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment were both awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation for their actions during the Battle of Kapyong.
 

 

 

Battle Honours

 

The following Canadian units were awarded the Battle Honour "Kapyong" for participation in these actions:

  • Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry

In addition to the Battle Honour Kapyong, the 2nd Battalion, PPCLI was granted permission to add a US battle streamer to its Regimental Colour, and became the only Canadian unit awarded the United States Distinguished Unit Citation (renamed in 1966 to become the Presidential Unit Citation), until the war in Afghanistan and the award of a Presidential unit Citation to Joint Task Force 2.

Notes

  1. Bjarnason, Dan and Bernie M. Fisher "A Canadian war hero you've never heard of, but should have", National Post, 30 Nov 2018 accessed online at https://nationalpost.com/opinion/a-canadian-war-hero-youve-never-heard-of-but-should-have

  2. Ibid. The article mentions Lieutenant Mike Levy, a platoon commander, who called down artillery fire on his isolated platoon. Gray's book on Kapyong alleges that Stone refused to recommend Levy for a medal because he was Jewish. Levy had fought in the Second World War as a member of the Special Operations Executive, an organization using the cover name Force 136. He was commissioned and fought behind the lines in Southeast Asia, for which he was awarded a Mention in Despatches. Gray advocated for recognition for Levy, and in April 2004 Governor General Adrienne Clarkson awarded him a Grant of Arms, flag and badge, with personal coat of arms bearing the motto I HAVE PREVAILED. Levy passed away in June, 2007. (See "The Spirit of a Soldier", Espirit de Corps Magazine, 9 May 2016 accessed online at http://espritdecorps.ca/battle-of-kapyong/2016/5/9/the-spirit-of-a-solider )

 

 


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