PETER WORTHINGTON-- Toronto Sun
Whenever historians recall the Korean war, inevitably the story of the "Glorious Gloucesters" is cited -- the supposed fight to the death of Britain's Gloucester Regiment in late April, 1951, when they held off the Chinese hordes and blocked the route to Seoul, enabling UN forces to regroup and eventually triumph.
The regiment sacrificed itself and was awarded two Victoria Crosses -- the world's most prestigious valour award -- one of which went to the commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Joe Carne.
Another heroic page for Britain's army.
That's the official version.
Two weeks ago, I was one of 20 Canadian veterans attending memorial ceremonies in South Korea along with British and New Zealand vets marking the 50th anniversary of the start of that war.
Standing on Gloucester Hill, site of the desperate battle, overlooking the now lush green valley, dotted with thriving settlements and roads this side of the Imjin river a couple of miles north, the British military attache, Brig. John Baker, eulogized the fight. A touching moment was when a Korean "peace" medal was awarded to a tearful Brit whose brother was killed in that fight 49 years ago.
Brig. Baker recounted how for three days the Gloucesters, covering seven to nine miles of front with barely 650 soldiers, fought to the end and gave the 29 Brigade breathing space to regroup. Seoul was saved.
Without belittling the bravery of individual Gloucesters, it didn't exactly happen the way the official version tells it -- as respected British military historian Max Hastings cautiously concedes.
While the Gloucester battle (April 22-25) was unfolding, a dozen miles to the east at the village of Kapyong, the second battalion of the Princess Pats was in the fight of its life blocking another valley route to Seoul which was equally vulnerable.
The Pats were surrounded, cut off from 27 Brigade, and had the same task as the Gloucesters -- hold on at any cost. Commanded by Lt.-Col. Jim Stone, a rough "field" soldier who'd been promoted from the ranks in WWII, the Patricias were the only Canadians fighting in Korea at that time, prior to the arrival of the Van Doos and RCR to comprise 25 Brigade. The Second Pats were a mixture of WWII vets and adventure-seeking youths, most with a wild, in-your-face confidence.
As it turned out, Kapyong was close to what could be called a "perfect" battle -- and certainly Canada's most historic of that war. On the anniversary, at ceremonies at the Kapyong memorial, Canada's military attache, Col. Chip Bowness, recounted the battle.
In attendance was a survivor -- laconic former Corp. Frank Boe, of B Company, on his first visit to Korea since the war. ("Kapyong meant nothing to us at the time -- just a lot of Chinese wanting to get through and we weren't going to let them").
Fortunately, the attacking Chinese had outrun their artillery, and they thought they could sweep over the Canadians and Royal Australian Regiment on the Patricias' flank.
It was not to be. The Aussies withdrew, and later counter-attacked, while the Canadians stayed firm and, when overrun, called down their own artillery on their positions -- three successive times for one platoon. When battalion headquarters was surrounded and attacked, Col. Stone had (as good commanders do) acquired more weaponry than was authorized -- some two dozen heavy and medium machine-guns which cut the Chinese to shreds. Recalled Boe: "All of us felt it was them or us. We weren't going to move and would have fought to the last man."
In his book about the Canadians in Korea, Find the Dragon, Robert Hepenstall, who was there, tells of soldiers changing slit trenches to be with a buddy when they were killed, they were so certain there would be no surrender.
Unlike the Gloucesters, who left it too late to withdraw, the Canadians fought their way out after being resupplied by airdrops of ammunition and food. The Chinese never broke through.
Amazingly, only 10 Patricias were killed and 23 wounded which, considering the thousands of Chinese they killed, testifies to superb and shrewd fighting. From a British viewpoint, there were too few casualties at Kapyong for it to be memorable, even though both the Pats and Gloucesters killed thousands of Chinese.
By comparison, the Gloucesters were largely unprepared for the attack and had 59 killed and 526 taken prisoner. Only 39 Gloucesters escaped to allied lines.
Arguably, the difference was Col. Stone, who had a good eye for ground, knew the enemy was coming, alerted his troops and sited his companies and platoons so they could support one another. Col. Carne ignored warnings (or didn't relay them) and, to put it bluntly, was an inarticulate, mediocre commander who'd been with the regiment all his life and spread his troops so they were isolated and at risk.
At the end, when he couldn't be rescued or withdraw, Col. Carne gave his men the choice of fighting on or surrendering. Most were captured.
Looking back, the Gloucester battle was a debacle. The CO and Brigade command left much to be desired. The shock of losing an historic regiment required one of two things -- either an inquiry into incompetence, or glorify the defeat. Not for the first time in British history, the second option was chosen, hence the myth of the "Glorious Gloucesters" whose rank and file deserved better leadership.
Both the Gloucesters and the Pats were awarded a U.S. Presidential Citation (which irritated Ottawa), and today the official Canadian memorial at Kapyong pays tribute to Canadian "Armed Forces" and doesn't mention the PPCLI. A modest marker paid for by the PPCLI Association, notes the PPCLI involvement.
As well as the Victoria Cross, Col. Carne (who performed stoically and gallantly as a PoW) also got an American Distinguished Service Cross. Stone got a distinguished Service Order, as did most Canadian COs in Korea.
Looked at dispassionately, an argument can be made that Kapyong, defensively, was a battle worthy of comparison with the offensive battle of Vimy Ridge in WWI. The rag-tag unit of volunteers and misfits, led by excellent wartime NCOs and officers, fought brilliantly but anonymously, if one judges by non-Canadian history books.
Even the redoubtable T.R. Fehrenbach in his classic Korean war history, This Kind of War, pays tribute to the "Glosters" for saving Seoul, but omits mention of Patricias at Kapyong -- the power of British propaganda.
No one should be surprised.
History shows many military disasters covered up or disguised by depicting them as heroic lost causes which should have resulted in courts martial.
After all, British history for years has described Vimy Ridge as a British army triumph, so why should anyone be surprised that the "Glorious Gloucesters" and their brave but incompetent colonel get accolades while Lt.-Col. Jim Stone and his Patricias at Kapyong get second billing -- even from our own government, which these days seems more embarrassed than proud of our military's fighting heritage.
Additional Sources:
www.britishembassy.or.kr
www.canoe.ca
www.koreanwar.org
www.national-army-museum.ac.uk
www.tv.cbc.ca
www.glosters.org
www.awm.gov.au
www.vvaa.org.au
bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net
www.army.dnd.ca
