Battle of Pakchon

Battle of Pakchon Part of the Korean War Chinese First Phase Offensive, 25 October – 1 November 1950 Date 5 November 1950 Location Pakchon, North Korea Result United Nations victory Belligerents  United Nations  Australia  United Kingdom  United States China  North Korea Commanders and leaders Basil Aubrey Coad Floyd Walsh Howard M. Moore Wu Xinquan Zhang Jiecheng[1] Units involved 27th Brit Com Bde 3 RAR 1 ASHR 1 MR 117th Division[2] Strength ~300 men ~1,500 men Casualties and losses 14 killed 84 wounded 270 killed 200 wounded (estimated)

The Battle of Pakchon (5 November 1950), also known as the Battle of Bochuan (Chinese: 博川战斗; pinyin: Bó Chuān Zhàn Dòu), took place ten days after the start of the Chinese First Phase Offensive, following the entry of the People's Volunteer Army into the Korean War. The offensive reversed the United Nations (UN) advance towards the Yalu River which had occurred after their intervention in the wake of the North Korean invasion of South Korea at the start of the war. The battle was fought between British and Australian forces from the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade with American armour and artillery in support, and the Chinese 117th Division, around the village of Pakchon on the Taeryong River. After capturing Chongju on 30 October the British and Australians had been ordered to pull back to Pakchon in an attempt to consolidate the western flank of the US Eighth Army. Meanwhile, immediately following their success at Unsan against the Americans, the Chinese 117th Division of the 39th Army had attacked southward, intending to cut off the UN forces as they withdrew in the face of the unexpected Chinese assault. To halt the Chinese advance, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was ordered to defend the lower crossings of the Taeryong and Chongchon rivers as part of a rearguard, in conjunction with the US 24th Infantry Division further upstream on the right.

During the night of 4/5 November, the Chinese and North Koreans mounted a full-scale assault on the US 24th Infantry Division, pushing back an American infantry regiment nearly 2 kilometres (1.2 mi). The Chinese force subsequently turned west, advancing between the Taeryong and Chongchon rivers and threatening the rear of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade by cutting the Pakchon–Sinanju road. The following day they attacked an American artillery battery which was guarding a vital concrete bridge near Kujin. The British and Australians then successfully counter-attacked the Chinese forces occupying a number of nearby ridgelines during the day but were in turn counter-attacked before being pushed off the high ground during the night. In their first battle with the Chinese, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) captured a well defended hill with only limited offensive support, and held it in the face of heavy counter-attacks before confused command decisions resulted in a disorganised night withdrawal while still in contact. The withdrawal threatened to open the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade's left flank and the Australians were ordered to immediately reposition on the ridge, yet ultimately it was too late to regain the feature in darkness. However, following heavy fighting the pressure on the Australians unexpectedly ceased after midnight, and parties of Chinese were observed beginning to withdraw. By early morning the Chinese attack had been checked and 3 RAR had redeployed to new positions in the paddy fields around the railway crossing north of Maenjung-dong.

The fighting was costly for both sides. Although the Australians halted the advancing Chinese 117th Division and inflicted numerous casualties on them, they also suffered heavy losses. In the aftermath the inexperienced Australian battalion commander—Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Walsh—was relieved of his position by the British brigade commander, having taken over just six days earlier following the death of the previous commanding officer at Chongju. Nonetheless, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade succeeded in preventing a Chinese break-through at Pakchon, keeping open vital withdrawal routes across the river and securing the UN left flank. Suffering significant casualties, the Chinese offensive was halted the next day due to logistic difficulties. The Chinese and North Koreans were temporarily forced to withdraw north, while the UN successfully reinforced its positions, holding on the Chongchon Line. Yet by late November the US Eighth Army was again forced to withdraw after the Chinese began their Second Phase Offensive, starting a long retreat south. The UN forces were expelled from North Korea, and withdrew to the 38th Parallel where they sought to re-establish defensive positions.

Background

Military situation

The Korean War began early in the morning of 25 June 1950, following the surprise invasion of the Republic of Korea (ROK) by its northern neighbour, the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).^[3] Numerically superior and better-equipped, the Korean People's Army (KPA) crossed the 38th Parallel and rapidly advanced south, easily overcoming the South Koreans. In response, the United Nations (UN) decided to intervene on behalf of South Korea, inviting member states to send forces to restore the situation.^[4] As a consequence, American ground forces were hastily deployed in an attempt to prevent the South Koreans from collapsing; however, they too were under-strength and poorly equipped, and by early August had been forced back by the North Koreans to an enclave around Pusan, known as the Pusan Perimeter.^[5] Key US allies—Britain, Canada and Australia—also committed forces, although these were initially limited to naval contingents and were largely viewed as token efforts in the US. Under diplomatic pressure the British agreed to deploy an infantry brigade in July, and would later dispatch a second brigade as the crisis worsened.^[6] The Canadians also agreed to provide an infantry brigade, although the first battalion would not arrive until December 1950.^[7] A total of 21 UN member states eventually contributed forces.^[8]

Map of the UN advance toward the Yalu River, 1950.

Australia was one of the first nations to commit units to the fighting, playing a small but sometimes significant part in the United Nations Command, which was initially led by General Douglas MacArthur.^[9] Forces deployed in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) formed the basis of the Australian response, with P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers from No. 77 Squadron RAAF flying their first missions on 2 July, while the frigate HMAS Shoalhaven and the destroyer HMAS Bataan were also committed to naval operations. During this time the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), which had been preparing to return to Australia prior to the outbreak of the war, remained in Japan, however on 26 July the Australian government announced that it would also commit the under-strength and poorly equipped infantry battalion to the fighting, following a period of preparation.^[9] Training and re-equipment began immediately, while hundreds of reinforcements were hastily recruited in Australia as part of K Force; they soon began arriving to fill out the battalion. The battalion's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Floyd Walsh, was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Green. An officer with extensive operational experience fighting the Japanese in New Guinea during the Second World War, Green took over from Walsh due to the latter's perceived inexperience.^[10]

On 23 September 1950, 3 RAR embarked for Korea, concentrating at Pusan on 28 September. There it joined the British 27th Infantry Brigade, a garrison formation hurriedly committed from Hong Kong by the British government as the situation deteriorated around the Pusan Perimeter in late August to bolster the US Eighth Army under Lieutenant General Walton Walker.^[11] Commanded by Brigadier Basil Coad, the brigade was renamed the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and consisted of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highland Regiment (1 ASHR), the 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment (1 MR) and 3 RAR. Under-strength, the two British battalions had each mustered just 600 men of all ranks, while the brigade was also short on transport and heavy equipment, and had no integral artillery support, for which it would rely entirely on the Americans until the 16th Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery arrived in January 1951. As such, with a strength of nearly 1,000 men, the addition of 3 RAR gave the brigade increased tactical weight as well as expediently allowing the Australians to work within a familiar organisational environment, rather than being attached to a US formation.^[12]

By the time 3 RAR arrived in the theatre, the North Koreans had been broken and were in rapid retreat, with MacArthur's forces conducting a successful amphibious assault at Inchon and breaking out along the Naktong perimeter on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula.^[13] A steady advance began, driving the North Koreans northwards towards the 38th Parallel.^[11] The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was attached to the US 1st Cavalry Division, under the command of Major General Hobart R. Gay. On 16 October the brigade took over as the vanguard of the UN advance up the west coast. Although the North Koreans had suffered heavily in the preceding weeks, they continued to resist strongly.^[14] The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade moved 70 kilometres (43 mi) from Kumchon, with the Argylls capturing Sariwon on 17 October, killing 215 North Koreans and taking many prisoners for the loss of one man killed and three wounded.^[15] The British and Australians then passed to the command of the US 24th Infantry Division on 21 October, under the overall command of Major General John H. Church, while the US 1st Cavalry Division remained in Pyongyang to complete its capture.^[16] The brigade was ordered to seize Chongju.^[17]

The advance continued north with little respite, and on 22 October the Australians fought their first major action at Yongju, killing 150 North Koreans and capturing 239 of the brigade's 800 prisoners, for the loss of seven men wounded.^[18] Intending to defeat the North Koreans and bring the war to a close, the UN forces pushed towards the Yalu River, on the Chinese border.^[19] The brigade crossed the Chongchon River, moving towards Pakchon. On 24 October, MacArthur had removed all restrictions on the movement of his forces south of the Yalu River and prepared for the final phase of the advance, defying a directive of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and risking Chinese intervention in support of North Korea.^[20] On 25 October 3 RAR crossed the Taeryong River.^[20] The North Koreans attacked the forward Australian companies at Kujin early the following morning, resulting in Australian losses of eight killed and 22 wounded. However, the North Koreans suffered heavy casualties including over 100 killed and 350 captured, and the Australians succeeded in defending the bridgehead after the North Koreans withdrew.^[19] Intelligence indicated that the British and Australians were facing the North Korean 17th Tank Brigade, which was preparing a last line of defence at Chongju, 70 kilometres (43 mi) away.^[21] With the war considered all but over the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade continued to pursue the North Koreans towards Chongju; however, the advance increasingly encountered strong resistance as they approached the Manchurian border.^[20]

Prelude

Opposing forces

Chinese forces cross the Yalu River.

3 RAR took over as lead battalion of the brigade on 29 October, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from Chongju. That morning a spotter aircraft reported a large North Korean formation consisting of a battalion-sized force of 500–600 infantry supported by several tanks and at least two self-propelled guns, positioned on a thickly wooded ridgeline around Chongju.^[22] The Battle of Chongju ensued as the Australians dislodged the strong North Korean armoured force and then defended their positions against North Korean counter-attacks during the evening. The following day the Australians advanced to the high ground overlooking Chongju, killing and capturing a number of North Koreans in skirmishes. That afternoon the town itself was cleared by the remaining elements of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade without opposition.^[23] The fighting around Chongju was the heaviest undertaken by the Australians since entering the war.^[22] North Korean casualties included 162 killed and 10 captured, while Australian losses were nine killed and 30 wounded, including Green, who was wounded in the stomach by artillery fire after the battle, succumbing to his wounds and dying two days later on 1 November.^[24]

Following the capture of Chongju the US 21st Infantry Regiment had set off rapidly along the road to Sonchon to the west. Encountering only one strong North Korean position which they quickly turned, by noon on 1 November the lead battalion had reached Chonggodong, just 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the Yalu River where the Americans clashed with another North Korean armoured force. To the north meanwhile, the US 5th and 9th Infantry Regiments of the US 24th Infantry Division secured Taechon and Kusong, before advancing to within 40 kilometres (25 mi) of the Manchurian border.^[25] However, during the last weeks of October the Chinese had moved 18 divisions of the People's Volunteer Army across the Yalu River under the overall command of Marshal Peng Dehuai in order to reinforce the remnants of the KPA. Undetected by US and South Korean intelligence, the 13th Army Group crossed the border on 16 October and penetrated up to 100 kilometres (62 mi) into North Korea, and were reinforced in early November by 12 divisions from the 9th Army Group; in total 30 divisions composed of 380,000 men.^[26][27] The Chinese ambushed MacArthur's forces which were now widely dispersed, decimating ROK II Corps at Onjong and encircling and overrunning the US 8th Cavalry Regiment at Unsan.^[28] With the US 24th Infantry Division ordered back to the Chongchon River as a result, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade also began moving south as part of the UN general withdrawal in the face of the Chinese First Phase Offensive.^[29]

Ultimately Chongju was the furthest north that the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was to penetrate, and on 1 November, while still in divisional reserve, the brigade was ordered to pull back to Pakchon in an attempt to consolidate the western flank.^[24][29] Immediately following their success at Unsan, the Chinese 117th Division of the 39th Army—under the overall command of Zhang Jiecheng—attacked southward, intending to cut off the retreating UN forces and in so doing eliminate the remnants of the ROK 1st Infantry Division and US 1st Cavalry Division by cutting the road junction at Pakchon.^{[1][2][Note 1][Note 2]} Meanwhile, the Chinese 38th and 40th Armies approached along the Chongchon River from the east.^[31] 3 RAR remained at Chongju, however, due to a lack of transport, while the remainder of the brigade moved south; now the most forward element on the US Eighth Army's left flank, the battalion soon became isolated without communications or armour and artillery support.^[32][33] Finally, on 2 November, US Army trucks became available, and the battalion completed its move south without incident, harbouring in the bed of the Taeryong River that evening.^[33] Meanwhile, it was announced that Green would be temporarily replaced by Walsh, who he had himself replaced in Japan several months before.^[34][35] Walsh, by then an observer at US Eighth Army headquarters, was urgently posted back to 3 RAR to resume command,^[36] despite his lack of operational experience as an infantry commander.^{[37][Note 3]} Taking over amid difficult circumstances following Green's death, and with little time to become acquainted with the battalion, Walsh's inexperience soon told as the local situation deteriorated.^[34]

"In order to capture the enemies at Yongsan-dong and Yongbyong, you must infiltrate boldly, cutting the Yongsan-dong–Pakchon and Yongbyong–Anju roads, prevent the enemies from escaping, [and] surround the enemies..."

Peng Dehuai's order to the Chinese 39th Army.[2]

Walker elected to stand north of the Chongchon and Taeryong rivers in response to the Chinese offensive, and the following day Coad received new orders to hold the left forward section of the bridgehead over the Chongchon.^[38] To halt the Chinese advance, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was ordered to defend the lower crossings of the Taeryong and Chongchon rivers as part of a rearguard, in conjunction with the US 24th Infantry Division further upstream on the right.^[39] The brigade concentrated in the Pakchon area.^[33] The Middlesex occupied the town and the high ground to the north and east, while 3 RAR and the Argylls held positions covering the western approaches to the Taeryong, with the latter designated as the brigade reserve.^[40] Yet the information available to the British and Australians suggested that the Chinese would likely attack from an easterly direction, and the dispositions adopted by Coad were later criticised for failing to take this into account.^[41] 3 RAR took up a defensive position 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) west of the village, where it remained for the next two days.^[33] Meanwhile, B and C Companies of the Argylls formed a bridgehead over the Taeryong around the far-side of the partially destroyed bridge near Kujin, while A Company occupied positions astride the road to the south. To the right, the US 24th Infantry Division covered the crossing over the Chongchon at Anju, while the South Korean II ROK Corps held positions further east.^[31][42] Forced to defend on a wide frontage, the UN positions were weakened by a 9.5-kilometre (5.9 mi) gap between the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade and the nearest American formation—2nd Battalion, US 19th Regimental Combat Team (2/19 RCT)—on the brigade's eastern flank.^[31]

Battle

Opening moves, 4/5 November 1950

The Chongchon Bridgehead, 3–6 November 1950

During the night of 4/5 November 1950, the Chinese and North Koreans mounted a full-scale assault on US 24th Infantry Division.^[24] Before dawn, US 19 RCT had become heavily engaged,^[43] and was pushed back nearly 2 kilometres (1.2 mi). The Chinese force turned west to advance between the Taeryong and Chongchon rivers, threatening the rear of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade by cutting the Pakchon–Sinanju road.^[24] The previous afternoon a patrol from the Middlesex had clashed with a large Chinese patrol 9.6 kilometres (6.0 mi) to the north-east and suffered a number of casualties, yet the main Chinese attack did not come until early the next morning.^[42][44] Meanwhile, large numbers of refugees continued to move south, causing the British and Australians further concern given the possibility that they might be used by the Chinese to cover the infiltration of their positions.^[45] At 08:00 on 5 November a group of around 200 Chinese attacked C Battery, US 61st Field Artillery Battalion, which was attached to the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade.^[34] The American guns had been supporting the brigade from a position beside the road about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) south of Pakchon, and were protecting the vital concrete bridge 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) south of the Argyll's battalion headquarters at Kujin.^[24]

The Chinese established a number of road blocks in the area before proceeding to assault the American gun line and the nearby bridge.^[40] The attack cut the road to Anju which was the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade's single means of resupply or withdrawal, and exposed the only available crossing over the Chongchon River.^[46] Coad considered that unless the Chinese could be cleared from the gun position and the hills secured, the brigade was in danger of being surrounded and cut off and the crossing at Anju lost, while US 19 RCT would also be threatened.^[47] Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Neilson, the Argylls were despatched to restore the situation.^[34] B and C Companies would be drawn back from the west bank of the Taenyong to reinforce A Company, and then attack south one after the other supported by American tanks. At the same time A Company—under Major Alexander Wilson—was ordered to immediately attack north to clear the road. Hasty control measures were put in place to avoid the possibility of the two forces accidentally engaging one another, while air support was requested at 08:40. After commandeering two American trucks, Wilson's men stepped off with four US M4 Sherman tanks in support.^[48]

Meanwhile, to the north, under the command of Captain Howard M. Moore, C Battery, US 61st Field Artillery formed its six 105 mm M2A1 howitzers into a semi-circle and created a perimeter around them, strongly defending their positions with automatic weapons from behind their gun shields. Assaulting from the east, the Chinese attempted to infiltrate the gun-line using a number of creek beds and paddy bunds for concealment.^[48] One of the American howitzers was depressed and brought into action, firing over open sights at point-blank range, bouncing shells off the frozen paddy fields which then exploded among the assaulting troops. A second howitzer was turned around 45 minutes later, augmenting the fire of the first. The Americans expended 1,400 rounds at a range of between 45 to 270 metres (49 to 295 yd); however, the weight of fire was insufficient to halt the assaulting force.^[49] Supporting fire from a nearby battery was directed by a spotter aircraft overhead, and this temporarily stemmed the Chinese onslaught. Running low on small arms ammunition and having lost one howitzer destroyed as well as two men killed and seventeen wounded, the Americans faced the prospect of being overrun.^[48] The gunners killed a member of a Chinese demolition team just 18 metres (20 yd) from the bridge.^[49] Finally, after crossing the Taeryong in single file under fire, B and C Companies of the Argylls began to systematically clear the road supported by machine-gun fire from the Middlesex, while A Company also continued to advance.^[50] At 09:00 the lead tanks and infantry of the relief force arrived, closely followed by the remainder of A Company. The Argylls rapidly cleared the gun position and the Chinese withdrew north along the railway to a nearby hill while the American tanks continued to engage them.^[48] Over 70 Chinese dead were found in the vicinity of the gun-line, however, from their new position the Chinese continued to dominate the road.^[49][51]

In order to open the road the Argylls moved to clear the Chinese off the high ground located 500 to 1,000 metres (550 to 1,090 yd) east of the road.^[50] The hill, about 45 metres (49 yd) high, offered clear fields of fire to the west over the paddy fields to the Taeryong River and dominated the Pakchon–Sinanju road running beside the river.^[24] Supported by four Sherman tanks, machine-guns and mortars, A Company captured the hill at 10:00.^[50] Wilson occupied the summit with a reinforced platoon, before withdrawing the remainder of the company to the road, where the 3-inch mortar and Vickers medium machine-gun sections were established.^[48] Meanwhile, B Company—under the command of Major Alastair Gordon-Ingram—attacked the second Chinese road block, again supported by a number of American tanks. Back in action, the guns from C Battery also fired in support of the British infantry, and after a vigorous engagement in which Gordon-Ingram was wounded the Chinese were compelled to withdraw, leaving many of their dead on the road. A number were later found to have been carrying demolition charges, presumably for use against the bridge at Anju. With the survivors of the battle seen moving into the hills, Neilson then ordered B and C Companies to establish positions on the eastern flank in order to protect the road.^[48] Although the Chinese had been cleared from the gun-line and the hills around Pakchon, further attacks to the south continued to threaten the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade's position, which remained perilous.^[52] The fighting continued, and at 11:00 the Chinese mounted a heavy counter-attack on the A Company outpost, wounding six men. The Argylls were then forced to withdraw from the high ground under the cover of sustained fire from two Vickers medium machine-guns sited on the road, and became pinned down on the reverse slope.^[53][54]

Throughout the morning a US LT-6G Mosquito light observation aircraft had continued to monitor growing concentrations of Chinese in hills to the rear of the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, with reports indicating their strength at approximately one division.^[49] Determining that the Chinese would move to cut the road during the night and believing it dangerous to remain any further forward than required, Coad requested approval for a limited withdrawal.^[55] He decided to pull his forward units back across the Taeryong River, before moving south towards the Chongchon River, near Anju.^[34] The brigade counter-attacked the Chinese forces occupying the nearby ridgelines in order to clear the route south.^[39] The plan envisioned the Argylls holding the road open, while 3 RAR recaptured the high ground previously held by A Company, 1 ASHR. The Middlesex would then pass through to clear and occupy the hills east of Maengjung-dong, while the Argylls—as the brigade rearguard—would follow to occupy the right of the new defensive position. The brigade would then adopt a tight defensive perimeter on the hills overlooking the north bank, so as to maintain the bridgehead over the river.^[55] Meanwhile, still in position west of Pakchon, the Australians prepared to cross the Taeryong River to regain the lost position, 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) to their south. 3 RAR faced a difficult approach after moving beyond the river, with the battalion's route paralleling the disputed ridge which overlooked it 800 metres (870 yd) to the east.^[33][50]

3 RAR assaults the ridgeline, 5 November 1950

The Australians crossed the Taeryong at 11:30 and began preparations to assault Chinese positions on the ridgeline 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) east of the road to Pakchon and 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of Maenjung-dong.^[52] In support were four P-51 Mustang fighter-bombers from No. 77 Squadron RAAF which attacked the Chinese with rockets and machine-gun fire, one of only a few occasions during the war when Australian aircraft operated in support of 3 RAR.^[56] There were three main crests on the ridge running south-east, the first being nearest the road, the second just to its rear, and the third further back still, with the Chinese occupying the first two.^[54] Although the Argylls had occupied the ridgeline briefly during the morning, they had been pushed off by the Chinese. Mortar fire fell on 3 RAR while it was forming up; however, using the road as a start line the battalion attack began at 14:00, with A Company on the left flank and B Company on the right, each with two platoons forward and one back in reserve, each in extended line with bayonets fixed.^[52][57] A Company was commanded by Captain Bill Chitts, while B Company was led by Captain D'arcy Laughlin, after Major George Thirlwell had broken his leg in a vehicle accident two days before.^[52] The Mortar Platoon was sited with Battalion Headquarters alongside the road, with two sections of Vickers medium machine-guns and two 17 pounder anti-tank guns from the Anti-Tank Platoon. The Assault Pioneer Platoon provided local defence, while the mortars laid down a continuous barrage in an attempt to counter the Chinese mortar fire in conjunction with the machine-guns and tanks which began to engage the hilltop.^[58]

Australian mortar crew in action at Pakchon, 5 November 1950.

Beginning their advance, the Australians began to suffer casualties;^[57] yet they were initially unable to confirm the location of the Chinese. However, as they commenced their ascent they were met by heavy small arms fire from the higher ground to the south and east.^[55] After a long approach across 500 metres (550 yd) of open paddy field, A Company relieved the beleaguered Argylls.^[54] The Chinese then forced the two Australian companies to fight hard in order to gain the 50-metre (55 yd) crest.^[33] Lacking artillery support, the Australians instead relied on the battalion's integral support weapons,^[52] with 3-inch mortars and medium machine-guns in support, as well as four Sherman tanks which provided fire support from a stand-off position near the road.^[55] With A and B Companies heavily engaged, Walsh moved D Company—under the command of Major Walter Brown—to attack the hill to the south to reinforce the right flank. A Company succeeded in establishing itself on the first crest, forcing the Chinese from the position, while supporting fire from their Bren light machine-guns and Vickers medium machine-guns allowed B Company to move up on their right and capture the second crest.^[59] Finally at 16:00, after two hours of heavy fighting, the Australians had achieved their objectives against a determined defence.^[52] A and B Company prepared for a counter-attack by the Chinese.^[60] Meanwhile, C Company—under Captain Archer Denness—had remained in reserve on the road with Battalion Headquarters and Support Company.^[33][61]

Although orders for the attack had been hurried and lacking in detail, and the strength of the defenders unknown, the assaulting force had prevailed, securing the ridge with only limited offensive support.^[33] During the fighting one of the B Company platoon commanders, Lieutenant Eric Larsen, who had only the week before led the crossing at Kujin, was killed.^[55] One of the section commanders, Corporal Jeff Jones, immediately took command of the 5 Platoon assault, moving from section to section across the steep slope to direct their fire, even while under heavy Chinese mortar and machine-gun fire. He was awarded the US Silver Star for his actions.^[52] The successful assault opened the road south, enabling the Middlesex battalion, brigade headquarters and a number of supporting units to withdraw down the road through the Australians, followed by the Argylls.^[33][52] 3 RAR remained behind as a rearguard while the British battalions took up new positions, covering the Chongchon River crossing at Anju.^[62] Chinese mortars and machine-gun fire continued to fall on 3 RAR, and at 17:00 a round destroyed the A Company headquarters, killing two men and wounding four others, including Chitts who was evacuated by stretcher.^[59]

Coad ordered 3 RAR to consolidate its positions and to secure the railway bridge; however, with all his companies committed there were no troops available for the latter task and Walsh chose to ignore the order.^[61] Meanwhile, the Middlesex occupied a hill north-east of Maenjung-dong, which was found to be clear except for one minor feature occupied by the Chinese, while the Argylls moved south with a platoon of tanks and positioned themselves on a small group of hills, 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of Maenjung-dong.^[52][63] From here the brigade was able to dominate the Pakchon–Maenjung-dong–Anju road. Meanwhile, as the light began to fade the administrative elements of the formation and the US 61st Field Artillery Battalion were moved south of the Chongchon River amid a bitter wind.^[52] The British and Australians stood-to from dusk until nightfall, and after posting sentries the remainder of the brigade began their night routine.^[64]

Walsh withdraws from the high ground, 5/6 November 1950

An hour after last light on 5 November the Chinese attacked C Company 3 RAR—the forward Australian company occupying positions astride the Pakchon road 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Maenjung-dong—with mortars and machine-guns. Meanwhile, machine-gun fire also fell on Support Company and Battalion Headquarters, 400 metres (440 yd) to the south.^[52] Walsh decided to relocate his headquarters 900 metres (980 yd) further to the rear.^[60] The Chinese infantry launched a strong attack against C Company assaulting them across the paddy fields in darkness, while simultaneously also falling upon A and B Companies holding the hills they had captured during the afternoon.^[64] In the face of the heavy Chinese counter-attack Walsh feared the loss of his entire force, and at 20:00 he ordered a general withdrawal, pulling them back off the ridgeline in order to concentrate the battalion on the road, without informing Coad.^[64][65] Ordered in the dark and with one company still under attack, a disorganised night withdrawal occurred.^[66] The decision proved to be a serious tactical error, for as was to be demonstrated often in the months that followed, the Chinese were skilled at moving across the hills to outflank road-bound UN forces who often failed to hold the ridges on either side of the roads only to be confronted by strong concentrations in front and behind them as a result.^[34] The withdrawal threatened to open the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade's left flank; recognising the danger this posed, Coad ordered Walsh to immediately reposition his companies on the ridge.^[34] Ultimately this proved unachievable.^[64]

A Company—now under Lieutenant Lawrence Clark following Chitts' wounding that afternoon—had only just succeeded in breaking contact from the Chinese, suffering a number killed and wounded during a confused withdrawal. Meanwhile, B Company had also been forced to fight its way down the hill.^[64] Both companies were now well clear of their former positions and would have had a hard time fighting their way back.^[65] Ultimately it was too late for the Australians to regain the feature in darkness, and the weight of the Chinese attack continued to mount.^[34] Only D Company on the southern right flank—which had been left unmolested—was able to regain its previous position on Hill 63.^[64][67] Meanwhile, the positions previously occupied by A and B Companies were occupied by the Chinese in superior numbers, and the remainder of 3 RAR concentrated at the railway crossing instead. At 22:00 Coad arranged to shell and mortar the relinquished ridge, while a standing patrol from the Middlesex was posted on the south-western side of the Maenjung-dong pass in anticipation of a renewed Chinese attack.^[64] However, following heavy fighting the pressure on the Australians unexpectedly ceased after midnight, and parties of Chinese were observed beginning to withdraw.^[62]

By 02:00 the Chinese attack had been checked and 3 RAR had redeployed to new positions in the paddy fields around the railway crossing north of Maenjung-dong.^[68] However, amid the confusion the exact dispositions of the companies remained unclear for the remainder of the night.^[67] Australian losses were 12 killed and 64 wounded, the same number as those suffered during their entire advance into North Korea.^[69] A number of officers of the battalion were later critical of the decision to withdraw while still engaged, believing that it had been both dangerous and unnecessary, while the lack of detailed planning, reconnaissance and orders were also seen as a factor in the disorganisation that ensued.^[66][70] While A Company had immediately withdrawn as ordered and had suffered a number of casualties in doing so, both B and D Companies, which were commanded by experienced veterans of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, had delayed doing so until more favourable circumstances prevailed and fared better as a consequence.^[67][71] Yet the following morning a patrol from D Company cleared the abandoned A and B Company positions unopposed. The area was found littered with Chinese dead and equipment.^[72] Among the casualties were both Chinese and North Koreans, and it became clear that the Australians had been attacked by a mixed force,^[73] estimated at around 1,500 men. Many of those killed were also found to have been carrying demolition charges.^[68]

Ferguson shortly after taking command of 3 RAR, 7 November 1950.

Despite the events of the previous night the Australians still held the road, while D Company continued to occupy the former Chinese strongpoint on Hill 63, even if it was isolated from the rest of the battalion.^[56] Yet B and C Companies were now precariously positioned in the paddy field to the east and west of the road respectively, and come daylight were exposed to the Chinese positions on the high ground.^[66] The same day Coad visited 3 RAR; dissatisfied with the battalion's dispositions and having now lost confidence in its commander, he relieved Walsh of his position, appointing the second-in-command, Major Bruce Ferguson, in his place.^[34] Walsh returned to his posting at US Eighth Army headquarters.^[56] Ferguson came forward to take command of the battalion. Ordering 3 RAR to dig-in, he despatched a number of clearing patrols, while C Company advanced unopposed to a hill overlooking the road 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) north-east of D Company. Reaching the top the Australians observed the Chinese withdrawing northwards up the valley.^[56] Further east, the Chinese attacked US 19 RCT;^[74] however, by the afternoon of 6 November it became apparent that the Chinese withdrawal around Pakchon was part of a general disengagement.^[73]

Aftermath

Casualties

After the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade's initial success, they had in turn been counter-attacked by the Chinese before being pushed off the high ground during the night. During the action the brigade lost 12 killed and 70 wounded, the majority of them among the Australians.^[75] Chinese losses were not known with many of their dead removed from the battlefield,^[75] but according to Commander Wu Xinquan of the Chinese 39th Army, an infantry company from the Chinese 350th Regiment of the 117th Division was badly mauled by the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade during the engagement.^[76] Australian forces later estimated that the Chinese had suffered 200 killed and another 200 wounded.^[75] In their first battle with the Chinese, 3 RAR had successfully captured a well defended hill with only limited offensive support, and had held it the face of heavy counter-attacks before confused command decisions resulted in the battalion conducting a disorganised night withdrawal while still in contact.^[77] The fighting was costly for both sides and although the Australians had halted the advancing Chinese 117th Division and inflicted numerous casualties on them, they had also lost heavily.^[34] Nonetheless, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade had succeeding in preventing a Chinese break-through at Pakchon, keeping open vital withdrawal routes across the river and securing the UN left flank.^[69][78] Suffering significant casualties, the Chinese offensive was finally halted the next day due to logistic difficulties.^[79] The Royal Australian Regiment and Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were later granted the battle honour "Pakchon".^[80] The Chinese and North Koreans were temporarily forced to withdraw north,^[77] while Walker successfully reinforced the UN positions, holding on the Chongchon Line.^[78] The Chinese had failed to exploit their initial success, and instead now seemed to adopt a deliberately cautious strategy.^[74]

Subsequent operations

On 7 November, the 24th US Infantry Division and 27th British Commonwealth Brigade followed up the Chinese withdrawal with a limited probing advance.^[74] That morning Australian clearing patrols killed seven Chinese soldiers, before 3 RAR prepared to advance with the remainder of the brigade. C Company occupied Hill 74 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) to the north-east without opposition, only to discover a North Korean company on the reverse slope. The Australians engaged the North Koreans with machine-gun fire, inflicting heavy losses on the defenders and capturing five before forcing them to withdraw towards Tang-dong harried by artillery and airstrikes. The remainder of the battalion deployed on the right, while the Argylls occupied two hills further north. The brigade's advance had forestalled a planned North Korean attack on the night of 7/8 November,^[81] while large numbers of Chinese dead from the previous fighting were also discovered.^[82] On 9 November the advance wheeled to the north-west around Pakchon, with 3 RAR moving forward another 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east, encountering little resistance and taking a number of prisoners in the process.^[83] From 11 November the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade advanced slowly north. On 16 November 3 RAR occupied Hill 117, on a bend in the Taeryong River 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) north of Pakchon.^[84] Over the following weeks they remained in the Pakchon area, conducting extensive patrolling up to company-size, and clashing with small groups of Chinese and North Koreans.^[34] As winter approached the weather became bitterly cold amid snow and strong winds. Unprepared for the extreme conditions the Australians increasingly suffered health problems, particularly among the older members of the battalion. Lacking the training and equipment for operations in ice and snow, maintenance also proved burdensome before additional US cold weather clothing and equipment was issued.^[77]

C Company, 3 RAR with American tanks during fighting for the Pakchon–Sinanju road, 7 November 1950.

Ferguson ultimately proved to be an able commander. Thirty-seven years old and a New Zealander by birth, he had been commissioned into the Australian 2/2nd Battalion with Green during the Second World War.^[34] Serving as an intelligence officer on the headquarters of the 16th Brigade during the Libyan campaign in 1941, Ferguson had been awarded the Military Cross for his actions during fighting on the Kokoda Track in New Guinea in 1942. Later, he had served as a liaison officer with the 6th Division, before finishing the war as a staff officer posted to the 7th Division headquarters on Morotai island, taking part in the amphibious landing at Balikpapan in 1945.^[85] Ferguson volunteered to serve in the BCOF in Japan after the war and was posted to the 67th Battalion as a company commander, arriving in Kure in February 1946. After leaving the battalion in 1948 to serve on the headquarters of BCOF for six months, he returned as battalion second-in-command. In 1949 the battalion had been renamed the 3rd Battalion, Australian Regiment, and was later granted the 'Royal' prefix.^[86] He remained with the battalion after that time.^[34] The change of command was confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief BCOF, Lieutenant General Sir Horace Robertson,^[73] and Ferguson was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 10 November.^[74] He developed a good working relationship with Coad, who held him in high regard, and went on to command 3 RAR during its most demanding period in Korea.^[34]

The United Nations resumed the offensive on 24 November, shortly before the Chinese began their own Second Phase Offensive.^[77] The Chinese 13th Army Group launched a series of surprise attacks on the night of 25 November, pushing the US Eighth Army back to the Chongchon River. The Chinese inflicted heavy losses on the South Koreans and decimated the US 2nd Infantry Division on the right flank, as the US Eighth Army began a long retreat south.^[87] At the same time, the Chinese 9th Army Group ambushed the US X Corps near the Chosin Reservoir as the freezing winter weather set in.^[88] Although the US Eighth Army succeeded in avoiding encirclement, the US X Corps had to be evacuated by sea from Hungnam during December 1950, despite inflicting heavy casualties on the Chinese. MacArthur's forces were expelled from North Korea and withdrew to the 38th Parallel, where they sought to once again establish defensive positions.^[89] In reserve at the start of the renewed Chinese offensive, the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was spared the initial brunt. Yet the offensive soon forced the UN forces into a disorganised withdrawal. 3 RAR withdrew 320 kilometres (200 mi) in nine days, arriving at Uijeongbu, 24 kilometres (15 mi) north-east of Seoul, on 11 December 1950. There the British and Australians occupied defensive positions in an attempt to secure the northern approaches to the South Korean capital during the Battle of Uijeongbu.^[77]

Notes

Footnotes

1. Zhang Jiecheng was the commander of Chinese 117th Division.^[30]
2. In Chinese military nomenclature, the term "Army" (军) means Corps, while the term "Army Group" (集团军) means Field Army.
3. A regular officer, Walsh had graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1938. During the Second World War he had served in the 5th Battalion and the 2/13th Battalion, before filling a number of headquarters positions in the 9th Division, 24th Brigade and 19th Brigade. After the war he was posted to BCOF Headquarters in Japan and served as Commanding Officer 3 RAR in 1949–50, prior to the battalion's commitment to Korea.^[32]

Citations

1. Hu & Ma 1987, p. 5.
2. Chinese Military Science Academy 2000, p. 38
3. MacDonald 1986, p. 30.
4. Dennis et al 2008, pp. 300–302.
5. MacDonald 1986, p. 39.
6. MacDonald 1986, pp. 39–40.
7. Johnston 2003, p. 55.
8. O'Neill 1985, p. 706.
9. Dennis et al 2008, p. 302.
10. O'Dowd 2000, p. 3.
11. Breen 1992, p. 8.
12. Horner 2008, p. 57.
13. Horner 2008, p. 58.
14. Horner 2008, pp. 58–61.
15. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 257.
16. Gallaway 1999, p. 67.
17. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 248.
18. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 258.
19. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 259.
20. Horner 2008, p. 62.
21. O'Neill 1985, p. 44.
22. Odgers 2009, p. 48.
23. Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 259–260.
24. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 260.
25. O'Neill 1985, p. 50.
26. O'Neill 1985, pp. 55–56.
27. Chinese Military Science Academy 2000, p. 90.
28. Fehrenbach 2000, p. 196.
29. Horner 2008, p. 63
30. Hu & Ma 1987, p. 5
31. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 280.
32. O'Neill 1985, p. 60.
33. Argent 2002, p. 76.
34. Horner 2008, p. 64.
35. O'Dowd 2000, p. 17
36. Breen 1992, p. 9.
37. Gallaway 1999, p. 116.
38. Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 279–280.
39. Coulthard-Clark 2001, pp. 261–262.
40. Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 280–281.
41. Gallaway 1999, p. 110.
42. Bartlett 1960, p. 39.
43. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 281.
44. Gallaway 1999, p. 111.
45. O'Neill 1985, p. 261.
46. Gallaway 1999, pp. 111–113.
47. O'Neill 1985, pp. 261–262.
48. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 282.
49. Appleman 1998, p. 713.
50. Bartlett 1960, p. 40.
51. O'Dowd 2000, p. 18.
52. O'Neill 1985, p. 62.
53. Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 282–283
54. O'Dowd 2000, p. 19.
55. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 283.
56. Bartlett 1960, p. 41.
57. Gallaway 1999, p. 113.
58. Gallaway 1999, p. 114.
59. Gallaway 1999, p. 115.
60. O'Dowd 2000, pp. 19–20.
61. O'Dowd 2000, p. 20.
62. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 261.
63. Farrar-Hockley 1990, pp. 283–284.
64. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 284.
65. Argent 2002, p. 77.
66. O'Dowd 2000, p. 27.
67. O'Dowd 2000, p. 23.
68. O'Neill 1985, p. 63.
69. Gallaway 1999, p. 125.
70. Gallaway 1999, pp. 122–123.
71. Gallaway 1999, pp. 116–120.
72. Gallaway 1999, pp. 124–125.
73. Farrar-Hockley 1990, p. 285.
74. O'Neill 1985, p. 64.
75. Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 262.
76. Wu & Wang 1996, p. 107.
77. Kuring 2004, p. 233.
78. Bartlett 1960, p. 42.
79. Roe 2000, p. 176.
80. Rodger 2003, p. 373.
81. O'Neill 1985, p. 65.
82. Argent 2002, p. 84.
83. O'Neill 1985, p. 66.
84. O'Neill 1985, p. 67.
85. Argent 2002, pp. 79–80.
86. Argent 2002, pp. 80–81.
87. Fehrenbach 2000, p. 203.
88. O'Neill 1985, p. 56.
89. O'Neill 1985, p. 80.

References

• Appleman, Roy E. (1998) [1961]. South to the Naktong, North to the Yalu: United States Army in the Korean War: June – November 1950. Washington, D.C.: Department of the Army. ISBN 978-0-16-001918-0.
• Argent, Alf (2002). "The Next Leader: Bruce Ferguson". The Fight Leaders: Australian Battlefield Leadership: Green, Hassett and Ferguson 3 RAR — Korea. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. pp. 72–113. ISBN 1-876439-56-4.
• Bartlett, Norman, ed. (1960). With the Australians in Korea (Third ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 488462542.
• Breen, Bob (1992). The Battle of Kapyong: 3rd Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, Korea 23–24 April 1951. Georges Heights, New South Wales: Headquarters Training Command. ISBN 0-642-18222-1.
• (Chinese) Chinese Military Science Academy (2000). History of War to Resist America and Aid Korea (抗美援朝战争史). Volume II. Beijing: Chinese Military Science Academy Publishing House. ISBN 7-80137-390-1.
• Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (Second ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
• Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin; Bou, Jean (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.
• Farrar-Hockley, Anthony (1990). The British Part in the Korean War: A Distant Obligation. Volume I. London: HMSO. ISBN 0-11-630953-9.
• Fehrenbach, Theodore (2000) [1963]. This Kind of War: The Classic Korean War History (50th Anniversary ed.). Washington, D.C.: Brassey's. ISBN 1-57488-259-7.
• Gallaway, Jack (1999). The Last Call of the Bugle: The Long Road to Kapyong (Second ed.). St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 0-7022-3106-1.
• Horner, David, ed. (2008). Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment (Second ed.). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74175-374-5.
• Hu, Guang Zheng (胡光正); Ma, Shan Ying (马善营) (1987). Chinese People's Volunteer Army Order of Battle (中国人民志愿军序列) (in Chinese). Beijing: Chinese People's Liberation Army Publishing House. OCLC 298945765.
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• Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN 1-876439-99-8.
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Further reading

• Forbes, Cameron (2010). The Korean War: Australia in the Giants' Playground. Sydney, New South Wales: Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-405040-01-3.

External links

• Out in the Cold: Australia's involvement in the Korean War – Pakchon – 5 November 1950

Coordinates: 39°39′32″N 125°35′29″E / 39.65889°N 125.59139°E