The Canadians at the Battle of Kapyong – April 1951 The Battle of Kapyong, fought from April 22 to 25, 1951, was one of the most significant engagements involving Canadian troops during the Korean War. It marked a defining moment for the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), who played a critical role in halting a major Chinese offensive that threatened to break through United Nations lines and reach the South Korean capital, Seoul. In the spring of 1951, the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army launched a large-scale assault as part of their Spring Offensive. Their objective was to drive south through the Kapyong Valley, a key route that led directly to Seoul. As Republic of Korea (ROK) forces began to collapse under the pressure of the Chinese advance, the United Nations Command rushed reinforcements to the area. Among them was the 27th British Commonwealth Infantry Brigade, which included the 2 PPCLI from Canada, the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR), and British and New Zealand support units. The 2 PPCLI, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Jim Stone, was ordered to take up defensive positions on Hill 677, a strategically important height overlooking the Kapyong Valley. To their east, the Australians of 3 RAR occupied Hill 504. On the night of April 23, Chinese forces launched a fierce assault on the Australian positions. Despite a determined defense, the Australians were eventually forced to withdraw, leaving the Canadians as the last major obstacle in the path of the advancing Chinese forces. Throughout the night of April 24 and into the early hours of April 25, the 2 PPCLI came under relentless attack. The Chinese launched wave after wave of infantry assaults, supported by heavy machine-gun and mortar fire. The fighting was intense and often at close quarters, with Canadian soldiers engaging in hand-to-hand combat to repel the attackers. At one critical moment, Captain J.G.W. Mills, commanding D Company, made the extraordinary decision to call down artillery fire on his own position in order to break up a Chinese assault that threatened to overrun his troops. The gamble paid off. Canadian soldiers took cover in their trenches while the artillery barrage devastated the attacking force. Despite being surrounded and running low on food, water, and ammunition, the Canadians held their ground. American aircraft dropped supplies to the beleaguered battalion, allowing them to continue the fight. By the morning of April 25, the Chinese had withdrawn, having suffered heavy casualties and failed to break through the Canadian line. The stand made by the 2 PPCLI was instrumental in halting the Chinese advance and stabilizing the front. The cost of the battle for the Canadians was 10 killed and 23 wounded. In recognition of their extraordinary bravery and effectiveness under fire, the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation, an honor rarely given to non-American units and the only time it has been awarded to a Canadian unit during the Korean War.