Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong in the Korean War. It remains one of @AustralianArmy’s finest battlefield achievements.

A thread on the Battle:

Only five years after the end of the Second World War, Australia became involved in the Korean War. The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) was committed to operations in Korea.

3 RAR and 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) joined the 27th Commonwealth Brigade consisting of the 1st Battalion, Argyll and Southerland Highlanders, and 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.

On 22 April 1951, the Chinese launched their spring offensive, routing the South Korean 6th Division and driving them back down the Kapyong Valley. The 27th Commonwealth Brigade advanced forward of the town of Kapyong.

2 PPCLI The and 3RAR dug in on the high ground on either side of a seven-kilometre wide valley. The following day, the Chinese were engaged by the Australians and Canadians as well as a troop of US Army Sherman tanks and New Zealand Artillery.

Two days of close fighting followed and on the evening of 24 April 3 RAR was forced to withdraw from their positions. They had the support of the artillery, and fought their way down a ridge, rejoining the majority of the brigade in the Kapyong valley.

The Chinese were stopped in their tracks and Seoul was saved from being attacked once more. The Chinese 60th Division had suffered heavy casulaties which totalled more than 500 killed alone.

The men of 3 RAR suffered heavy casualties, with 32 killed, 53 wounded, and three taken prisoner. For their contribution to this action, 3 RAR was awarded a US Presidential Citation.