25th Canadian Infantry Brigade

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade


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dates= 1951 — 1955
country= Canada
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branch= Army
type= Infantry Brigade
role= Mechanized Infantry
size= 3 Infantry Battalions
2 Armoured Squadrons
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battle_honours="Korea 1951–1955"
disbanded=1955, upon the end of the Korean War
notable_commanders=Brigadier General J.M. Rockingham

The 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade was Canada's primary combat-formation intending to be sent as part of the British Commonwealth Forces Korea. Originally composed of three Infantry Battalions & two Armoured Squadrons, several individual units rotated through the brigade.

Although a full brigade had been trained & armed by 1951, the success of the Inchon Landing meant that only a single battalion was originally sent (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry's 2nd Battalion). [Zuehlke, Pg. 177] However, Chinese and North Korean forces subjected Canadian forces to fierce fighting throughout the April 1951. The brigade earned a Presidential Unit Citation for their actions during the Battle of Kapyong.

Formation

When North Korea invaded their southern neighbor on June 25, 1950, the UN Security Council authorized member-nations to "furnish such assistance to the Republic of Korea as may be necessary to repel the armed attack and to restore international peace and security in the area". [ [http://www.korean-war.com/canada.html Canada's Involvement in the Korean War] ] Although The United States sent immediate military aid to South Korea, Canada did not initially prepare to send ground forces to the country (although three RCN Destroyers were present for a majority of the campaign). On August 71950, Canada's government authorized the creation of the "Canadian Army Special Force". Originally, it was to comprise an Armoured Regiment, and the 2nd Battalions each of Canada's permanent-force regiments (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Regiment, Royal 22e Regiment), placed under the overall command of Brigadier General J.M. Rockingham. [ [http://www.korean-war.com/canada.html Canada's Involvement in the Korean War] ]

Initial Operations in Korea

Due to the massive success of the Inchon Landings, only the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia's was initially sent to Yokohama, and then onto Korea. By the time the transports arrived in Japan, however, the situation had changed significantly. China had sent substantial forces to the aid of North-Korea, pushing UN-forces back into South Korea. [Zuehlke, p. 178] As a result, the PPCLI was sent directly to the front lines, located near Seoul, in mid–February. The first contact made with North Korean & Chinese forces came at the end of that month. In early March, United Nations forces initiated a counteroffensive against Chinese forces, while the Canadians moved into the Kap'yong Valley near the 38th Parallel. [Zuehlke, p. 179]

Kapyong

In April of 1951, the Chinese People's Liberation Army launched a series of massive offensives across the Korean front, with the intention of recapturing Seoul. American and South Korean forces quickly began to retreat, with Canadian and Australian forces holding Kapyong Valley, preventing Chinese forces from overwhelming the UN in Korea.

Order of Battle

*25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Brigade HQ
*2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
*2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
*2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Regiment
*2nd Battalion, Canadian Black Watch
*C Squadron, Lord Strathcona's Horse
*2nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery
*25th Canadian Ordnance Company
*25th Canadian Field Ambulance
*25th Canadian Field Dressing Station

Footnotes

References

*Berton, Pierre (2001). Marching As to War. Anchor Canada. ISBN 0-385-25819-4
*Zuehlke, Mark (2001). The Canadian Military Atlas. Stoddart. ISBN 0-77373-289-6.