Page 65 - History of War - Issue 05-14

Great Battles

THE IMJIN RIVER

Korean War: Vastly outnumbered by China’s vengeful
Communist forces, British troops of the 29th Infantry Brigade
didn’t stand a chance – at least not on paper. But what
followed was an act of heroism that stopped the Chinese in
their tracks and turned the tide of the war in the UN’s favour
their tracks and turned the tide of the war in the UN’s favour

measured just three feet. Instead, rocks were
N APRIL 1951, THE 29TH INFANTRY measured just three feet. Instead, rocks were
heaped up into sangars.
Brigade took up position just south of heaped up into sangars.
the Imjin River, digging in on a succession The 1st Battalion, the Gloucestershire
the Imjin River, digging in on a succession
Regiment held the left flank of the position
of large hills that dominate the route Regiment held the left flank of the position
overlooking a ford through the Imjin. Next to
I south. Their commander, Thomas Brodie, overlooking a ford through the Imjin. Next to
south. Their commander, Thomas Brodie,
them, inside the curve of the river, were the
was unhappy. The section of front given to his
was unhappy. The section of front given to his them, inside the curve of the river, were the
Northumberland Fusiliers. Across the river
brigade was seven miles long, and a whole Northumberland Fusiliers. Across the river
to their front was the Belgian battalion, while
division was needed to secure it properly. to their front was the Belgian battalion, while
division was needed to secure it properly.
further back, on the lower slopes of the mighty
Brodie’s superior, Robert H Soule, commander
Brodie’s superior, Robert H Soule, commander further back, on the lower slopes of the mighty
of the 3rd Division, Kamak-san, were the
was certain that THE ROCKY GROUND Royal Ulster Rifles,
the advance would spread along a north-
continue shortly; MADE IT DIFFICULT TO south road on which
in the meantime, the Centurion tanks
the 29th would have BUILD TRENCHES. THE of the 8th Hussars
to do their best. were also stationed.
The distance to DEEPEST MEASURED After the horrific winter
be defended meant they had endured, the
that the three British JUST THREE FEET men were enjoying the
battalions and one warm Korean spring.
Belgian would not be The Chinese had been
retreating for weeks and some officers were
able to provide fire support for each other. retreating for weeks and some officers were
able to provide fire support for each other.
worried that the men were getting over-confident.
Some of the battalions could not even see the worried that the men were getting over-confident.
Some of the battalions could not even see the
Toby Younger, an engineer, was concerned that,
others, and the rifle companies would be as Toby Younger, an engineer, was concerned that,
because the brigade had been going forward for
because the brigade had been going forward for
far as a mile apart. The yawning gaps would be because the brigade had been going forw ard for
far as a mile apart. The yawning gaps would be
easy for the Chinese to infiltrate. The brigade’s months, they weren’t in a “defensive frame of
easy for the Chinese to infiltrate. The brigade’s
months, they weren’t in a “defensive frame of
artillery support was composed of light guns mind”. For example, it was not known for sure
mind”. For example, it was not known for sure
only; the mortars were split to give support to
only; the mortars were split to give support to where the river was fordable.
where the river was fordable.
all the units. Little barbed wire and few mines
all the units. Little barbed wire and few mines Unluckily for the British, the answer to that
were provided. On top of this, the rocky ground question was: nearly everywhere. Although the
were provided. On top of this, the rocky ground
question was: nearly everywhere. Although the
Imjin was over 270 yards wide, it was shallow
made it difficult to dig trenches; the deepest
made it difficult to dig trenches; the deepest Imjin was over 270 yards wide, it was shallow
The facts
WHO UN forces – primarily British and Belgian troops of the NORTH KOREA
29th Infantry Brigade – against the Communist Chinese.
WHAT The Chinese launch an assault on UN positions.
The Chinese launch an assault on UN positions.
WHERE The lower part of the Imjin River, which crosses the
border between North and South Korea. IMJIN RIVER
WHEN 22-25 April 1951.
WHY Following the UN counter-offensive in March, the
Chinese had launched their Fifth Phase Campaign to regain SEOUL
the initiative and recapture Seoul. The offensive at the
Imjin River was seen as an integral part of that campaign. YELLOW SEA
OUTCOME Despite being vastly outnumbered, the 29th
Infantry Brigade managed to stave off the Chinese SOUTH KOREA
Getty Images suffered. As one observer put it, “Though minor in scale,
onslaught for three days – although heavy casualties were
the battle’s ferocity caught the imagination of the world.”
HISTORY WAR 65
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