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Key Battles

  • Korean War
  • UN Allies
  • United Kingdom
  • Key Battles
Battle of Jeongju
The British 27th Brigade soldiers boarding the British cruiser Ceylon

Battle of Jeongju (1950. 10. 29~30)

This was the battle in which the British Commonwealth 27th Brigade fought against the retreating North Korean Force (reinforced with T-34 tank) at Jeongju during the northward advance operation to the borderline between Korea and Manchuria. Attached to the U.S. 24th Division, this Brigade participated in the northward advance operation as a U.N. Forces' leading unit after capturing Pyongyang and crossing the Cheongcheon River.

They faced stiff resistance by the North Korean Army equipped with tanks at Jeongju but they defeated the North Korean Army to capture Jeongju. After capturing Jeongju, this Brigade carried out preliminary duties there and the victory from this battle allowed the U.S. 24th Division to advance to Jeonggeodong from Jeongju without any difficulty.

Battle of Bakcheon (1950. 11. 4~6)

This was the battle in which U.K. Forces fought against the Chinese Communist Forces for the first time. As the Chinese Communist Forces began the big offensive from Oct. 25 after their participation in the Korean War, the British 27th Brigade carrying out preliminary duties at Jeongju moved to Bakcheon and assisted the withdrawal of the U.N. Armed Forces (the U.S. 24th Division, the U.S. 1st Cavalry Division). Afterwards, it fought against the Chinese Communist Forces chasing the U.N. Forces that were withdrawing. The 27th Brigade faced a crisis in this battle because the Artillery Battalion supporting them was taken over by the Chinese Communist Forces and the retreat path to the Cheongcheon River was blocked. However, it was able to sustain the Bakcheon area by defeating the enemy with counterattacks. This battle greatly helped the U.N. Forces to secure the Cheongcheon River bridgehead during the Chinese Communist Forces' 2nd offensive.

Battle of Goyang (10km Northwest of Euijeongbu; 1951. 1. 2~3)

This was the defensive battle in which the British 29th Brigade fought against the Chinese Communist Force during their New Year's Offensive (the 3rd Offensive). When the South Korean Force and the U.N. Forces were building the defense line after retreating to the 38th parallel line due to the Chinese Communist Offensive during northward advance, this Brigade stationed in the Goyang area as a reserve unit of the U.S. 1st Army Corps. When the Chinese Communist New Year Offensive began on Dec. 31, 1950, this Brigade with the order of helping the retreat of unit in the battle zone and stopping the Chinese Communist advance fought fiercely with the Chinese Communist Force that were chasing the retreating unit. The British 29th Brigade carried out repeated fierce offensive and defensive battles with the Chinese Communist Army in this battle. After suffering heavy casualties, it sustained the defense line for 24 hours to help the retreat of the U.N. Forces' unit in the battle zone.

Battle of Jeokseong (1951. 4. 22~25)

This was the defensive battle in which the British Commonwealth 29th Brigade defending the Imjin River near the Jeokseong area fought against the Chinese Communist 63rd Army Corps (187th, 188th and 189th Division) during the Chinese Communist 1st Spring Offensive (1951.4.22~30). This Brigade helped the retreat of the U.N. Forces by defeating the Chinese Communists series of full scale attacks for 3 days and allowed the U.N. Forces to form a new defense line in the north of Seoul. However, this Brigade lost approximately one fourth of their force during this battle. Gloster Battalion of this Brigade was surrounded by 2 divisions of the Chinese Communist Army divisions in all directions and only 39 members from this Battalion were able to escape. This battle carried out by Gloster Battalion was recorded as one of the greatest battles carried out by a battalion size unit during the Korean War.

Battle of Gapyung
A monument of the Gapyung

Battle of Gapyung (1951. 4. 23~25)

This was the defensive battle in which the British Commonwealth 27th Division fought against the Chinese Communist Army at Jukdun-ri located 7km north of Gapyung during the Chinese Communist 1st Spring Offensive (1951.4.22~30). In this battle, the British Commonwealth 27th Division helped the retreat of the South Korea 6th Division from Sachang-ri battle zone during the Chinese Communist Spring Offensive, and stopped the Chinese Communist Army attempting to cut off the road between Seoul and Chuncheon by chasing them to Gapyung.

This Brigade suffered heavy casualties during this fierce 3 day battle. As in the previous Jeokseong battle, this was the battle in which the Chinese Communist main force clashed head on with this Brigade. As the British Army delayed or stopped the Chinese Communist Army, it played a key role in setting back the Chinese Communist 1st Spring Offensive.

After the cease-fire agreement, the U.K. Naval Forces withdrawal was completed in Mar. 1955, and ground troops were withdrawn during 1954~1957