No retreat—‘Stand to the last man’

When the Canadian government authorized the recruitment of Canadian Army Special Force (CASF), a teenager working in Saint John was among those who decided to join up. “When the call came, I went and signed up along with nine of my friends who lived in the same area of the city as I did,” said Billy Richards, who now lives in Southville. “I saw this as a chance to do something different and my boss said he would hold my job until I got back.”

Richards said he ended up in the A’ Company of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry while the others were sent to different components of the CASF. “When I signed up, I was just 18 and went where they told me,” he said. “I really didn’t know what I was getting into and I don’t think too many of us did. We were young.”

After training in Petawawa and Calgary, “we were sent to train at Fort Lewis in the State of Washington because the terrain there was similar to what we would find in Korea.”

The 2nd Battalion PPCLI shipped overseas in late November, 1950, and was expected to be used for occupational duties because the UN forces had driven back the North Korean invaders and were advancing to the boundary between North Korea and China.

By the time Richards landed in Korea, the Chinese had joined with the North Koreans and pushed the United Nations forces south of the 38th Parallel. “We were not prepared to go into action so while we received additional training in weapons and tactics, the Chinese overtook Seoul,” he said. “By the middle of February, 1951 the Patricias joined the rest of the Commonwealth forces in the line of battle.”

Winter weather made it difficult to advance and rain, mixed with snow, along with enemy resistance made progress dangerous.

By March, however, Seoul was liberated. The Chinese built up a counteroffensive and on April 22, 1951, the enemy’s main thrust was toward the Kap’yong Valley, a direct route to Seoul. American and South Korean troops were hit hard and were forced to retreat.

The Patricias were on rest 25 miles south and when word reached them that the front line was collapsing, they were ordered to establish defensive positions on Hill 677 overlooking the valley.

Richards said the whole 2nd Battalion was spread over Hill 677 with Australian troops adding their support nearby.

For 16 hours, the Chinese attacked the Australians who, after running low on ammunition, were ordered to withdraw leaving the Canadian battalion as the only obstacle to stop the Chinese advance on Seoul, Richards explained. “We hunkered down in out slit trenches along the front line and our battalion readied itself to do battle against thousands,” he said. “Our orders were clear and they kept us focused; ‘Hold your ground and fire as there would be no retreat. Stand to the last man’.”

Late in the evening of April 24 the attack came from several directions as enemy mortar bombs began to fall and machine gun fire lit up the darkness.

A Company fought from a higher point on the hill and according to Richards got off easier than B and D Companies. “We were able to inflict a heavy beating on the aggressors and fared pretty good as the enemy was not able to scale the steep hill to our position, but it was a different story for the rest.”

Baker and Dog Company were hit the hardest as wave after wave of enemy soldiers advanced on their positions and at one point the men were involved in hand-to-hand combat.

New Zealand gunners were requested to provide artillery fire on Dog Company in order to drive off the Chinese.

Morning brought relief from the enemy onslaught but the Patricias’ ammunition and rations were running dangerously low and there was still possibility of another assault, but the Chinese gave up their drive to Seoul after suffering heavy casualties. “There were many Canadian heroes that night as we successfully defended our position,” he said. “We lost 10 men and had 23 casualties and so many thought that Kap’yong wasn’t much of a battle, but the Americans knew.”

For their valor in standing against the enemy, the 2nd Battalion PPCLI was awarded the United States Presidential Unit Citation in “recognition of outstanding heroism and exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performances of outstanding services.”

It was the only Canadian unit to ever receive this award.

During his 16-month rotation in Korea, Richards said there were some good times, but he saw death and destruction up close. “At times we ate and slept with the dead and I saw lots but you don’t talk about it,” Richards finished. “I went over as a boy and came back as a man.”

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