North Korean invasion

At the end of the Second World War, American and Russian concern over 'spheres of influence' led to the partition of Korea along the 38th Parallel. The country was split into the communist Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the American-backed Republic of Korea (South Korea). In 1949 both the Soviet Union and the United States withdrew their military forces from Korea but the mutual antagonism between the North and South only deepened. At 4.00am on 25 June 1950 the Cold War erupted into flames as the North Korean Army launched an all-out offensive against the South. The United Nations Security Council called upon its members to support the Republic of Korea and American forces were sent to the country, later to be joined by troops from many other nations, including Britain.

UN Intervention

At first the North Koreans made rapid progress, quickly taking the South Korean capital of Seoul and driving back the South Korean and American troops to a bridgehead around the southern port of Pusan. In August 1950 the first British troops, the 1st The Battalion Middlesex Regiment (Duke of Cambridge's Own) and 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's), landed at Pusan and were immediately sent into battle. A few weeks later, following an American amphibious landing at Inchon that outflanked the North Koreans, the UN forces broke out of the Pusan bridgehead and rapidly advanced north. Joined by 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, the British units formed the 27th Commonwealth Brigade and took part in the pursuit of the enemy into North Korea. Pyongyang, the North Korean capital was captured and by late November 1950 UN forces were only forty miles from the Chinese border.

Chinese Intervention

Alarmed by this, the Chinese Army intervened on a massive scale. 27th Brigade held them off from their positions on the River Chongchen but the Chinese broke through elsewhere. In freezing conditions the UN forces carried out a fighting retreat across extremely difficult terrain.  On 25 December 1950 the Chinese entered South Korea and in early January they captured Seoul. The 27th Brigade was now joined by the British 29th Brigade, comprising the 1st Battalions, The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, The Gloucestershire Regiment and The Royal Ulster Rifles, together with the tanks of The 8th (King's Royal Irish) Hussars and the guns of 45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.  The two Brigades acted as a rearguard until a defensive line was established on the River Han. In March 1951 a UN counter-offensive pushed the Chinese back and recaptured Seoul. As winter cleared, the UN forces dug in close to the 38th Parallel and in early spring advanced a few miles north in order to create a buffer in front of Seoul. On 22 April the Chinese counter-attacked, aiming to break through to the South Korean capital. They were held by 27th Brigade near Kapyong and by 29th Brigade on the Imjin River where the last stand by the Glosters helped to break the Chinese advance but resulted in heavy casualties. 

Static warfare

This marked the end of the mobile phase of the war. Armistice negotiations began at Kaesong in July 1951 and there followed two years of largely static fighting, often in conditions of extreme cold. British troops were deployed on a rotational basis, defending hill positions and carrying out patrols. However, set-piece operations did from time to time occur, as both sides sought to control key pieces of terrain and win a success that might improve their negotiating position. From July 1951 British forces formed part of the 1st Commonwealth Division. In October the Division took part in Operation COMMANDO, a limited attack designed to disrupt the Chinese potential for attack, dominate the routes across the 38th Parallel and extend diplomatic pressure. The main area of activity was around a ridge overlooking the Imjin River known as 'the Hook'. In November 1952 The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) repulsed a Chinese attack there and in May 1953 it was again successfully defended, this time by The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding). On 27 July 1953 an Armistice was signed at Panmunjon and Korea remained a divided nation.

During the Korean War (1950-1953) British casualties were 1,109 killed and 2,674 wounded.

(Source: Office of the Defence Attaché, British Embassy Seoul)