70th anniversary of the Battle of Samichon River
Today we commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Samichon River, the last battle fought as part of the Korean War. Also known as the Battle of the Hook, the battle took place from 24 to 26 July 1953. 70 years on, we remember all those who fought at the Battle of Samichon River including the 5 Australians who were killed and the 24 who were wounded.
On the night of 24 July 1953, the Chinese 137th Regiment attacked 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (2RAR) and 3rd Battalion, 7th United States Marine Regiment aiming for the gully between the feature named the Hook and Hill 111. The Australians and the Marines bore the brunt of the attack but lost no ground. During the day the Chinese artillery had bombarded the Australians and Marines.
The following night the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army attacked again using the same approach. They reached the Australian wire, where they were stopped by the immense weight of United Nations artillery fire. Nowhere did the Chinese penetrate to the Australian trenches. On the morning of 26 July, the Chinese abandoned the attack with between two to three thousand dead in front of the Australian and American line. It is estimated that as many more as 10,000 had been wounded.
At 10am on 27 July the formal armistice was signed at Panmunjom, which took effect at 10pm that night, thereby ending the fighting in the Korean War.
For more information on the Battle of Samichon River and the Korean War, visit the Anzac portal.