IMJIN
22nd - 26th April , 1951

Slowly but surely, General Ridgway's strategy was pushing PRoC forces north, and by March 15th Operation Ripper had freed Seoul. Never again would the ROK capital be lost and the 38th parallel was being re-established as a line of division between North and South Korea. On March 30th, the US 3rd Division had established itself on the front line with the Commonwealth 29th Brigade in deployment along the Imjin river where it meets the Hanton river. Numbering 6,000 men, 29th Brigade consisted of 1 Bn Gloucestershire Regt, 1 Bn Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, 1 Bn Royal Ulster Rifles, a Belgian Bn, 8 King's Royal Irish Hussars, 45 Rgt Royal Artillery and 170 Independent Mortar Battery. In support there was a veteran Philippine armoured unit and a Puerto Rican infantry Bn. The Imjin defenders were truly representative of the United Nations war effort.
North of the river, General Peng was implementing his first step, 5th phase offensive. PRoC divisions were suffering horrendous attrition, due to the effective "meat-grinder" devised by General Ridgway. Many raw recruits filled the ranks but some veterans still remained. General Peng
organised the 63rd Army around his veteran survivors, planning to use them in yet another advance on Seoul. His plan was to operate on a very tight timetable, sending 187th, 188th and 189th divisions across the Imjin, through 29th Brigade, and 56 kilometres to the south, capturing Seoul by May-Day as a gift to Joseph Stalin. Time was of the essence because General Van Fleet could not organise the defence of Seoul in that short time and General Peng was confident his 20,000 veteran troops could sweep aside the hopelessly outnumbered UN forces in the blocking position. PRoC advance elements began crossing the Imjin, probing the Commonwealth defenders, on the afternoon of the 22nd. By the next day, two full divisions were pressing hard against the defenders. Lacking mines or fortifications, the men of 29th Brigade relied upon the one advantage no adversity could steal from them; discipline. With cool professionalism, officers gave relentless orders to fire and reload, resulting in a mechanical and devastating level of firepower. Waves of Chinese were cut as wheat, followed by still more attackers. UN air strikes produced still more withering fire and yet the Chinese attacked with their typical resolve.
Of all units on the field of battle that day, the "Glosters" upheld the honour of their ancestors even beyond the limits of human endurance. After relief efforts failed the "Glosters" refused to retreat. By battle's end, surrounded but still fighting, scarcely 39 men of the original 800 had survived.
By the 26th, 29th Brigade withdrew to Ui Jongbu with 25% losses. The veteran PRoC Divisions had suffered 40% casualties and were virtually knocked out of the war. A shining example of heroism, the defiant stand of 29th Brigade along the shallow banks of the Imjin had dealt the Chinese offensive a heavy blow, protecting the left flank of I Corps and allowing for the defence of Seoul. Even more important, the Imjin battle had once again proven UN resolve to resist any military force, despite the odds, and helped to force the enemy to the negotiating table for an eventual end to the bloody conflict.