Battle of Pakchon

The Battle of Pakchon was a vicious military encounter of the Korean War. It was fought between the UN forces and the Chinese and North Korean armies, on November 5, 1950, in Pakchon, North Korea. Some sources also call it Battle of Bochuan. Opposing units: Chinese 117th Division; British 27th Commonwealth Brigade.

On June 25, 1950, the Communist government of North Korea had begun the invasion of South Korea, crossing the 38th parallel. This offensive was stopped by the Allies on the Pusan Perimeter. On September 10, 1950, to liberate South Korea, the US troops landed at Inchon, on the northwest coast, thus initiating the UN counteroffensive.

The American troops, under Douglas MacArthur, pushed back the Communist forces northwards as they crossed the 38th parallel into North Korean territory. However, the Chinese would intervene on October 25, launching a massive counterattack against the UN positions. The British 27th Commonwealth Brigade was in charge of the defense at the Pakchon-Sinanjou road.

Despite being heavily outnumbered, not only did the men of British 27th Commonwealth Brigade manage to hold off the enemy’s attack, but the Australian troops of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, counter-attacked, capturing an strategic ridge.

Below, photos of soldiers of the Royal Australian Regiment two days before the Battle of Pakchon began. You can see an American M4A3 Sherman tank in the background.