Let the Bastards Come
The Battle for Kapyong Korea, 23-25 April 1951
David W Cameron
Newport, NSW: Big Sky Publishing, 2024
Paperback 530pp RRP: $32.99
Reviewer: David Hardacre, August 2024
This study provides not only an account of the battle of 23-25 April 1951, but the lead-up to the battle from the start of the Korean War. This includes President Truman’s replacement of the Allied Commander, General Douglas MacArthur, by General Matthew Ridgway, and the introduction of Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Force volunteers to support the North Korean forces which were losing ground after their invasion of the South.
Significantly, United Nations forces had recaptured ground lost in the early battles and were advancing well north of the 38th Parallel, the initial post-1945 border. Massed Chinese attacks had forced withdrawals by the UN forces, but some ROK (South Korean) forces were routed, leaving gaps in the front-line. These the Chinese forces exploited, using massed infantry for human wave tactics. An especially critical gap in the vicinity of Kapyong (north of Seoul) was plugged by the 1200 Australian (3 RAR) for 24 hours, and Canadian (2 PPCLI) infantrymen for twelve hours, supported by New Zealand (16 FRNZA) artillery and 15 American Sherman tanks. Notably, skillful use of infantry minor tactics, using ground prudently, the close coordination of defensive artillery fire and the effective use of armour in location, together with resupply of ammunition, stand out.
The importance of the battle lies in the defensive line being held, rather than allowing a Chinese breakthrough to penetrate deeply into the South. This is the main aspect of Cameron’s study. For Australians, the names of Lieutenant Colonel Ferguson, Major Bernard O’Dowd and Captain Reg Saunders, will be among those recognised.
The book itself is a well-researched paperback of over 500 pages, with one general map of the Korean Peninsula and several local maps of operational areas involving 3 RAR. It provides updated research and analysis, particularly of the events of 23-25 April 1951, and as such is commended to the prospective reader.
The RUSI – Vic Library is most grateful to the publishers for making this work available for review.