The Battle of Kapyong, part of the Korean conflict and the associated Chinese Spring Offensive, was a hard-fought but under-recognised engagement where Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, British and American soldiers, outnumbered nearly four times (10,600 to 2,800), forced back an entire Chinese division north-east of Seoul between 23-25 April 1951.

The Battle of Kapyong, part of the Korean conflict and the associated Chinese Spring Offensive, was a hard-fought but under-recognised engagement where Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, British and American soldiers, outnumbered nearly four times (10,600 to 2,800), forced back an entire Chinese division north-east of Seoul between 23-25 April 1951. While stalling this advance, 32 Australians were killed, 53 were wounded and three were captured. Deaths inflicted by the Australians and Canadians on Chinese communist forces were in the order of two thousand, seeing them withdraw to regroup. The Battle was considerably complicated by the difficulty of distinguishing between Korean and communist troops in the darkness, given their similarities in stature and general appearance. Fortunately, Korean Service Corps personnel were there to help — but even they mostly spotted communist troops only by the way they spoke and yelled. Although taking place within three days, the Battle of Kapyong, a United Nations operation trying to bring peace and unity to the region, was a complex and important mission designed to forestall a communist incursion into Seoul, the South Korean capital. As would be expected with the huge enemy numbers against them, our forces were attacked by repeated enemy onslaughts that isolated groups of them and forced strategic regroupings. But with the help of New Zealand artillery and other allies our side prevailed and the increasingly exhausted Chinese advance upon Seoul was halted. As a rare decoration recognising forces other than their own, the United States awarded the Australians and Canadians USA Presidential Distinguished Unit Citations. But why was wider recognition so muted? It was largely a matter of context: picture a conflict-weary world some six years after the end of WW II with an increasingly hostile Cold War in the background rapidly gathering momentum. To be fair, it is little wonder that the Battle of Kapyong or, for that matter, the wider Korean conflict did not receive the understanding or coverage it warranted. The regrettable long-term consequences remain evident in the situation embracing North and South Korea today. This exclusive Bradford Mint $10 coin, solid silver throughout its generous 65mm diameter, pays long overdue homage to the Battle of Kapyong and the gallant and courageous soldiers who fought so hard and sacrificed so much in trying to bring a just peace to a much troubled region. Enquire Now!