§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. Shinwell)With your permission, Mr. Speaker, and that of the House, I should like to make a further statement on the fighting in Korea.
The House will recall that my previous statement covered the course of operations up to 7th December of last year. During the rest of December the 8th 1072 Army—which, as the House will remember, includes the British Commonwealth 27th Brigade and the British 29th Brigade Group—was compelled to continue its withdrawal in the face of numerically superior Chinese Forces. The difficulties which frequently attend battles of withdrawal were increased in this case by the presence of considerable guerrilla forces and by vast numbers of refugees fleeing before the advancing Chinese armies. Meanwhile in the east the whole of the 10th Corps, including the Royal Marine Commandos, was successfully evacuated by sea from Hungnam after heavy fighting to prevent encirclement and destruction.
In the last days of December it became clear that the Chinese were preparing to resume their all-out offensive. On New Year's Eve the offensive was launched, the main weight of the attack falling on the 1st Corps in the west. During the first few days of January this Corps, under extreme pressure, was compelled to fall back towards Seoul and the Han River. The British 29th Brigade—comprising the 8th Hussars, the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, the Gloucestershire Regiment and the Royal Ulster Rifles—was employed to cover the approaches to Seoul.
Our Brigade Group mounted a series of spirited counter-attacks, which inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. There is no doubt that the aggressive spirit shown by our troops at this critical moment was a major factor in ensuring the safe withdrawal of the 1st Corps across the Han River. Our troops were the last to cross the river. The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers and the Royal Ulster Rifles were the victims of an ambush by the Chinese; and I regret to inform the House that in fighting their way out they suffered their first heavy casualties of the campaign.
In the central sector the 9th Corps had also withdrawn by this time south of the Han River. The British Commonwealth 27th Brigade—which includes an Australian Battalion in addition to the Middlesex Regiment and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders—was prominent in the operations covering the withdrawal of the Corps.
In the east the 10th Corps—re-formed after its withdrawal from Hungnam—was placed under command of the 8th Army and was in position to, counter any 1073 attempted envelopment of the Army's right flank. Contact with the Chinese forces in the west had now been broken, and the next fortnight was spent by the 1st and 9th Corps in patrolling activity.
Towards the end of January a strong armoured reconnaissance force was formed to operate in front of the United Nations' position to disrupt the enemy's preparations for a renewed offensive and to inflict the maximum number of casualties. By the end of the month this force had reached a line running north of Suwon and Inchon and was progressing steadily towards the Han River. The 27th and 29th Brigades moved forward in reserve.
This brings us to the present position on the front which I shall now describe. On the left the 1st Corps has secured the port of Inchon, Kimpo Airfield and the town of Yongdung on the south bank of the Han River opposite Seoul. Further to the east elements of the 9th Corps are advancing towards the Han River. The British 29th Brigade, with other units, has already reached the river.
In the central sector a Chinese counterattack in strength developed on 11th February against the advancing South Korean divisions of the 10th Corps. These divisions were forced to withdraw towards Wonju; but the latest information available indicates that the Chinese counteroffensive has now been halted. The British Commonwealth 27th Brigade played a large part in restoring the situation in this area by relieving a mixed French-American Force which had been cut off at Chipyong.
Throughout the period H.M. ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy, together with ships of the Royal Australian, Canadian and New Zealand Navies, have been engaged in maintaining the blockade of the West Coast of Korea. They have also provided gun fire and air support for the United Nations' forces ashore. In particular, ships of the British Commonwealth Navies, with air cover from the aircraft of H.M.S. "Theseus," supported United Nations' troops during the withdrawal from Inchon in early January and again during its recapture a few days ago. They are now providing fire support for the United Nations' forces in the area between the Han River and the west coast.
1074 H.M.S. "Theseus" and her air group have particularly distinguished themselves by operating at a remarkably high intensity over a prolonged period. The weather has been severe. Our ships and aircraft have had to contend with arctic blizzards, snowstorms and with floating ice; and the buoyant spirit of our men in these difficult circumstances has been beyond praise.
The Royal Air Force has also continued to play its part in the operations. Sunderland squadrons have carried out widespread maritime patrols and rescue operations in Korean waters; and transport aircraft have maintained a regular flow of reinforcements and casualty evacuation.
The total casualties suffered by our Forces up to date are 145 killed or died of wounds, 442 wounded, 244 missing, and 61 prisoners of war. I deeply deplore these casualties and am sure that the House will wish to record its sympathy with the relatives of these men in their loss or anxiety.
The House will be proud to know that His Majesty the King has approved the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Major Muir of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders for leadership and courage of the highest order in the recapture of a position on 23rd September. In addition, 25 officers and men of the British Forces have been awarded decorations for gallantry and outstanding service in the campaign.
I am glad to inform the House that the military situation in Korea is now far more favourable than seemed possible when I made my last statement. The perils confronting the United Nations' forces are, of course, still formidable and occasional difficulties may emerge. But in the last few weeks the forces of the United Nations have demonstrated beyond all doubt that the Chinese and North Korean forces arrayed against them can be checked and mastered.
I know that the House would wish me to pay a well-deserved tribute to the troops of our American Allies, who are bearing the main burden of the fighting. Their casualties have been severe and now total 48,035, including 8,154 killed. Most valuable help has also been given by the contingents of other nations—Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand and 1075 Turkey. It is with pride I place on record that the exploits and bearing of our own men have been in all respects worthy of the finest traditions of the British Fighting Services.
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