Kapyong Remembered

AS a US Eighth Army trumpeter sounded the Last Post the ageing group of Australian veterans, their British, Kiwi and Canadian mates gathered together at Kapyong in a narrow valley of lush fir trees bounded by a tumbling mountain stream, rose to attention and saluted fallen comrades.

The Australians hastily dug in on Hill 504 and the Canadian Princess Patricia Light Infantry dug across the valley 5km to the west on Hill 677. The first attacks fell on the US tank platoon and the two Australian forward company positions deployed in front of Hill 504. They involved up to 10,000 Chinese, an entire division.

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