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Topic spans: 1950 - 1999
Forgotten Heroes: Canada and the Korean War
It is called Canada's "Forgotten War." Over 500 Canadians died in the United Nations' struggle to repel the communist forces that invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. To the people they helped liberate, the Canadians were heroes. Yet those who made it home returned to an indifferent country and a government that took 40 years to officially acknowledge their sacrifice.
8 television clips
11 radio clips
The Princess Patricias go into battle
Broadcast Date: Feb. 26, 1951
After six weeks of supplementary training upon their arrival in Korea, the troops of the Princess Patricias go into the front lines as part of 27th British Commonwealth Brigade. On Feb. 22, the Canadians suffer their first casualties when four men are killed and one wounded in a Chinese attack on a hill simply known by its altitude in metres; 444. Bernard Kaplan reports on the Princess Patricias' grim struggles through the days that follow.The Princess Patricias go into battle
• Equipped with bolt-action Lee-Enfield rifles, Canada's Special Force soldiers in Korea quickly found themselves at a serious disadvantage against communist troops equipped with machine guns. As a result, resourceful Canadian troops often turned to trading beer and liquor for modern weapons from their better-equipped American allies.The Princess Patricias go into battle
Medium: Radio
Program: CBC News Roundup
Broadcast Date: Feb. 26, 1951
Reporter: Bernard Caplan
Duration: 2:24
Last updated:
April 14, 2009
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19 clips in this topic . page
Radio
4:23
Nov. 11, 1944
In this 1944 CBC Radio clip, war correspondent Matthew Halton reflects on Remembrance Day.
Radio
4:01
Dec. 13, 1950
Bill Herbert reports on the arrival in Japan of the first Canadian soldiers heading for action with United Nations forces in Korea.
FYI the Canadians' rifle, was a bolt action Lee-Enfield repeating rifle with a 10 round magazine. They could be fired quite quickly even though they were not semi-automatic like the US rifles, but they were definitely NOT single-shot rifles. Please research more accurately.
Submitted by: KD Sim
Thanks for the comment, KD. I looked into it and have changed our text accordingly.
Submitted by: Elizabeth Bridge, CBC Digital Archives writer