Kapyong Avenue was dedicatedto the members of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who fought in the Battle of Kapyong by the Canada Lands Company on June 23, 2004, as part of their redevelopment of Edmonton’s former Canadian Forces Base (Griesbach Barracks).
When North Korean troops crossed the 38th parallel, the United Nations launched a “police action” that became the Korean War (1950-53). In 1951, Chinese and North Korean forces broke through United Nation lines and moved down the Kapyong Valley toward Seoul, the southern capital. It was here that the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, and the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, dug in to stop the advance, supported by the U.S. 72nd Tank Battalion. On April 24, facing heavy bombardment and communist numerical superiority, the Americans and Australians withdrew.
Alone and cut off from supply lines, the Patricia’s withstood successive waves of attack and held their position throughout the night. Some of the Patricia’s, short of ammunition, used their empty rifles as clubs. The commander of “D” Company called for an artillery barrage on his own position to keep it from being overrun. The next morning brought British support and an airdrop of more ammunition, and the enemy was forced to retreat. The Battle of Kapyong halted a massive communist advance. Ten Canadians were killed and 23 wounded. The Patricia’s received the United States Presidential Unit Citation for its extraordinary heroism and outstanding performance.
