The Battle of Hill 355, October 1952, during the Korean War.

 The Battle of Hill 355, October 1952, during the Korean War.

Image: The painting “Incoming” by Edward Zuber depicting Canadian action at Hill 355 in October 1952. This painting shows soldiers of B Company, the Royal Canadian Regiment, reacting to a communist artillery attack on their section of the line on October 23, 1952. The 45-minute bombardment was one of the heaviest that Canadians endured in Korea.

The Battle of Hill 355, October 1952.

Hill 355 was a dominant feature in the landscape, located about 40 kilometres north of Seoul. Its elevation provided a commanding view of the surrounding terrain, making it a highly contested position throughout the war. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) was stationed on the hill from early September 1952, enduring frequent bombardments from Chinese forces throughout October. These attacks weakened defensive positions, setting the stage for a major assault.

The Battle of Hill 355 was made up of three separate and distinct battles. The first began on October 3, and the second battle ended on November 25, 1951. The Royal 22nd Regiment (Van Doos) played a crucial role in the Battle of Hill 355, particularly during the second battle which took place from November 22 to 25, 1951. Their mission was to reinforce American positions on the hill and prevent Chinese forces from overrunning the area. The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) also took part in this second battle.

Image: F Echelon officers of 2nd Battalion, Le Royal 22e Régiment at battalion headquarters, behind Hill 355 in Korea. Photo taken at the time of Lt-Col. Jacques Dextraze's departure as battalion commander. December 18, 1951. First row, left to right: Lt. Plouffe, Lt. Labrèche, Lt. Therrien and Capt. Bouffard. Second row, left to right: Lt. "Cinq-cennes," Capt. Larose, Lt. Kim (liaison officer, ROK Army), Lt. Archambault, Lt. Lebel, Lt. Leblanc, and Lt. Bélanger.

Under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Jacques Dextraze, the 2nd Battalion of the Van Doos was stationed on the saddle between Hill 355 and the Chinese-held Hill 227. As the battle intensified, the Chinese launched a major offensive, successfully pushing American forces off Hill 355, leaving the Van Doos' right flank exposed. Despite this, Dextraze ordered his troops to hold their positions at all costs, refusing to retreat.

The Van Doos endured relentless attacks, with waves of Chinese soldiers charging their positions using grenades, burp guns, and even bayonet-armed sticks. ‘D’ Company, positioned at the front of the regiment’s perimeter, suffered heavy casualties but continued to fight. One of the most notable figures in the battle was Corporal Léo Major, a legendary Canadian soldier known for his heroics in World War II. Major led a small scout and sniper platoon made up of 20 men in a daring counterattack and captured Hill 227 on the west flank of Hill 355 overlooking the RCR positions. This reclamation of lost ground was a vital piece for the Canadians.

Despite the overwhelming enemy pressure, the Van Doos held their ground, preventing the Chinese from entirely securing the hill. Their determined resistance played a key role in stabilizing the front lines and ensuring that Hill 355 remained contested rather than falling completely into enemy hands.

The Royal 22nd Regiment (Van Doos) did not play a direct role in the third Battle of Hill 355 in October 1952. The primary Canadian unit involved in this battle was the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), which defended the hill against a major Chinese assault from October 22 to 24, 1952.

On October 22, 1952, Chinese forces launched a heavy artillery barrage, followed by an infantry assault aimed at dislodging the Canadian defenders. While defending "Little Gibraltar” (as Hill 355 was known), the RCR troops, despite being outnumbered and facing relentless attacks, fought fiercely to hold their ground. The battle was marked by intense close-quarters combat, with Canadian soldiers repelling waves of enemy troops. Because of the heavy Chinese assault and with their communications severed, several Canadian soldiers had no choice but to abandon their defensive positions to the oncoming Chinese forces. The UN force responded with tank and mortar fire on the captured areas, as well as on Hill 227, the area west of Hill 355 and the valley to the north. The intense Canadian bombardment caused a Chinese withdrawal after they had been unable to shelter secretly because of the fierce overnight bombardment. The result was that the Canadians succeeded in reoccupying the lost positions in the early hours of October 24.

The Canadians suffered eighteen killed, thirty-five wounded, and fourteen captured during the battle. Despite these losses, their determined defence prevented the Chinese from entirely securing the hill. The battle demonstrated the resilience and effectiveness of Canadian forces in Korea, earning them respect among allied troops. The strategic importance of Hill 355 meant that control of it remained a priority for both sides, leading to continued skirmishing in the months that followed.

The Battle of Hill 355 was one of many engagements in which Canadian troops proved their mettle in Korea. Their actions contributed to the broader United Nations effort to maintain defensive lines and resist enemy advances. The battle remains a significant chapter in Canada's military history, highlighting the bravery and sacrifices of those who served. But after this, no longer were the Chinese and United Nations forces able to thrust through each other's lines and make significant advances and withdrawals. The war had settled into a bitter, grinding stalemate, with the same areas moving back and forth between the two forces at an alarmingly high body count.

This was the phase of the Korean War which is cemented in people’s minds — futile, brutally violent, and costly battles for nondescript numbered hills.

Both the Chinese and the UN had settled in and started bleeding each other dry to gain the most advantage at the negotiating table when peace deliberations finally began. In the end, the two parties were only able to negotiate an armistice, not a final peace, mind you, between North and South Korea in mid-1953.

Image: A view of the "Little Gibraltar" or Hill 355 (in the background), 1952.

Image: John Lewis, of ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, is shown after his unit was attacked by Chinese forces at Little Gibraltar.

Image: Canadian soldiers are seen during a lull in fighting during the Battle of Hill 355 in October 1952.

Image: Three Canadian soldiers pose for a photograph while on Hill 355 in Korea, October 1952.

Image: A photograph of Hill 355 in Korea taken by a Canadian soldier, 1951-1952.

Image: Lt. Brian Simons, a signaller with the Royal Canadian Regiment, is seen in Korea near Hill 355. He stated that "I guess you could say that we were hopeful that our activities would deter the Chinese, but we didn't know how many there were or what they had in the way of weapons or anything else."

Image: Lt. Brian Simons, of the RCR, is photographed inside a tent close to Hill 355. The Battle of 355 turned out to be one of Canada's deadliest engagements of the Korean War.

Image: Members of 3 PPCLI (above) consider their predicament on Hill 355 in the fall of 1951.

Image: Major Don Holmes checks signal equipment before a night patrol by ‘Charlie’ Company, 1 RCR, during the Korean War.

#BattleofHill355

https://amzn.to/4jduF8N

Please consider supporting our ongoing efforts to bring you, our valued readers, engaging and thoughtful historical content. Your monthly financial support goes a long way in helping us continue our work. Alternatively, if you would like, you may make a one-time donation at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/CanadasMilitaryHistory

If you buy something through our site, we might earn a commission, but this will not affect the price you pay for the item.

Thank you for your support.

Michael

Canada’s Military History

Tags: Korean War, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Canadian Navy, North Korea, China, Hill 355, PPCLI, Royal Canadian Regiment, Little Gibraltar, Royal 22nd Regiment (Van Doos), Hill 227, Artillery, United Nations forces, armoured warfare, infantry equipment, battlefield archaeology, military logistics, Military History, archival photography, battlefield artifacts, military uniforms, wartime technology, historical symbolism, propaganda, tank crews, armoured vehicles, battlefield archaeology, infantry equipment, Canada's Military History 2.0