Honourable senators, May 2 to 3, 2021, marked the sixty-eighth anniversary of one of the final battles of the Korean War. Today and always, let us honour the selfless sacrifice and service of the members of the Royal Canadian Regiment, RCR, and their fallen comrades who fought in the Battle of Hill 187.

In May of 1953, most of the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion RCR had just arrived in Korea. Soon after their arrival, they were thrust into battle, taking over defences of Hill 187. Never fully prepared for battle, they would never forget the horrific experiences and haunting memories from one of the last engagements of the Korean War.

On the night of May 2, 1953, a Canadian patrol led by Lieutenant Gerry Meynell made contact with the vanguard of a Chinese assault. Suddenly and overwhelmingly, the patrol was overcome in an all-out attack by over 400 Chinese assault troops. The bursts of gunfire, grenades and the unmistakable staccato of the Canadian Sten gun could be heard by the rest of the battalion positioned above on Hill 187.

Having lost contact with Meynell’s patrol, the rest of the 3rd Battalion prepared for the attack, which came a short time later in the form of intense shellfire that rocked the Canadian defensive positions. The only respite in the relentless shelling came when waves of Chinese soldiers attacked their positions. The pattern would repeat itself for two days, until the Canadian position was finally overrun.

Suffering the heaviest losses in a single battle during the war, it comes as no surprise that Hill 187 would become known as the “forgotten battle in a forgotten war.” Canadian censors did not want the news of the casualty rates getting out, so the engagement was largely unreported and the sacrifices and heroics would be largely forgotten — stories such as the death of Lieutenant Meynell and over half of his patrol in their desperate attempt to stop the enemy reaching their comrades; how the battle degenerated into hand-to-hand combat after the Canadians had exhausted all their ammunition with one platoon lobbing over 350 grenades alone; how Lieutenant Ed Hollyer, in a desperate last-minute attempt to stop an estimated 800 Chinese soldiers, called down artillery on himself.

It was at a terrible cost. Twenty-six Royals paid full measure for their country and for the citizens of South Korea. Another 27 Royals were wounded and 7 were taken prisoner. Hill 187 remains part of the proud and enduring legacy of the Royal Canadian Regiment and is enshrined in their motto of courage, chivalry and dash.

Honourable senators, as Grand Patron of the Korea Veterans Association Heritage Unit, I vow that not one battle of the Korean War will be forgotten; not one precious Canadian soldier’s life given in sacrifice will be forgotten, so that I have the privilege and honour to stand in this place to speak to that sacrifice. We will remember them.

[Editor’s Note: Senator Martin spoke in Korean.]