Honourable senators, I rise today to speak about one of the most important battles in the long and storied history of the Canadian Armed Forces. The Battle of Kowang-san, also known as the First Battle of Hill 355, took place from November 22 to 25, 1951.

The battle was a significant engagement during the Korean War and involved the Royal 22e Régiment, a Canadian infantry unit with a record of courage under fire affectionately nicknamed the “Van Doos.”

The backdrop to the engagement occurred as part of the broader efforts by United Nations forces to defend their positions against Chinese and North Korean attacks. The battle was fought around a strategic hill, Mount Kowang, or Kowang-san, overlooking vital supply routes and communication lines.

The Van Doos had barely arrived at their position when the Chinese and North Korean offensive launched a series of assaults aimed at capturing the position held by the Van Doos. The attackers were well coordinated and used intense artillery bombardment followed by wave after wave of infantry in an attempt to overwhelm the Canadian defences.

The Van Doos knew what failure would mean for their allies along the UN defensive line and the South Korean civilians in Seoul just 40 kilometres behind them. For four days, fighting desperately in the snow and mud, crawling under barbed wire, through machine gun fire, grenades, mortar attacks and artillery bombardment, the tenacious Canadians fought bravely and without self-regard to repel the attackers.

By November 25, after four days of intense fighting, the Chinese forces were unable to capture Kowang-san and were forced to withdraw. The battle was a hard-fought victory for the Van Doos as they successfully held the hill in spite of being heavily outnumbered.

The first battle of Kowang-san demonstrated the effectiveness of the Canadian Forces in defending key positions under difficult conditions. It reinforced the Royal 22e Régiment’s reputation for professionalism and resilience in combat. While the battle was costly in terms of casualties, it was a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for control of the Korean Peninsula.

Honourable senators, please join me in commemorating the seventy-third anniversary of the Battle of Hill 355 and honouring the service and sacrifices made by our brave Canadians and members of the Royal 22nd Regiment.

Thank you.