Historical Calendar - 1950

Communist North Korea launches a full scale invasion across the 38^th Parallel into South Korea with 110,000 troops, 1400 artillery pieces, and 126 tanks.

The UN Security Council calls for an immediate end to hostilities and for North Korea to withdraw its troops from South Korea.

The UN Security Council calls on its members to support South Korea.

The North Korean army captures the South Korean capital of Seoul and crosses the Han River south of the city.

US combat troops arrive in Busan, South Korea and move north. US President Truman authorizes General Douglas MacArthur, commanding Allied occupation forces in Japan, to use all forces available to him in defence of the Republic.

US troops first meet the North Koreans north of Osan (100 km south of Seoul) and are forced to retreat.

Three Canadian destroyers sail for Korea - HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan, and HMCS Sioux. Sailors aboard HMCS Cayuga will be the first Canadians to engage the enemy.

US President Truman appoints General Douglas MacArthur commander-in-chief of a new United Nations Command. US Eighth Army commander in Japan, Lt. Gen. Walton Walker, is handed responsibility for conducting all ground operations in Korea.

Six of the RCAF No. 426 (Transport) Squadron's 20 aircraft leave Dorval, Montreal for McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington where the squadron is formally attached to the US Air Force's Material Air Transport Service.

US and South Korean troops of Eighth Army are forced to retreat into the southeastern corner of the Korean peninsula, the so-called Busan Perimeter, a 140-mile line stretching from the Korean Strait to the East Sea (Sea of Japan) around the port city of Busan.

The Canadian government announces its intention of sending ground troops to fight with the United Nations contingent in Korea and creates a brigade-sized Canadian Army Special Force. The infantry component of the Special Force consists of the 2^nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), the 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR) and the 2^nd Battalion, Royal 22^e Régiment (2 R22^eR).

HMCS Cayuga and HMS Mounts Bay anchor off the Korean port of Yosu and begin shelling the dockyard facilities of the Communist base.

While the bulk of the North Korean army is battling around the Busan Perimeter, UN forces launch a successful amphibious assault on the port of Inchon, west of Seoul, catching the North Koreans off-guard. Three Canadian destroyers, HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan, and HMCS Sioux, are part of the naval forces backing the UN invasion of Inchon.

UN troops capture Kimpo airfield, west of Seoul, against stiffening North Korean resistance.

After breaking through the North Korean defences at Busan, Eighth Army forces link up with US forces south of Seoul.

UN troops liberate Seoul. Shattered North Korean army retreats north of the 38^th Parallel.

General MacArthur visits Seoul with South Korean President Syngman Rhee.

First South Korean forces cross the 38^th Parallel in pursuit of retreating North Korean army. China warns it will intervene if UN forces advance further north.

First UN forces cross the 38^th Parallel in drive toward North Korean capital of Pyongyang.

South Korean and US troops capture Pyongyang. On the same day Chinese troops begin crossing the Yalu River into North Korea largely undetected by the UN Command.

Chinese forces launch first phase offensive, an attack on the South Korean 6^th Division.

South Korean troops reach the Yalu River, the natural border separating North Korea from China. Most of North Korea is now under UN control.

Seventeen Canadian artillerymen are killed and another 49 are injured in a train collision at Canoe River, British Columbia. The soldiers, all members of the 2^nd Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, were on their way to Fort Lewis, Washington as part of the Special Force 25th Canadian infantry brigade.

A Chinese delegation arrives at UN Security Council. China demands the removal of foreign troops from Korea and a seat in the UN . MacArthur launches "final" UN offensive to reunite two Koreas.

Chinese forces launch second phase offensive, a massive counter-attack against UN troops. Within days UN forces are in retreat on all fronts. Communist forces will continue to advance south for the next three months.

HMCS Cayuga and HMCS Athabaskan assist in the evacuation of 7,700 US troops at Chinnamp'o on the west coast of the Korean peninsula.

UN troops withdraw from Pyongyang and Communist troops reoccupy the North Korean capital. Canada suffers its first casualty aboard HMCS Cayuga.

The first Canadian battalion, 2 PPCLI, arrives at Busan, South Korea.