The Hook Counter Attack

Heroes Remember

The Hook Counter Attack

Transcript

After having come off 355 as a reinforcement company for the RCR, we found ourselves now as the newly arrived 3rd Patricia Battalion behind the Black Watch. The British Black Watch, on a feature called “The Hook” which was on the western edge of the Commonwealth Division whereas 355 had been sort of on the eastern edge of the Commonwealth Division line. Those two features sort of anchored the Commonwealth Front, “The Hook” being west and the 355 being east. There was a little spill over on either side, but those were the dominating features. But our battalion, now the 3rd Battalion, was to relieve the Black Watch on “The Hook” in about the end of November. And about the 17th or 18th after the 3rd Battalion had only been in the theatre ... well two weeks at the most, we were told to prepare to counter attack “The Hook” which was under, again, prolonged and severe shelling by the Chinese. And Colonel Wood, who was the CO of the Patricia Battalion then, was given the job to restore the position if in fact it fell. The Chinese attacked “The Hook,” I forget the night, but it was sort of the 20th of November, somewhere in there when the 3rd Battalion had been in the theatre only two weeks. Our job was again to be ready to go and do whatever restoration or counter attack was necessary. Because the Chinese had battered the position so badly, they had blown away all the wire in front of “The Hook,” caved in many of the field defences, caved in many of the bunkers. They had a habit, when they did attack, that those bunkers that were still standing they would attempt to destroy if they were not going to stay on by throwing either grenades or charges of some kind into it. But it was a devastated position by the time it was restored.

Description

As part of reinforcement, Mr. Pitts shares the experience when his platoon was commanded to relieve the British Black Watch Division and the devastation witnessed during the counter attack by the Chinese.

Herbert Pitts

Mr Pitts was born in Nelson, British Columbia in June of 1929. After graduating from high school, he entered a four-year program of the Canadian Services College at Royal Roads, graduating from the Royal Military College in June 1952. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant, in the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians). On arrival in Korea in July, he served for a year as an Infantry Platoon Commander with 1st and 3rd Battalions of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. He was awarded the Military Cross for Gallantry and Leadership with that Regiment. Mr. Pitts remained in the Forces serving with The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada and the Canadian Airborne Regiment. He traveled extensively during his service, retiring as a Major General from National Defence Headquarters in 1978.

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