1997 Remembrance Day Poster

The 1997 Remembrance Day Poster highlights the Korean War, featuring work by Canadian artist and Korean War veteran, Edward Zuber, of Seely’s Bay, Ontario. Zuber served in Korea from 1952 to 1953 as a member of The Royal Canadian Regiment.

Holding at Kapyong (detail)

By Edward Fenwick Zuber, 1990
Cat. No.: 90041
© Canadian War Museum

One of the most famous Canadian engagements of the Korean War, Kapyong illustrates the close-in, hillside fighting that Canadian troops frequently faced during the war.

On April 23-24, 1951, units of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), located on Hill 677 near the Kapyong River, were attacked by greater numbers of Chinese and North Korean forces. The fighting became so fierce and close that one Canadian commander called for supporting artillery fire on his own position. Completely surrounded at one point, the PPCLI requested air drops of ammunition and supplies in order to continue their resistance. For their gallant and successful stand at Kapyong, the PPCLI received the United States Presidential Citation.

Daybreak, Gulf of Korea

By Edward Fenwick Zuber, 1989
Cat. No.: 90025
© Canadian War Museum

As a peninsula, Korea offered unusual scope for naval activities. Royal Canadian Navy destroyers were the first Canadian forces to arrive in Korea, and Canada, despite having a small peace-time navy, maintained three destroyers in the Korean theatre at all times throughout the war. In all, eight Canadian destroyers participated in the Korean War. Their activities included blockading the enemy coast, screening aircraft carriers, and bombarding enemy roads, trains and positions along the coast, as depicted in Zuber’s painting.

The Korean War, 1950-1953

On June 25, 1950, North Korean forces crossed the 38^th Parallel into the Republic of Korea. The United Nations condemned the attack and Canada joined 15 other nations to resist the aggression. After initial reverses, the allies advanced north towards the Chinese border. On November 26, 1950, China entered the war on the side of North Korea and allied forces were forced south again to positions well below the 38^th Parallel. By mid-1951, the allies had pushed the Chinese and North Koreans back across the 38^th Parallel and as cease fire negotiations dragged on, a period of static warfare set it. The fighting ended with the signing of the Korea Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953. But no formal end to the Korean War was ever concluded. An uneasy truce continues between North and South Korea.

Canada was the third largest contributor to the multi-national force in Korea. Canada provided pilots, naval units and significant ground forces, including the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, The Royal Canadian Regiment and the Royal 22^e Régiment. In all, 26,791 Canadians served in Korea, suffering 1,558 casualties, including 516 deaths.

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