70th Anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong

That the Parliament acknowledges the upcoming 70th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong, which took place between 22 and 25 April 1951, during the Korean War; understands that this battle, which occurred during what was known as the Chinese Spring Offensive, saw the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade, as part of UN operations, assist the South Korean army in response to what it considers to be a devastating counter-attack of Chinese and North Korean forces in the Kapyong Valley, a vital route south to the capital of Seoul; acknowledges that two Commonwealth battalions, the 2nd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, endured the heaviest and most prolonged attack during the battle which resulted in the loss of 10 Canadians and 32 Australians; considers that these losses were light in comparison to the Chinese casualties, which have been estimated to number 2,000; notes the support of the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery to the Commonwealth units to halt the communist advance, despite all units reportedly being significantly outnumbered; appreciates the enduring legacy of the battle as a decisive turning point in the Korean War, made possible due to the combined and sustained efforts of the Australian and Canadian armies in particular, which it considers to have prevented a serious defeat for the UN and South Korean forces; observes that, over the course of the Korean War, three Scottish regiments served, with the loss of over a thousand UK servicemen as a whole; recognises that many British service personnel have felt they took part in a ‘forgotten’ war, with the depth of their contribution and the loss of their comrades not truly measured or understood; welcomes the projects which seek to educate on Scotland’s important and historic involvement in the Korean War alongside its allies, and pays tribute to all those from across the Commonwealth who risked their lives to fight in the Battle of Kapyong and throughout the Korean War.