Image: The painting “Incoming” by Edward Zuber depicting Canadian action at Hill 355 in October 1952. This painting shows soldiers of B Company, the Royal Canadian Regiment, reacting to a communist artillery attack on their section of the line on October 23, 1952. The 45-minute bombardment was one of the heaviest that Canadians endured in Korea.

The Battle of Hill 355, October 1952.

Hill 355 was a dominant feature in the landscape, located about 40 kilometres north of Seoul. Its elevation provided a commanding view of the surrounding terrain, making it a highly contested position throughout the war. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) was stationed on the hill from early September 1952, enduring frequent bombardments from Chinese forces throughout October. These attacks weakened defensive positions, setting the stage for a major assault.

The Battle of Hill 355 was made up of three separate and distinct battles. The first began on October 3, and the second battle ended on November 25, 1951. The Royal 22nd Regiment (Van Doos) played a crucial role in the Battle of Hill 355, particularly during the second battle which took place from November 22 to 25, 1951. Their mission was to reinforce American positions on the hill and prevent Chinese forces from overrunning the area. The Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) also took part in this second battle.

Image: F Echelon officers of 2nd Battalion, Le Royal 22e Régiment at battalion headquarters, behind Hill 355 in Korea. Photo taken at the time of Lt-Col. Jacques Dextraze’s departure as battalion commander. December 18, 1951. First row, left to right: Lt. Plouffe, Lt. Labrèche, Lt. Therrien and Capt. Bouffard. Second row, left to right: Lt. “Cinq-cennes,” Capt. Larose, Lt. Kim (liaison officer, ROK Army), Lt. Archambault, Lt. Lebel, Lt. Leblanc, and Lt. Bélanger.