The Samichon region differed in places but at its widest the lines were as much as 2000
yards from each other. There were features such as hill 75 which sat in
the valley and were occupied by the Chinese, there was no point in Comm
div trying to take it as it was covered on two sides by the main Chinese
features up close and connected by tunnels.
Deadly boredom in deadlly lairs
Roughly 2000 yards wide for much of its length, and with the
Samichon river running along the Chinese side, the Samichon valley proved to be a fertile
playground for learning the art of patrolling. Being so long and wide it
was covered by two battalions on our side, as best I can recall. Thus we
and the Chinese put out large numbers of all types of patrols, to keep
each other away; ambush, fighters and reconaissance.
Both sides raided the other, and the Chinese tried a few serious attacks
at us but were frustrated. We on the other hand tried numerous ways of
getting a prisoner but never did as far as I know. Lost a lot of men
trying which in hind sight seems foolish.
Artillery and large size mortars were the main weapons and used quite often, for
both sides. Sometimes for the most trivial reasons. For example there may
have been a patrol clash of sorts as there were often, and the losers would
then take revenge and shell the heck out of the others which in turn
brought the expected reply. This frequently cost men their life for
absolutely no reason of any value, tactical or otherwise. Since the base positions were relatively fixed, it was imperative to construct strong bunkers.
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Brown Palm ID
Underground in the Samichon Valley
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Not penthouse life
Snowy Woodhams cleaning his Bren.
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Building a bunker.
To live in, or rather survive.
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August
Yet another bunker, with uninvited guests
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A lighter moment
Presumably
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The table turns
I thought we was mates
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A quiet time
There were many
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Rehearsing
The curtain will rise
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Relaxing, August '52
My mates can get it done
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Well Dressed Warrior
For a stroll through Samichon Valley
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Sun-bathing, August '52
With a friend
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The Gay Minuet!
A watching skull had no comment.
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There were amusing sides to patroling this area, early in 52 the valley
still supported an abundence of wild life ranging from Siberian Tigers
down to a multitude of pheasants and cranes. One occasion saw a lad from
our lot half asleep when on an ambush job, being disturbed and poking his
head quietly over the paddy-field bund. To his shock there was a tiger
doing the same from the other side, he screamed and let fly with a burst
from his Owen gun up into the air. The tiger likewise was somewhat
startled and screamed in reply before dashing off into the night. That
finished that ambush in a hurry.
Yours truly had a 3 man recce one night, the same time as Charlie chose to
put in a fair size attack. So there we are trying our best to avoid them
seeing us, and escape at the same time. What should I do but almost step
onto a pheasant lurking in the rice stalks. Now these beautiful birds lay
doggo until the very last second, before taking flight from an intruder.
When they take off it is with a whirr of wings the likes off which are
hard to describe. So after having a heart attack, I had to decide if
Charlie had spotted us or no; and deciding he must have we went to ground
in a muddy field.
Charlie did send some men to investigate, so we three were flat on our
backs with just our noses out of the water and mud. They were impatient
luckily and did only a brief search before rejoining their unit, it seemed
like an eternity to us though.
Interesting times in an interesting place.
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Hill 75
Getting a touch-up
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Hill 75
We are persistent
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Mixed Fate
Before raid on Hill 75
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Peter Cerdapavia
A good mate
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Remnants of 6 Pltn
After raid on Chinese position "Hill 75"
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Cpl. Max Wilson, MM
Wounded and awaiting evacuation, August 1952.
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