Background
By 1953, elements of the United Nations forces were engaged in fierce fighting to prevent People's Volunteer Army forces from gaining ground, prior to a possible cease fire. This was to deny them additional bargaining power, during negotiations.
One such action took place at a feature called "the Hook", a crescent shaped ridge near Sami Creek, a tributary of the Imjin River near Kaesong. This ridge was a place of tactical importance in the Commonwealth sector: it was a potential attack point which the Chinese needed to take before assaulting Yong Dong, and opening up an invasion route to Seoul, the South Korean capital.
In 1953, the 1st Battalion the Duke of Wellington's Regiment (the "Dukes") were moved from its position on Yong Dong, to relieve the Black Watch, who had been defending The Hook from 12 May to 28 May. During this period, the Black Watch had suffered 12 soldiers killed, 73 wounded and 20 missing. The Dukes had hardly settled into place when the Chinese attacked. During heavy initial Artillery and Mortar fire, the Dukes suffered some fifty-eight casualties.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of The Hook
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