Edwards, Murray: my Korean War recollections (March 13, 2013)
PublicInterviewee: Edwards, Murray Campbell, 1920-
Interviewer: Fish, Cameron
Rank: Major.
ABSTRACT: Family background; father's service in World War I in Canadian Railway Forestry Corps. Maj. Edward's birth. (00:56-4:02). World War II: Pearl Harbor 1941. Elder brothers drafted, Maj. Edwards classified 4C (Friendly Alien) as a result of his birth in England. Waited for call up, which never arrived. Took train to Toronto and enlisted in Queen's Own Rifles. Promoted to corporal, became assistant instructor at Officer Refresher School. Selected for Officer Training and returned to Canada. Served remainder of war as an instructor in various schools. Frustrated by continual postings in rear echelons, and wanted experience in combat. (4:04-7:35) Post-war: Immediately joined reserves, served as 'call-out' instructor during summer months. Discussed downsizing of army after war, and mandate of active force. Enrolled in job training course with Toronto Post Office. New post master forbid further call outs, so Maj. Edwards quit. Korea came along conveniently soon after. Considered joining Active Force (regular army) but was told he would only be allowed the rank of corporal. Decided to join American armed forces, but Korea allowed him an opportunity to remain with Canadians. (7:35-11:07) Outbreak of Korean War: Big news in Canada. Joins Canadian Army Special Force in August, anticipating a tour in Korea. Worked at No. 6 Personnel Depot at witnessed influx of incoming volunteers. Noted that most of the incoming privates were 'off the street'. Many turned away for physical deficiencies. Believes figure of discharges after enlistment is greatly exaggerated during training in both Canada and Korea. Comments on antagonistic relationship between Special and Active Force (2nd and 1st Battalions). Believes 1st Battalion sent poorest soldiers as replacements for 2nd Battalion in Korea. Decided to join Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry instead of Royal Canadian Regiment because of 'spit and polish' mentality in RCR. Also wanted to serve under Lt.-Col. Jim Stone (PPCLI CO). Opinion on Jim Stone: excellent and brave soldier/tactician, poor leader in some cases. Prevented Canadians from moving up to the line immediately after arriving Korea, but refused to award decorations. (11:07-19:54) Training: Feels that those men who were not discharged on physical grounds responded very well to training, and that this is reflected in their record in Korea. Believes unit cohesion on multiple levels (company, battalion) was most important aspect of training. Believes men received good training in basic skills like small arms handling and small unit tactics like patrolling. Received little training in combined arms (artillery, armour), but that this was not a hindrance as a result of the World War II experience of the officers. Comments on differences in terrain between Italy/Western Europe and Korea. Very shear valleys and hills in Korea. (19:54-23:59) Deployment: Conditions aboard troopship USS Pvt. Joe Martinez: cramped. Americans made poor traveling companions (called-up reservists as opposed to Canadian volunteers) Indoctrination on Korea: excellent. Both Chaplains had experience in Asia as missionaries in China and North Korea. Lectures given on ship concerning Korean people, culture, etc. News of Chinese offensive 1951, massive jump in moral. Previously anticipated occupation duties, now heading for full-blown war. No surprises in Korea concerning culture or conditions, but surprised to find reporters and film makers on making land. Moved up to Miryang, estimated that no more than ten troops were sent home as 'non-battle casualties' from there (official history places number at 60). (23:59-29:07) Equipment (Weapons): Lee-Enfield: Canadian pattern incorporated smaller channel for bolt, and could thus be stuck up by dirt. Sten Gun: British magazine incorporate reliable leaf springs. Canadian magazines used coil spring which could bind if the magazines were kept loaded. When Maj. Edwards became Quarter Master 2PPCLI, he traded Gin for M1 Carbines to replace the Sten Guns. He felt that Canada should have issued troops with semi-automatic rifle because there was ample time to maintain them, but not M1 Garands because they were too bulky. Doesn't buy that argument that ammunition would have been expended too quickly with a semi-automatic. Believes the Bren gun was an absolutely excellent weapon and that it served very well in Korea. Later on in his career, Maj. Edwards served in User Trial Section which tested new equipment for the military. He felt Bren was still a superior weapon at those trials. Also feels that the 2 inch mortar which was replaced with American 60mm mortar was superior as a result of its simplicity, but acknowledges that the 60mm which replaced it possessed superior range and firepower despite its complexity. (29:07- 39:24) Equipment (Other): Difference in philosophy between British and American equipment: In general, American equipment was intricate, fragile and difficult to use, but its end result was superior. Conversely, British equipment tended to be simple and easy to use, if not always as capable. Illustrates this point with comparison of American and British field cooking methods. Winter in Korea was very damp and cold. Winter gear not bad. 1937 pattern combat webbing was poor. It could not be easily adjusted or discarded, and lacked provision to carry grenades and magazines. Later during 1960s User Trial Section service, new webbing was introduced which was inferior even to 1937 pattern. Helmets were only worn during bombardments. (39:24-45:09) The Move to the Front and First Engagements: 2PPCLI encountered American corpses en route to front from Miryang, they had been massacred because they had established a poor defensive position and failed to post sufficient sentries. The Chinese silently killed the sentries, and unable to escape from their sleeping bags, the Americans were bayoneted or else ambushed as they fled. Bill Boss, a Canadian war correspondent with 2PPCLI broke the story which had been downplayed by the Americans. (45:09-48:26) First Actions: While moving up to join 27th British Brigade at a resting position, Major Edward's Baker Company was ordered (perhaps volunteered by Stone) to lead advance and reestablish contact with the Chinese. Moving along a thin ridgeline, Edward's company began taking fire from a Chinese MG. Unable to radio the Liley, company commander as a result of incorrect batteries, Edwards was forced to run back to warn the company commander. Who consolidated the company Bren guns to provide covering fire. Advancing under towards the first MG, Edward's began taking fire from a second MG on another ridge which had been reported clear. Additionally, the company's Brens began firing on Edwards' men. Edwards was forced to withdraw. Shortly afterward Edwards became quartermaster. Expressed admiration for the fighting abilities of the Chinese. Felt they were incredibly brave, and excellent at encirclement and infiltration. (48:26-56:38) Kapyong: Commentary on merits of the respective Australian and Canadian positions. Emphasis on Austrian withdrawal rather than retreat. (backtracking) 17 March alcohol poisoning incident. Death of several young troops after being encouraged to ingest 'canned heat' by a senior enlisted man. Parading dead bodies in front of battalion, enlisted man disciplined. (further backtracking) account of soldier named Blank and another who had gone with some Middlesex regiment troops to a nearby village. Blank raped the women, and tossed a grenade into the hut, wounding or killing all Koreans present. Both Canadian troops served relatively short sentences, were released on technicalities and allowed to collect back pay while remaining in army. (back to Kapyong) Explanation for retreating ROK troops at 38th parallel. Remembering the night of the 23rd when the Australians were attacked. Moral among Patricia's waiting for Chinese attack: very confident. Maj. Edwards role in battle: present at HQ with Stone, listening to radio. Remembers Stone being very cool, but emphasizes the importance of the leadership at the lower levels during the actual engagement. Remembering Mike Levy; platoon commander in Dog Company under Captain Mills. Levy responsible for calling in artillery on his own position, but Captain Mills received citation, despite Levy's initiative. This was the result of Stone's refusal to award medals. (56:38-1:11:49) Medals and the Front: Allocation of medals during Korea: almost none for 2PPCLI. Had effects on moral and post war careers of Canadian troops who had served in 2PPCLI. He expresses respect for the Korean Service Corps porters but remembers them as very stoic, and very capable, but mostly silent. Edwards believes remaining occupied at the front was not difficult; in addition to R+R in Japan, there was usually too much to do at the front for boredom. On Ottawa's reluctance to allow 2PPCLI to wear Presidential Unit Citation, Edward's chalks it up to a dislike of anything foreign in Ottawa. He recalls the Korean Service Medal which took 43 years to be issued. Edwards was amused to be addressed as 'Dear Friend' upon receipt. Edwards next describes procedure for bringing wounded back from front. He displays admiration for Indian 60th Field Hospital who provided medical aid; remembering them as being highly trained and always willing to set up camp near the front. Next he gives an anecdote concerning ammunition delivery after Kapyong. A truck driver Edwards was directing misread his map and drove right up to Chinese front line. Taking fire, Edwards directs the vehicle back to Canadian lines. One Canadian replacement is wounded before even arriving at the unit he is to join. Miraculously the Chinese stop firing, and nobody dies. Wounded fellow (Marrow(?)) was on the operating table within 15 minutes. Edwards does not recall any interactions with 1st Battalion troops. On the role of armour, Edwards remembers them being restricted to support as North Korean T-34s were out of action by this point. (1:11:49-1:27:49) Rotation and After Korea: R+R in Japan was badly timed for Edwards. Casualty kits had not been broken down, and positions had not been cataloged or returned to next of kin. Edwards arranged for these positions be be shipped to Japan, but they were looted by American troops. Edwards arrived in Japan during a Typhoon and spent most of the time sorting out the casualty kit situation. Murray feels the disdain felt by the Active Force for the Special Force never left the army. In his later career, he continued to perceive animosity between those who had served in the 1st and 2nd Battalions. Example: while forming up, 1st Battalion hoarded certain equip shipments like pocket knives. Edwards remained in the military for the rest of his career. He qualified as a paratrooper, was posted for 2 years to West Germany with NATO. Next he was in charge of reserve training in Alberta, then he was with the User Trial Section. After that he was deployed to both Cyprus and the Middle East. When returning to Canada, Edwards was struck by how little people knew of the Korean war. He blames the media, and the comparatively small scale of the Korean conflict relative to World War II for this. He believes that Korea was really not so different from World War II in a tactical sense, and thus there were no major lessons to be learned. He does mention that Canadian troops had little experience with Chinese tactics, and that accommodation had to be made for this. (backtracking) believes artillery support was key at Kapyong. Comparison of load outs between Canadians and Chinese. Readjusting to life out of the military: many men had a hard time, but Edwards believes that men who were coming of age in the 1950s had harder backgrounds than those who make up the forces today. He believes that this is one reason why reported cases of PTSD are much more common today. (1:27:49-1:41:39) Korea Today: Returned to Korea in 2009. Describes change as absolute miracle. Remembers being entertained at banquet and when delivering response to toast, noted to superhuman efforts of the South Korean government, industrialists, scientists, engineers and common people who made it happen. Finds the Koreans very grateful, especially considering their history of foreign occupation. Only bemoans the decision to partition Korea into North and South. Feels that North Korea's aggressive posturing today is at least partially the result of the Stalinist influence, but he also notes a difference between North and South Korea people from even before the partition. Industry in the North, agrarian society in South. Believes farming people are more inclined to peace than industrial people. (1:41:39-1:51:20)
An interview/narrative of Murray Edwards's experiences during the Korean War. Major Edwards served with the Canadian Army. Interview took place on March 13, 2013.
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 51.5, 10.5
- 52.16045, -0.70312
- Original sound recording (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- EM_778
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- April 19, 2013
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps and 44 kHz. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF and JP. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2013. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
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