Battle of Seolmari

The Battle of Seolmari, also known as the Battle of the Imjin River (Battle of the Imjin River) or the Battle of Gloster Hill (Battle of Gloster Hill), was fought during the Korean War between April 22 and April 25, 1951, near Gamaksan in Jeokseong-myeon, Paju. The Chinese People's Liberation Army attacked the UN forces positions along the lower Imjin River in order to recapture Seoul, the capital of South Korea, which had been retaken in March 1951.

The Chinese People's Volunteer Army attacked the Imjin River area in order to capture Seoul, which had been the capital of South Korea. This battle was part of the Chinese Spring Offensive. The aim of the spring offensive was to recover territory lost to the UN forces after the UN forces, following their successful counteroffensive in March 1951, had advanced north of the 38th parallel to the Kansas Line.

The area where the battle took place was defended mainly by the 29th Infantry Brigade, composed of British Army units. The 29th Infantry Brigade consisted of three British infantry battalions, one Belgian infantry battalion, and supporting tanks and artillery units from the United Kingdom and Belgium. During the battle, the British forces were also supported by American and Filipino forces. Facing the numerically superior Chinese forces, the 29th Infantry Brigade held its position for two days. The battle slowed the momentum of the Chinese forces, and the UN forces were able to withdraw and prepare their defenses north of Seoul.

In commemoration of this battle, a British Army memorial was erected in 1957 in Maji-ri, Jeokseong-myeon, Paju County, Gyeonggi Province.¹ A documentary film about the Battle of the Imjin River, produced by the British director Daniel Gordon, was scheduled for release in 2010, the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.