The Glourious Gloucesters of Kamaksan Mountain

UPDATE:  For anyone reading this I have posted a much more updated article with pictures that you can view by clicking here.

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Anyone that has driven on highway 56 towads Jeoksong which is a small city that lies along the Imjim River, has no doubt seen the British Union Jack flying in a park just outside the city. The park contains a memorial to the British Gloucestershire Regiment who fought the Chinese here between 22-25 April 1951.

The regiment of about 700 men held off the Chinese 63rd Division of 10,000 men for three days in this valley outside of Jeoksong. By the morning of 25 April 1951 only 67 soldiers were able to escape the Chinese encirclement. The remaining soldiers were either killed or captured by the Chinese. Their heroic defense of the valley prevented the UN forces who were withdrawing south towards Seoul through the Uijongbu corridor from being flanked by the Chinese division.

The Glorious Gloucesters as they are called in England are a very famous military unit there and played a key part in the Battle of the Imjim. The park is in a very pretty area of Korea only 4 kilometers from the DMZ. The park has a nice English style bridge complete with more Union Jacks on it that crosses a creek that leads to the actual memorial that is carved in a rock face. The park is popular for the locals to go to and have picnics and play volleyball.

Near the park is also the trail head to climb nearby Kamaksan Mountain. I think I must of found a well kept secret hiking course because I saw only a total of 8 hikers the whole day. Usually while hiking in Korea the trails can be overcrowed. Not this one. There wasn’t even the customary trash left all over the place by people having picnics. It was really beautiful. The trail itself was steep but well maintained. The trail follows a trench line of bunkers and fortifications for the ROK Army. Some of the trenches along the trail were used by the Gloucestershire Regiment.

On top of the mountain is a ROK Army observation post and helipad. The soldiers there told me that ROK soldiers walk up the trail every day and that is why it is so well maintained. The view from the summit is the best in the Imjim area. From the top of the mountain you can see Uijongbu, Dongducheon, Jeongok, the Imjim, Paju, and you can see well into North Korea. You can clearly see Songaksan Mountain which is the mountain near Kaesong, North Korea. Something I found really odd was that on one of the peaks on the summit of Kamaksan was a large statue of the Virgin Mary looking out towards North Korea. I don’t know who put it there but it was really a unexpected and beautiful site.

In the future I hope to bring some of my soldiers to the memorial and then hike Kamaksan. I think it would be an educational experience for them plus an opportunity to escape the barracks for awhile. I find climbing mountains here in Korea is a lot more fun than just going to the ville every night. Hopefully I can pass my hobby on to others.