PPCLI veteran Lyle McIvor recalls Battle of Kapyong

Private (Ret’d) Lyle McIvor served with 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) during the Korean War, and fought at the historic Battle of Kapyong that raged from 22 to 25 April 1951. Despite being surrounded by hundreds of Chinese troops, the outnumbered Patrica’s held their ground in the face of unrelenting attacks. Their battlefield prowess prevented a potentially costly defeat for the South Korean and UN forces. The actions by Private McIvor and other members of 2 PPCLI who fought at Battle of Kapyong were noticed by the Americans. They awarded 2 PPCLI the United States Presidential Unit Citation, a rare honour for a Canadian unit.
Watch and share this 7-minute video as he talks about his experiences. Video by Grant Cree.

[@louisalexandermcivor3082]

That’s my Dad. So proud and thank you for all you and your comrades sacrificed for us and Freedom of all. Love you Pops, Louis

[@Veritas975]

Outstanding! It was great to interview your dad for this interview.

[@saulteauxfirstnationsman5180]

May I ask what band are you guys from? I am also a McIvor, I just seen this video in my recommendations..

[@louisalexandermcivor3082]

@@saulteauxfirstnationsman5180 Hello Cousin, we are Métis but would love to hear and see your Family line.

[@saulteauxfirstnationsman5180]

@@louisalexandermcivor3082 me and my family are Ojibwe and Cree, we come from Manitoba and we got veterans that fought in WW1, WW2, Korean and Afghanistan. A’ho cousin!

[@louisalexandermcivor3082]

@@saulteauxfirstnationsman5180 yup, from Manitoba too! My Dad w

[@Xen0Phanes]

Thank you for posting this video. My grandfather who is 91 years old fought with 2P.P.C.L.I and he will appreciate this video when I show it to him.

[@Veritas975]

Xeno Phanes Appreciate your comments, that’s one of the rewards of producing videos like this - to help our Veterans share their stories.

[@robertconstant7823]

My Father - Major Rick Constant was there. I used to attend PPCLI reunions in the 1980s. Although all 5 of us moved back to the UK when I was young, my brother and I joined the Royal Green Jackets - a sister regiment....

[@1joshjosh1]

I was just teaching my son who just turned 10 about the Battle Kapyug today

[@lupusdeum3894]

My father survived this Battle. SGT John David Wesołowski D Company, 2PPCLI. He still liked his "wieners & beans" years later.

[@gordp8482]

My Dad fought here with 2nd Battalion. Mel Parsons. He had the utmost respect for Col. Stone.

[@Lividgrizz78]

The photo at the 1:26 mark shows my Grandfather. So awesome to see!

[@MrAtsyhere]

Thank you all. In memory of Horace Atwell PPCLI

[@MrAtsyhere]

This is maybe him at 6:16 third man back with a shovel of dirt. I will need my sisters photo of him with a Vickers Machine Gun to compare.

[@lupusdeum3894]

@@MrAtsyhere What company was Horace in?

[@MrAtsyhere]

@@lupusdeum3894 I do not know. He rarely talked about the war. But he did have issues after he returned. All I know is his "job" was blowing up tunnels. A skill he used to build at Chilliwack BC. Someplace my sister and I have some photos of him with a machine gun, a couple of South Koreans, and a bunker of Carling Red Cap beer on happier days. (Shirtless so it was summer)

[@lupusdeum3894]

@@MrAtsyhere My dad went from being something of a trouble maker to a guy that never got so much as a traffic ticket. As I said elsewhere, he never laid a hand on or raised his voice at me or my sister.🇨🇦

[@slackdc1]

I'm not sure if my grandfather fought in this battle. He wouldn't talk much about his time there. He did tell me one story out of nowhere of how he was on the Vickers one night and in the morning he had a thousand dead Chinese at his feet. Bill Chace PPLI

[@bartkim6448]

Thanks so much !!! From Korea

[@justinwatch1083]

My dad was in dog company…They called him Clem….Mac was his battle buddy….

[@davidmoon5406]

Thank you to your dad and all his battle buddies. As a Candian and more so, as one of Korean decent.

[@zorraarkusduntov3764]

My dad was D company too

[@Lividgrizz78]

At 1:27 that is my grandfather.

[@alcodie1558]

My grand father was there .

[@jossypoo]

Thank him for his service for me if he's atill around, I'm doing a history paper four a fourth year course about Canadian Military History, and I've decided to write about 2PPCLI at Kapyong, and have just had my eyes opened wide. A heroic defense by any standard, and a huge point of pride even for Australians, and i feel that this story should be known by all Canadians. Thank you for your grandfather's service!

[@lawrencewright2816]

Joshua Klinck ...Trudeau (father and son) are probably both sorry that the Princess Pats held their ground.

[@lupusdeum3894]

What company?

[@alcodie1558]

@@jossypoo So how did your paper turn out , I would like to read it .

[@alcodie1558]

@@lupusdeum3894 I have to do some digging . I can't remember and it bugs me because there's no to ask any more . If I find it I'll let you know .

[@opposecensorship5730]

Great courage and and see sacrifice.... a great legacy.

[@miklmiklmtrcycl6009]

When was this recorded Grant? Mike 1983-2019

[@Veritas975]

Hi Mike, I recorded my interview with Lyle in January 2017 in Edmonton. The photos were courtesy of the PPCLI Museum in Calgary.

[@HenriHattar]

I am constantly amazed when it is a Canadian presentation that they always ommit the Australians at Kapyong , the soldiers who fought against 10,000 and only had 700 and who stood fighting hand to hand a lot and aft er fighting withou artillery or air support finally started to run out of ammuntion after roughly 36 hours and had to withdraw and form up in front of the Brittish Middlesex Unit, resupplied they offered to fight the Chinese again, at this stage the Canadians had NOT been engaged and as this interviewee clearly states, the Canadians had air cover and they had artillery cover from the very start, the Australians had neither in their intital conflict because t hey had only just formed up and took t he brunt. The CHinese following up the Australians declined the fight offered after the Aus tr alians were re formed and so, instead, these SAME Chinese, who had been fighting continually for 36 hours then decided they would go up the hill against the Canadians, the FRESH Canadians.

[@bobmcrae5939]

This NOT a documentary about the battle of Kapyong, it's a private soldier's memories, so why would he talk about the Australians? Canadian documentaries about the battle mostly always mention the role of the Australians. I've also seen Australian documentaries about Kapyong which barely mention the Canadians. In fact, most Australians documentaries I've seen go out of their way to down play the accomplishments of the Canadians, and you are no exception. You falsely claim that the Canadians had air cover during the battle. The only air support the Canadians received was a supply drop after the battle. You also falsely claim that the Canadians fought the same Chinese that fought the Aussies. You also forgot to mention that the Canadians were surrounded for two days and had no place to retreat to, unlike the Australians. The simple fact is the Canadians stood their ground against overwhelming odds, while the Australians retreated.

[@HenriHattar]

you are absolutely 100% WRONG!!!@@bobmcrae5939 The Battle took place from April 23 to April 25 it was dedclared "safe" on April 27 but the battle itslef was on the 23/24/25 and the Canadians were FIRST assaulted sometime after midnight on the 24th, so the MORNING of the 25th and for that day they held but at that point the Battle was over and won as both the Brittish Middlesex were there and some new US troops also arrived and occupied two passes to denty the Chinese any further forward momentum. The Canadians did INDEED have air cover , air resupoly and aritillery from the get go, which the Australians DIOD NOT have as the attached artillery were the NZ gunners who arrived late due to the chaos of the civilians cluttering the roads going south so they could not get there on time aft er they received orders to attend to support the Australians and had to HASTILY set up when they finally arrived. I am NOT sure where you get your half baked information from but the well you dig it out of is best left as it does not present the truth and neither does your story. There is actually OFFICIAL domentation of this engagemet, why dont you educate yourself a bit and READ IT!