Battle of Uijeongbu ( 1951 ) The Battle of Uijeongbu , also known as the " Battle of Uijongbu " , was a battle fought between 1 – 4 January 1951 , at Uijeongbu , South Korea , as part of the United Nations retreat after the second Chinese offensive after entering the Korean War . The 3rd Battalion , Royal Australian Regiment had been defending the approaches north of Seoul , as part of the withdrawal of the United Nations forces and tasked with slowing the Chinese advance to allow the withdrawal of the United States 8th Army . Background . After the fall of Pyongyang to Chinese and North Korean forces on 5 December 1950 , the United Nation forces began a withdrawal south towards Seoul as Chinese and North Korean forces continued to south towards the 38th Parallel . The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade having withdrawn some formed the United Nations rearguard in the Uijeongbu Valley , north of Seoul , covering the approach to Seoul . Battle . The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was sent north on 1 January 1951 to cover the withdrawal route of the US 8th Army , with the 3rd Battalion , Royal Australian Regiment ( 3 RAR ) in the most forward position at Tokchon . By dusk , the Australians were cut off by forward Chinese forces and under increasing risk of being wiped out , 3 RAR was ordered to withdraw south to Uijeongbu . During the withdrawal south the battalion came under heavy fire and the lead elements had to drive through enemy roadblocks , suffering one wounded , while " A Company " and " C Company " 3 RAR went into action to clear the road , killing seven and suffering four wounded . After reassembling on 2 January , 3 RAR was tasked to undertake company strength patrols north of Seoul and manning Seoul ' s northern perimeter with the 1st Battalion , Middlesex Regiment . The 1st Battalion , Argyll and Sutherland Highland Regiment meanwhile protected the main bridges out of Seoul across the Han River . On the 3 January , 3 RAR was again sent to Takchon to cover the withdrawal of the last elements of the US 8th Army , which filtered through the lines of 3 RAR by 20 : 00 . At 23 : 30 , " D Company " 3 RAR came under heavy fire from the enemy ' s forward patrols , suffering four wounded and throughout the night enemy attacks were repulsed . The outposts of 3 RAR were withdrawn back to company headquarters at 05 : 30 on 4 January to prevent being cut off by increasing enemy forces sweeping in from the west . The expected major attack by the enemy did not take happen and by 08 : 30 after being ordered south to Seoul , the soldiers saw the enemy forces taking up the positions just vacated by them . Withdrawn to the northern perimeter of Seoul , positions were held while the city was evacuated . At 20 : 30 on 4 January , 3 RAR were ordered to withdraw south across the Han River , south of Seoul . Aftermath . The fighting at and around Uijeongbu , allowed the US 8th Army to withdraw and Seoul to be evacuated . North Korean and Chinese casualties included more than seven killed and unknown wounded , while Australian losses were just nine wounded . The 1st Battalion , Argyll and Sutherland Highland Regiment was the last United Nation unit out of Seoul , while 3 RAR were the last troops across the railway bridge across the Han River . The bridges across the Han River from Seoul were then blown up by US Army Engineers . The 27th British Commonwealth Brigade withdrew to positions around Yoda - nae .