In Korea: an evening with Norm Christie
Event:An evening with Norm Christie
When: May 6, 2021 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Guest of Honour: 2 PPCLI Veteran of the Battle of Kapyong, Major (retd) Murray Edwards.
Major (ret’d) Murray Edwards’ service to Canada started in 1942.
After World War Two, Murray went to serve with 2 PPCLI in Korea, taking part in one of the Canadian Army’s and specifically 2 PPCLI’s most famous action on a hill designated 677. An action which is better known as the Battle of Kapyong.
Murray is one of the last veterans who can give eyewitness testimony of his historic battle which took place between April 22 to 25, 1951 resulting in 700 Canadians holding the line against 5000 Chinese.
Proof of Murray’s courage and of all participants in the Battle of Kapyong is demonstrated by the United States Presidential Citation which was awarded to everyone who fought at Kapyong between April 22 and 25, 1951. This group included 2 PPCLI, 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and A Company, 72nd Heavy Tank Battalion (US).
After the Korean campaign Murray served in several peacekeeping missions, was the first Canadian Liaison Officer in Cyprus in 1964 when the war broke out between the Turks and Greeks is a veteran of Palestine and Damascus (Middle East Six Day War), served as a Company Commander in Germany and commanded a Jump Company in CFB Calgary. Murray retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1969.
Having turned 101 in January 2021, he is now a resident of the Veterans Lodge at Broadmead, Victoria, BC. While his mobility has been hampered by a stroke and he uses a walker to get around his memory remains crystal clear of his time in the CAF and specifically the Battle of Kapyong.