The battle illustrated the power of concentrated artillery fire and the wastefulness of massed attacks by infantry against modern firepower.
Hundreds of PVA dead lay in front of the UN positions, with the valley floor "almost covered with dead Chinese".
Wilton later recounted that on "the approaches to 2 RAR the bodies literally carpeted the ground sometimes two deep".
Later, it was estimated that PVA casualties numbered between 2,000 and 3,000 killed, with the majority of them inflicted by the New Zealand gunners.
At least nine PVA battalions were believed to have been involved in the attacks.
The fighting between 24–26 July had cost the Australians five killed and 24 wounded, while during the previous two weeks on The Hook 2 RAR had lost a total of 17 men killed and 31 wounded.
It had been a bitter struggle to the very end and as a testimony to the ferocity of the fighting, the Royal Australian Regiment was subsequently granted the battle honour "The Samichon".
Many Australians were later awarded bravery decorations for their actions.
The New Zealand gunners had played a crucial role in stemming the PVA assault and during these final actions the commander of 163 Battery, 16 RNZA—Major James Spence—had positioned himself well-forward in order to effectively co-ordinate the indirect fires of his guns.
Spence was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, while a member of his tactical party, Gunner Arthur Bolton, was later Mentioned in Despatches.
In total over the three nights more than 23,000 rounds were fired by the Commonwealth Divisional Artillery.

During the final month of the war heavy fighting had occurred across the central and eastern fronts.
Yet in the Commonwealth sector itself the only PVA attacks had been made against 2 RAR holding The Hook on the nights of 24–25 and 25–26 July.
The action was part of a larger attack against the 1st Marine Division, with only diversionary assaults mounted against the Australians.
1st Commonwealth Division intelligence staff believed that the PVA had been attempting to make a breakthrough to the Imjin River along the divisional boundary in order to turn the 1st Marine Division's flank, yet with well-coordinated indirect fires from the divisional artillery and support from the British tanks, 2 RAR had been able to successfully thwart both assaults.
Meanwhile, the Marines had endured the brunt of a division-size attack, repelling the PVA onslaught for the loss of 43 killed and 316 wounded over the two nights; total Marine casualties for July included 181 killed and 1,430 wounded.
Indeed, with the Chinese determined to gain local territorial advantage prior to signing the ceasefire, the UN Command had suffered 65,000 casualties during the final three months of the war, while the PVA lost at least 135,000.
The battle illustrated the power of concentrated artillery fire and the wastefulness of massed attacks by infantry against modern firepower. Hundreds of PVA dead lay in front of the UN positions, with the valley floor "almost covered with dead Chinese". Wilton later recounted that on "the approaches to 2 RAR the bodies literally carpeted the ground sometimes two deep". Later, it was estimated that PVA casualties numbered between 2,000 and 3,000 killed, with the majority of them inflicted by the New Zealand gunners. At least nine PVA battalions were believed to have been involved in the attacks. The fighting between 24–26 July had cost the Australians five killed and 24 wounded, while during the previous two weeks on The Hook 2 RAR had lost a total of 17 men killed and 31 wounded. It had been a bitter struggle to the very end and as a testimony to the ferocity of the fighting, the Royal Australian Regiment was subsequently granted the battle honour "The Samichon". Many Australians were later awarded bravery decorations for their actions. The New Zealand gunners had played a crucial role in stemming the PVA assault and during these final actions the commander of 163 Battery, 16 RNZA—Major James Spence—had positioned himself well-forward in order to effectively co-ordinate the indirect fires of his guns. Spence was subsequently awarded the Military Cross, while a member of his tactical party, Gunner Arthur Bolton, was later Mentioned in Despatches. In total over the three nights more than 23,000 rounds were fired by the Commonwealth Divisional Artillery.
During the final month of the war heavy fighting had occurred across the central and eastern fronts. Yet in the Commonwealth sector itself the only PVA attacks had been made against 2 RAR holding The Hook on the nights of 24–25 and 25–26 July. The action was part of a larger attack against the 1st Marine Division, with only diversionary assaults mounted against the Australians. 1st Commonwealth Division intelligence staff believed that the PVA had been attempting to make a breakthrough to the Imjin River along the divisional boundary in order to turn the 1st Marine Division's flank, yet with well-coordinated indirect fires from the divisional artillery and support from the British tanks, 2 RAR had been able to successfully thwart both assaults. Meanwhile, the Marines had endured the brunt of a division-size attack, repelling the PVA onslaught for the loss of 43 killed and 316 wounded over the two nights; total Marine casualties for July included 181 killed and 1,430 wounded. Indeed, with the Chinese determined to gain local territorial advantage prior to signing the ceasefire, the UN Command had suffered 65,000 casualties during the final three months of the war, while the PVA lost at least 135,000.
Battle of the Samichon River