 The intensity of the fighting had led to a severe shortage of ammunition among the defenders , and attempts to resupply the Australians were plagued by heavy shelling . The use of salvaged ammunition stabilised the situation momentarily after one of B Company 's two Vickers medium machine @-@ guns was destroyed by Chinese shelling , and its ammunition belts were subsequently broken up and dispersed among the riflemen . However , this soon resulted in a large number of mechanical failures and weapon stoppages , causing additional problems for the defenders . The evacuation of casualties was again an issue , and the Assault Pioneer Platoon — commanded by Lieutenant Jock McCormick — was used as stretcher bearers and to run ammunition forward , as were a number of the other specialist platoons . Their ammunition nearly exhausted , the Australians resorted to kicking and strangling many of the attacking Chinese during the brutal fighting . Fearing the Australians would be overwhelmed by the persistent Chinese attacks , Taylor ordered the Borderers and Shropshires to detach their Korean porters to resupply the Australians , while a full divisional concentration of artillery was fired in support of 3 RAR . 
 The intensity of the fighting <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> led to a severe shortage of ammunition among the defenders , and <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>attempts</mark></a> to resupply the Australians <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> plagued by heavy shelling . The use of salvaged ammunition stabilised the situation momentarily after one of B Company <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>two Vickers medium machine @-@ guns was destroyed by Chinese shelling , and its ammunition belts <a href='uninflect' title='5'><mark>were</mark></a> subsequently broken up and dispersed among the riflemen . However , this soon resulted in a large number of mechanical failures and weapon stoppages , causing additional problems for the defenders . The evacuation of casualties was again an issue , and the Assault Pioneer Platoon — commanded by Lieutenant Jock McCormick — was used as stretcher bearers and to run ammunition forward , as <a href='uninflect' title='6'><mark>were</mark></a> a number of the other specialist platoons . Their ammunition nearly exhausted , the Australians resorted to kicking and strangling many of the attacking Chinese during the brutal fighting . Fearing the Australians would be overwhelmed by the persistent Chinese attacks , Taylor ordered the Borderers and Shropshires to detach their Korean porters to resupply the Australians , while a full divisional concentration of artillery was fired in support of 3 RAR . 
The intensity of da fighting done led to a severe shortage of ammunition among tdadefenders , and attempt to resupply the Australians was plagued by heavy shelling . The use of salvaged ammunition stabilised the situation momentarily after one of B Company  two Vickers medium machine @-@ guns was destroyed by Chinese shelling , and its ammunition belts was subsequently broken up and dispersed among the riflemen . However , this soon resulted in a bigass number of mechanical failures and weapon stoppages , causing additional problems for the defenders . The evacuation of casualties was again an issue , and the Assault Pioneer Platoon — commanded by Lieutenant Jock McCormick — was used as stretcher bearers and to run ammunition forward , as was a number of thdather specialist platoons . Their ammunition nearly exhausted , thedastralians resorted to kicking and strangling many of the attacking Chinese durin the datal fightin . Fearing the Australians would b overwhelmed by the pdaistent Chinese attacks , Taylor ordered the Borderers and Shropshires to detach their Korean porters to resupply the Audaalians , while a full divisional concentration of artillery was fired in support of 3 RAR .