 Ultimately Chongju was the furthest north that the 27th British Commonwealth Brigade was to penetrate , and on 1 November , while still in divisional reserve , the brigade was ordered to pull back to Pakchon in an attempt to consolidate the western flank . Immediately following their success at Unsan , the Chinese 117th Division of the 39th Army — under the overall command of Zhang Jiecheng — attacked southward , intending to cut off the retreating UN forces and in so doing eliminate the remnants of the ROK 1st Infantry Division and US 1st Cavalry Division by cutting the road junction at Pakchon . Meanwhile , the Chinese 38th and 40th Armies approached along the Chongchon River from the east . 3 RAR remained at Chongju , however , due to a lack of transport , while the remainder of the brigade moved south ; now the most forward element on the US Eighth Army 's left flank , the battalion soon became isolated without communications or armour and artillery support . Finally , on 2 November , US Army trucks became available , and the battalion completed its move south without incident , harbouring in the bed of the Taeryong River that evening . Meanwhile , it was announced that Green would be temporarily replaced by Walsh , who he had himself replaced in Japan several months before . Walsh , by then an observer at US Eighth Army headquarters , was urgently posted back to 3 RAR to resume command , despite his lack of operational experience as an infantry commander . Taking over amid difficult circumstances following Green 's death , and with little time to become acquainted with the battalion , Walsh 's inexperience soon told as the local situation deteriorated . 
