Encyclopedia

Korea: United Nations Force Contributions

The Korean War was the first occasion on which members of the United Nations acted collectively to repel aggression. Australian units served in combat from 1950–1953 and continued in Korea from the armistice to 1957 as part of the United Nations Command to preserve the independence of the Republic of Korea.

From 29 June 1950 to 27 July 1953, some 17,000 Australian sailors, soldiers and airmen served in the Korean War. Australian casualties were 339 killed, 1,216 wounded and 29 prisoners of war. Twenty other countries contributed combat and medical units to the United Nations Command in Korea.

Camp Casey, South Korea, 1952. Flag pole flying the Australian flag, the Union Jack and the United Nations flag.
AWM P00969.002

More About:

• Countries contributing to the United Nations Force
  List of countries and level of contribution.
• Australian Army Korea
  Link to the Australian Army website and a brief description of the Korean War.
• Australian Army war diaries: Korean War
  Digitised war diaries which record the daily activities of Army headquarters, formations and units in Korea.
• Royal Australian Navy: Korea
  Link to the RAN website and a brief description of the Korean War.
• Royal Australian Airforce: Korea
  Link to the RAAF website and a brief description of the Korean War.
• Korean War reading list
  A select reading list of sources available at the Australian War Memorial.
• Australian National Korean War Memorial