Historical Background

Australia in the Korean War

The Korean War was the first occasion when members of the United Nations acted collectively to repel aggression. Australian units served in combat from 1950 to 1953 and continued in Korea from the armistice to 1956 as part of the United Nations Command to preserve the independence of the Republic of Korea.

The initial North Korean surprise assault across the 38th parallel on 25 June 1950 was completely successful and quickly led to the retreat of South Korean troops and the loss of the South Korean capital, Seoul. The North Korean advance was not halted until the establishment of the Pusan Perimeter in the last week of July.

From September 1950, following the amphibious landing at Inchon and the breakout from the Pusan Perimeter, UN Command forces cleared South Korea and advanced into North Korea towards the Yalu River. In November 1950 after the Chinese entry to the war, the UN ground forces faced Chinese attacks which forced them to retreat in appalling winter conditions to positions south of the 38th parallel.

The dramatic advances and withdrawals of the first six months of the war came to an end after the early 1951 offensives and counter-offensives ground to a halt. Following this, the war entered a phase of contesting heavily defended emplacements along a front which stretched from coast to coast. This front eventually became the cease-fire line.

The first initiatives to end the war commenced in 1951. Despite this it dragged on until 27 July 1953 when an armistice was signed. Offensives during this "stalemate" period were launched to gain local tactical advantage or for political reasons during the negotiations.

From 29 June 1950 to 19 April 1956 over 17,000 Australian sailors, soldiers and airmen, supported by army and air force nurses, served in Korea. Australian casualties during the period of the war up to the armistice were 339 killed, of whom 44 have no known grave, 1,216 wounded and 29 were taken prisoner of war.

Twenty other countries contributed combat and medical units to the United Nations Command in Korea. The total dead for the war include more than 1.5 million Chinese and North Korean troops and against them 415,000 South Korean troops, over 33,600 Americans and over 4250 from other UN contingents. An estimated two million Korean civilians also died.

Australian sailors, soldiers, airmen and nurses won world respect for their courage, endurance and combat skills. The service of a small group of Australians in the years 1950-1953 and the sacrifice of those who did not return are not forgotten.