More than 18,000 Australian defence personnel served in Korea and Japan during the war and post-armistice periods.
Thirty Australians suffered harsh conditions in North Korean prisoner-of-war (POW) camps. They endured extremely cold winters, malnutrition, solitary confinement, political interrogation and communist indoctrination. Only one Australian died while in captivity.
Losing comrades to death, capture or medical evacuation affected the wellbeing of the remaining personnel. They had to retrieve dead and wounded friends under fire and reoccupy positions left vacant by casualties. Combat personnel relied heavily on friendship and mutual support to control their fear and continue fighting for survival.
Many Australian personnel were based in Japan. They provided vital administrative and logistics support, aircraft maintenance and courier airlifts between Japan and Korea throughout the conflict and post-armistice period.
Medical personnel, including over 200 military nurses, served in Japan and Korea. Army nurses worked in primitive, unheated field hospitals in Seoul, under threat of air raids. RAAF nurses managed dangerous air evacuation flights, caring for casualties transported to base hospitals. Medical staff treated severe wounds, burns and frostbite and comforted the dying.
Despite the severe conditions and personal challenges, Australian personnel across the Navy, Army and Air Force demonstrated exceptional endurance during the war and the post-armistice period.
