During the Korean War and post-armistice period, 153 Australian military nurses served in Japan and Korea between 1950 and 1956. Working in primitive, harsh conditions with scarce supplies, they treated battle casualties, weather-related illnesses and psychological trauma at mobile surgical units in Seoul and base hospitals in Kure. Air Force nurses also managed critical air evacuation flights, transporting nearly 13,000 wounded Commonwealth personnel to Japan and over 700 home to Australia.
A total of one hundred and fifty-three Australian nurses served in Commonwealth hospital units during the Korean War …
They tended to battle casualties, health problems and the transportation of patients. Australian nurses, usually no more than 30 at any time, were based mainly in Japan but also served in Korea.
In Korea, nurses of the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service (RAAFNS) and the Royal Australian Army Nursing Service (RAANS) worked at the British Commonwealth Medical Zone Mobile Surgical Hospital in Seoul.
Their task was to care for the wounded and sick there. Apart from the wounded, nurses treated a wide variety of ailments brought on by the summer heat and harsh winters, remote mountain fighting and trench warfare. Trench foot, known in Korea as 'rice-paddy feet', incapacitated many front-line troops, and minor skin complaints could become serious in the prevailing conditions.
The nurses placed a strong emphasis on patients' personal hygiene and on obtaining fresh food and water supplies.
A Medical Evacuation Unit staffed by the RAAFNS prepared the patients for air transportation and accompanied them on flights to Iwakuni in Japan. From 1950 to 1953, 12,762 Commonwealth wounded and sick flew this route.
Based at Iwakuni, other nurses served in hospital trains, taking casualties to the British Commonwealth General Hospital in Kure, where most Australian nurses worked. No 1 Ward there was entirely staffed by Australians.
RAAFNS sisters also accompanied the 728 patients who were flown from Japan to Australia via Guam (or Manila) and Port Moresby.
The nurses were trained civilian nurses who joined the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force for a 4-year enlistment.
All nursing personnel in Korea did rifle and pistol training because there was a fear that they may have to defend themselves if North Korean and Chinese troops did not respect the Red Cross or the Geneva Conventions.
The nurses in Korea were often placed in primitive and harsh conditions. Basic supplies like medicines, boots, socks and blankets were hard to acquire. Improvisation was essential to maintain even basic sanitation and small comforts.
Nurses were required to assist with psychologically affected casualties for which they had had very little training.
Australian nurses served a one-year tour of duty in Korea or Japan.
The last Australian military nurses departed in 1956.
