Canada and the Korean War
Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum
Canada participated in the Korean War of 1950-53 as part of the United Nations.
As a former Japanese possession, Korea had been divided between the USSR, occupying the North, and the US, occupying the South, following the Second World War. The country remained divided and a Communist government was installed in the North. The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when forces from Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States led a United Nations coalition to repel the invaders. Canada joined the UN coalition and sent its armed forces to fight on the Korean peninsula to help stop Communist expansion.
The first Canadian contribution to the conflict came with the dispatch to Korean waters of the destroyers HMCS Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux on 12 July 1950. The RCAF also began regular trans-Pacific flights to Japan to support UN operations in Korea.
Canada's peacetime army in 1950 was tiny, consisting of some 20,000 all ranks. The government therefore decided to raise a volunteer force, the Canadian Army Special Force (CASF) for service in Korea. The majority of CASF volunteers were veterans of the Second World War. Later, regular Canadian army units were rotated to the front in Korea.
Canada participated in Korea for three years, on land, sea and in the air. Much of the land combat took place in very harsh conditions. Canadian units distinguished themselves during these actions, including the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which received a US Presidential Unit Citation.
In all, 26,791 Canadians served in the Korean War. Of these, 516 lost their lives. Canada had shown it was willing to stand by the United Nations and its allies to stop aggression.
Sherman tank of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), 1952.
Photo credit Department of National Defence
Canada and the Korean War
Diefenbunker: Canada's Cold War Museum
Canada participated in the Korean War of 1950-53 as part of the United Nations.
As a former Japanese possession, Korea had been divided between the USSR, occupying the North, and the US, occupying the South, following the Second World War. The country remained divided and a Communist government was installed in the North. The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 when forces from Communist North Korea invaded South Korea. The United States led a United Nations coalition to repel the invaders. Canada joined the UN coalition and sent its armed forces to fight on the Korean peninsula to help stop Communist expansion.
The first Canadian contribution to the conflict came with the dispatch to Korean waters of the destroyers HMCS Cayuga, Athabaskan and Sioux on 12 July 1950. The RCAF also began regular trans-Pacific flights to Japan to support UN operations in Korea.
Canada's peacetime army in 1950 was tiny, consisting of some 20,000 all ranks. The government therefore decided to raise a volunteer force, the Canadian Army Special Force (CASF) for service in Korea. The majority of CASF volunteers were veterans of the Second World War. Later, regular Canadian army units were rotated to the front in Korea.
Canada participated in Korea for three years, on land, sea and in the air. Much of the land combat took place in very harsh conditions. Canadian units distinguished themselves during these actions, including the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, which received a US Presidential Unit Citation.
In all, 26,791 Canadians served in the Korean War. Of these, 516 lost their lives. Canada had shown it was willing to stand by the United Nations and its allies to stop aggression.
Sherman tank of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), 1952.
Photo credit Department of National Defence