What was Canada's role in the Korean War?

Canada deployed about 26,791 Canadian Armed Forces personnel to the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 as part of a 16-nation United Nations force led by the United States. About 516 Canadians died in the conflict (309 killed in action) and 1,212 were wounded. Canadian participation included three Royal Canadian Navy destroyers on rotation and Royal Canadian Air Force transports, plus the Canadian Army's contribution centred on the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group. Canada's Korean War deployment was its largest combat operation between the Second World War and the post-2001 Afghanistan mission.

The Korean War began on June 25, 1950 when North Korean forces invaded South Korea. The United Nations Security Council (with the Soviet Union absent in protest over the Republic of China's UN seat) passed Resolution 82 on June 25, calling for the withdrawal of North Korean forces, and Resolution 83 on June 27, recommending UN member states provide military assistance. The 16-nation UN coalition was led by the United States. Canada quickly committed three RCN destroyers (HMCS Cayuga, HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Sioux), an RCAF transport squadron (426 'Thunderbird' Squadron), and (after public pressure for ground forces) the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group of about 5,000 troops.

The Canadian Army's most famous engagement was the Battle of Kapyong (April 22 to 25, 1951). Chinese forces broke through South Korean and US lines and threatened to outflank UN positions. The 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) under Lieutenant-Colonel J.R. 'Big Jim' Stone held Hill 677 against repeated Chinese attacks despite being isolated and short of ammunition. The 2 PPCLI's stand on April 24 to 25, 1951 prevented a broader UN front collapse. The 2 PPCLI received the United States Presidential Unit Citation for the action (only one of three Canadian units ever to receive this honour). About 10 Canadians were killed and 23 wounded at Kapyong.

Canadian forces participated in the Battle of Hill 355 (October to November 1951), the static warfare period of 1951 to 1953, and the Battle of Hook (May 28 to 29, 1953, just before the armistice). The Korean Armistice Agreement of July 27, 1953 ended major hostilities but did not produce a formal peace treaty (Korea remains technically at war today). Canadian forces remained in Korea on the UN Korean Service Force until 1957. Lester B. Pearson (External Affairs Minister 1948 to 1957) was a central figure in the diplomatic management of the Korean War, including in the Indian-led Neutral Nations Repatriation Commission. Canadian Korean War veterans were granted the Korea Volunteer Service Medal and the United Nations Service Medal Korea. The Korean War is sometimes called Canada's 'Forgotten War' but is commemorated by the Canadian Korea Veterans Association, the Korea Veterans Memorial Wall at Brampton's Meadowvale Cemetery, and Brampton's Memorial Wall.