Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

The Korea Medal

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Overview

The Korea Medal, sometimes referred to as the Queen's Korea Medal to distinguish it from the United Nations Service Medal, is a campaign medal created in 1951 to recognize troops from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom for service during the Korean War
Designed by Edward Carter Preston, the Korea Medal is a 36 millimetres diameter cupro-nickel disc. On the obverse is an effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, surrounded by an inscription, symbolizing her roles as both fount of honour and Commander-in-Chief of her various forces. At the time of the medal's creation, King George VI was monarch and his effigy was to have appeared on the Korea Medal. However, he died on 6 February 1952 and so the image of his daughter was placed on the obverse of the medal, uncrowned, as per custom for sovereigns prior to their coronation.
This medal is suspended from a bar on a 31.8 millimetres wide ribbon with five vertical stripes in alternating yellow and blue, the latter representing the United Nations. A single bronze oak leaf emblem was issued to signify a Mention in Despatches, On the reverse is a depiction of Hercules wrestling the Hydra—a symbolic representation of communism—with the word KOREA below.

Historical information

The Korean War was the first event in which United Nations (UN) armed forces took on a combat role in suppressing aggression. Armed intervention involved the participation of 20 UN member states, as well as South Korea and Italy to stop the North Korean takeover of South Korea. . South Africa produced its own version of the Korea Medal. The Korea Medal holds a different place in each country's order of precedence for honours. All persons awarded the Korea Medal also automatically received the United Nations Service Medal for Korea.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-168

Inscriptions and markings

The recipient's name, rank and regimental number is impressed on the medal's rim.

Contextual Information

The Army Museum of Western Australia has 35 examples of The Korea Medal in its collection.
Multiple examples of this medal are retained as an ongoing memorial to the service and sacrifice of Western Australians. Medals are displayed in context throughout the Museum. All medals are identified, archivally stored and those not on display are accessible and viewable with prior notice.

Geotag

37.895383232839, 126.74308262772

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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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