Australian Overseas Service
Australian Military Personnel Serving Abroad – Statistics
The purpose of this page is to provide some statistics about Australia’s involvement in the different conflicts around the world since 1860. What you see here is mostly taken from information supplied by the Australian War Memorial Research Center.
New Zealand (Anglo-Maori)
1860-1861 (Official Australian Involvement) Crew of HMVS Victoria, George Odgers in his book “Diggers” states that one sailor died during the conflict from an acidental gunshot wound (information courtesy of A Morgan).
1863-1869 approx 2,500 in N.Z. Waikato Regiments, KIA – 1st Waikato 27, 2nd Waikato 2, 3rd Waikato 1, 4th Waikato 1, (figures courtesy of Lt Herb Ricketts RL).
Sources: No 1 Waikato, NZ Gazette No 31 of May 1871.
No 2 Waikato, NZ Gazette No 31 of May 1871.
No 3 Waikato, NZ Gazette No 63 of 1869 and No 31 of 31 May 1871.
No 4 Waikato, NZ Gazette No 63 of 1869.
Lt Herb Ricketts has their names and also many Militia names, also see Len BARTONS book, Australians in the Waikato War 1863/64
Sudan
3 Mar 1885 – 8 May 1885, 770 men in the New South Wales (NSW) contingent. 9 deaths, 3 wounded.
South Africa (Boer War)
11 Oct 1899 – 1 Jun 1902, 16463 men in Colonial and Commonwealth contingents. 606 deaths, 538 wounded, 100 POW’s.
Boxer Rebellion
6 Aug 1900 – 25 Apr 1901, 560 men in the NSW, South Australia (SA) and Victoria (Vic) Colonial Naval contingents. 6 deaths, accurate wounded figures are not available.
First World War
4 Aug 1914 – 11 Nov 1918
416,809 Personnel enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (including the Australian Flying Corps)
331,781 of these people served overseas. (RAN figures are not available)
The following publication is the source of the statistics quoted here.
Statistics of the Military Effort of the British Empire During the
Great War, 1914 – 1920, London, The War Office. ISBN 0 948130 14 8
Pages 759 – 770 refer to the Australian Involvement in this War.
EMBARKATION OF AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE FROM AUSTRALIA BY ARMS
Unit Total Strength
Infantry 210,981
Machine Guns 4,476
Tunnellers 3,970
Artillery 23,387
Australian Army Medical Corps 12,945
Australian Army Service Corps 9,735
Engineers 9,950
Light Horse 30,365
Veterinary 378
Australian Flying Corps 2,275
Wireless 434
Cyclists 570
Trench Mortars 1,218
Chaplains 386
Transport Officers 531
Australian Army Nursing Service 2,054
General Reinforcements 15,071
Miscellanious ARMS returned to Australia 2,555
——-
Total Forces Overseas all theatres of War 331,781
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE
Killed in Action Died of Wounds
Officers 1,907 Officers 679
Other Ranks 37,832 Other Ranks 12,661
Died of Disease Died of Gas Poisoning
Officers 128 Officers 17
Other Ranks 3,791 Other Ranks 308
Died of Other Causes Total Deaths
Officers 95 Officers 2,826
Other Ranks 714 Other Ranks 55,306
—
Casualties that Survived
Wounded In Action Gassed
Officers 5,721 Officers 583
Other Ranks 129,963 Other Ranks 15,904
Prisoners Of War
Officers 170
Other Ranks 3,887
—
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
Officers 9,300
Other Ranks 205,060
——-
Total All Ranks 214,360
Second World War
3 Sep 1939 – VE Day on 8 May 1945 and VJ Day on 15 Aug 1945
Number of People Enlisted or Engaged
Australian Military Forces (AMF) (AIF and Militia)
Men 691,400
Women 35,800
Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
Men 45,800
Women 3,100
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
Men 189,700
Women 27,200
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
AMF 26,097
RAN 2,208
RAAF 11,061
Total 39,366
Wounded In Action
All Services 66,553
Prisoners Of War
By Germany 8,184 – 265 died while captive
By Japan 22,376 – 8,031 died while captive
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 136,479
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) – Japan 1945 – 1952
From the book “The Forgotten Force” (Author) James Wood
ISBN 1 86448 701 1 – Published by ALLEN & UNWIN
My thanks to Halton Stewart for providing this information.
12.000 men & women served in this force. (does not include Ships)
34th Brigade
65th, 66th and 67th Infantry Battalions (Approx 900 strong each)
1st Australian Armoured Cars
A Battery Royal Australian Artillery
13th R A Engineers
20th Field Ambulance
130th A G Hospital
10th Bomb Disposal
122nd Transport Platoon
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)
81st Wing
76th, 77th and 82nd Fighter Squadron
Royal Australian Navy (RAN)
HMAS Ballarat
HMAS Bataan
HMAS Cessnock
HMAS Hobart
HMAS Ipswich
HMAS Napier
HMAS Nizam
HMAS Warramunga
HMAS Shropshire
Information supplied by Neville Lindsay
HQ BCOF (Australia was the lead partner, and commanded and
supported the UK-Indian Division and NZ Brigade as
well as 34 Bde)
Add for AASC:
HQ CAASC BCOF
HQ 168 GT Coy
119 Transport Platoon
120 Transport Platoon
121 Transport Platoon
122 Transport Platoon
Det 6 MAC
168 Workshop Platoon
HQ 169 GT Coy
123 Transport Platoon
124 Transport Platoon
169 Workshop Platoon
HQ 41 ASD
252 Sup Dep Pl
253 Sup Dep Pl
254 Sup Dep Pl
256 Sup Dep Pl
257 Sup Dep Pl
258 Sup Dep Pl
47 Fd Bky
20 Fd Bchy Pl
6 Refrig Op Pl
78 BIPOD Pl
8 Port Det
The are other units – RAAOC depot
RAE (Transportation)
RAEME workshops
RA Sigs
Canteens
Amenities
This was indeed a large force, and uniquely, one where Australia was the lead partner, supporting the other Commonwealth countries.
Korean War
29 Jun 1950 – 27 Jul 1953
Number of People who served overseas
ARMY 10,657
RAN 4,507
RAAF 2,000 (approx)
Total 17,164
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
All Services 339 (All causes)
Wounded In Action
All Services 1,216
Prisoners Of War
By North Korean 29 – 1 died while captive
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 1,584
Malayan Emergency
31 May 1950 – 31 Jul 1960
Number of People who served overseas
ARMY 7,000
RAN No figures available
RAAF No figures available
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
All Services 36 (All causes)
Wounded In Action
All Services 20
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 56
Indonesian Confrontation
10 Oct 1963 – 1 Oct 1966
Number of People who served overseas
ARMY 3,500
RAN No figures available
RAAF No figures available
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
All Services 15 (All causes)
Wounded In Action
All Services 9
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 24
Vietnam War
3 Aug 1962 – 23 Dec 1973
Number of People who served overseas
ARMY 42,700
RAN 2,858
RAAF 4,443
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
All Services 520 (includes 4 missing, all causes)
Wounded In Action
All Services 2,398
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 2,918
Peacekeeping
There is very little information about Peacekeeping activities or the statistics that I would provide here. This is what is currently available as at Oct 1993.
Number of People who served overseas
ARMY No figures available
RAN No figures available
RAAF No figures available
TOTAL CASUALTIES OF THE AUSTRALIAN FORCES
Deaths
All Services 6 (all causes)
Wounded In Action
All Services No figures available
Total Battle Casualties including Deaths
All Services 6