Commonwealth Troops in Korea

The Korean War saw the Cold War turn hot. It was technically a United Nations action although the USA took the principle leadership role against the Communist forces. The Commonwealth supplied a very substantial contingent. This picture shows New Zealand forces loading a US helicopter to supply Australian forces. The Korean War put a significant strain on the finances of Britain and the Commonwealth nations. The fight against Communism was proving to be an expensive luxury for a cash strapped Britain. It did, however, convince the US to mollify its previous antagonistic attitude towards the British Empire. Previously, the US had been keen to see Britain lose its colonies but as independent ex-colonies looked towards the USSR or underwent communist insurgencies the Americans had second thoughts on Empire. The US began to supply money and armaments to Britain and the other European colonial powers to fight communist insurgents before handing power over to any local rulers.