Over 27,000 Australians were killed and 23,000 wounded in action during World War II. In addition, hundreds more servicemen and women were killed and injured in accidents during the war.
Casualties by service
The following table is taken from The Final Campaigns by Gavin Long. It excludes deaths and illnesses from natural causes, including disease.Long (1963), pg 633–634. RANArmyRAAFTotalWar against Germany, Italy and Vichy FranceKilled in action900261050368546Died of wounds370058761Died of wounds while POW56965Died of sickness or injury while POW9595Presumed died while POW9114105Total killed903355251179572POW escaped, recovered or repatriated25687410207919Wounded and injured in action (cases)2689255299480War against JapanKilled in action840629411408274Died of wounds411090651196Died of wounds while POW5050Died of sickness or injury while POW53365336Presumed died while POW11623911382645Total killed99715161134317501POW escaped, recovered or repatriated2381387223514345Wounded and injured in action (cases)5531319125313997All theatres of warKilled in action17408904617616820Died of wounds4417901231957Died of wounds while POW01069115Died of sickness or injury while POW0543105431Presumed died while POW11624821522750Total killed190018713646027073POW escaped, recovered or repatriated26320746125522264Wounded and injured in action (cases)5792211678223477
Non-battle casualties The Australian Army suffered 1,165 killed and died of injuries in operational areas and a further 33,396 soldiers were wounded or injured. Casualties in non-operational areas were also significant, with 2,051 soldiers being killed or dying of injuries and 121,800 being wounded or injured. These figures also exclude deaths and illnesses from natural causes. The RAN suffered 177 non-battle casualties and the RAAF 6,271.Long (1963), pg 635.
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