18th Brigade (Australia)

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18th Brigade
Second World War
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Leslie Morshead
Insignia
Headquarters unit colour patch

The 18th Brigade was an

Fall of France. In early 1941, the brigade was transferred to the Middle East where it later took part in fighting against the Italians in Libya and then helped to defend the besieged port of Tobruk before fighting against the Vichy French in the Syria–Lebanon campaign. The 18th Brigade was withdrawn to Australia in early 1942, and it later took part in the fighting against the Japanese in Pacific fighting several campaigns in New Guinea between late 1942 and early 1944. Its final involvement of the war came in mid-1945 when it took part in re-taking Balikpapan
. Following the end of hostilities, the 18th Brigade was disbanded on 3 January 1946.

History

Formation

The 18th Brigade briefly existed as

First World War. It remained on the order of battle as a Militia formation during the war,[2] but was not re-raised in the interwar years when the Militia was reorganised to replicate the numerical designations of the AIF in 1921.[3][4]

During the

Second World War, the 18th Brigade was formed on 13 October 1939 as part of the 6th Division.[5] The brigade's headquarters was opened at Victoria Barracks at Paddington, New South Wales.[6] Upon formation the brigade consisted of the following infantry battalions: the 2/9th, the 2/10th, the 2/11th and the 2/12th Battalions, which were raised from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.[7] Rudimentary training was conducted in home locations, before the brigade came together at Rutherford, New South Wales, in December 1939. This was followed by a further move to Ingleburn, New South Wales.[6]

Following training, the brigade was dispatched to the

cadre to the newly formed 25th Brigade and became part of the 9th Division when it was raised in October 1940.[7]

Middle East

Later, when the threat of invasion of the United Kingdom decreased, the decision was made to transfer the Australian forces there to the

6th Division Cavalry Regiment feigned an attack from the north at the strongest point of the fortress.[13] A heavy sandstorm obscured visibility, which hindered the supporting artillery and resulted in a number of casualties when one company moved beyond the barrage.[11] Nevertheless, heavy fighting followed and resistance continued until 2:00 pm when the Italians surrendered.[13] About 250 Italians were killed and 1,300 captured for the loss of 17 Australians killed and 77 wounded.[11] Following the attack, the 18th Brigade returned to Ikingi Maryut.[14]

Soldiers stand at the base of a sandstone structure in the desert whilst a flag is unfurled on top of the building
Soldiers from the 2/9th hoist a flag consisting of the battalion's unit colour patch over the recently captured Italian fort at Giarabub.

Plans were made for the 18th Brigade to deploy to

Greece, but a German offensive in Libya resulted in the 7th Division being retained in North Africa. In April, the brigade was sent to Tobruk where they took part in the defence of the port between May and August 1941,[15] alongside elements of the 9th Division. In May, the Germans managed to break into the Allied perimeter, penetrating towards an area dubbed "The Salient". The 18th Brigade subsequently led the Australian counterattack in conjunction with the 26th Brigade. Once the perimeter was restored, the brigade rotated through the various defensive sectors around the perimeter until they were relieved by a Polish brigade in August, and withdrawn to Palestine.[6] In September 1941, the brigade rejoined the rest of the 7th Division, which had been taking part in the fighting against Vichy French forces in the Syria–Lebanon campaign.[16] Following the armistice the division was allocated the task of undertaking garrison duties and the 18th Brigade was subsequently stationed at Aleppo, near the Turkish border to guard against a potential German attack through Turkey.[17] Elements of the brigade were also deployed to Idlib, and patrols were mounted along the border.[6]

New Guinea

The 18th Brigade returned to Australia in early 1942 following the outbreak of the

John French, of the 2/9th Battalion, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for his actions during the fighting on 4 September 1942.[23]

Later, as the 7th Division was assigned to the advance on the Japanese bases on the Papuan coast around

Buna in mid-December 1942 with the 2/9th Battalion landing at Oro Bay on 15 December.[25] On 21 January 1943, the brigade captured Sanananda alongside the US 163rd Infantry Regiment.[26] They were finally withdrawn back to Australia on 10 March 1943.[27] During the fighting around Buna, the 18th Brigade suffered 425 men killed and more than 800 wounded. This represented 96 per cent of the brigade's strength at the start of the campaign.[28]

Soldiers in tropical uniforms stand around a map prior to a patrol
Soldiers from the 2/10th prepare for a patrol, Milne Bay, September 1942

By the time that the brigade returned to Australia, it was down to only 44 per cent of its authorised strength.

Finisterre Range campaign the brigade remained in reserve around Port Moresby,[34] while the other two brigades of the 7th Division, the 21st and 25th Brigades, were deployed to defend the approaches to Lae.[35] They remained there until 4 January 1944 when the brigade was transported by air to Dumpu to relieve the 21st Brigade around Shaggy Ridge,[36] subsequently taking part in the fighting around the Kankiryo Saddle, Prothero I and II and Crater Hill.[37] Following the conclusion of the fighting around Shaggy Ridge in February, the brigade remained in New Guinea until May 1944 when they were withdrawn back to Australia for re-organisation.[38]

Borneo

Following the brigade's return to Australia, it was reconstituted at Strathpine, Queensland, before later moving to Kairi. A long period of reorganisation and training followed, before the brigade moved to Morotai, in the Dutch East Indies, May 1945.[39] The brigade's final involvement in the war came when they landed at Balikpapan in Borneo on 1 July 1945,[7][40] as part of efforts to secure the port facilities and oilfields located there. Coming ashore in the first wave, the 18th Brigade was allocated to the landings around Klandasan, on the Allied left.[39] Following the initial landing, the 18th Brigade, supported by 'D' Company, 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion,[41] secured the high ground around Klandasan. On 3 July they captured the town of Balikpapan and secured its port before being relieved by the 25th Brigade.[42] The 2/9th Battalion was detached, along with the 2/1st Pioneer Battalion, to clear the western side of the bay around Panadjam, while the rest of the brigade undertook further patrols around Balikpapan.[39][43] By the end of the month, the Australians began mopping up operations, and these continued until the Japanese surrendered. Following the completion of hostilities in August, the brigade remained on Borneo as the demobilisation process began. The 18th Brigade was disbanded on 3 January 1946 at Balikpapan after its component battalions were disbanded throughout December 1945 and January 1946.[44][45][46]

Commanders

The following officers served as commanding officer of the 18th Brigade:[47]

Notes

  1. ^ Australian Military Forces 1912, p. 23.
  2. ^ Kuring 2004, p. 108.
  3. ^ Palazzo 2001, pp. 68 & 91.
  4. ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
  5. ^ a b c "18 Australian Infantry Brigade: History". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2087.
  7. ^ a b c "18th Brigade". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  8. ^ a b Johnston 2005, p. 4.
  9. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 6.
  10. ^ Johnston 2005, pp. 2–3.
  11. ^ a b c Johnston 2005, p. 22.
  12. ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 179.
  13. ^ a b Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 180.
  14. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 25.
  15. ^ Wilmot 1993, pp. 88, 150–151 and 280.
  16. ^ James 2017
  17. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 71.
  18. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 77.
  19. ^ Brune 2004, p. 279.
  20. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 85.
  21. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 84.
  22. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 92.
  23. ^ Johnston 2005, pp. 91–92.
  24. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 124.
  25. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 140.
  26. ^ Keogh 1965, p. 276.
  27. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 162.
  28. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 161.
  29. ^ a b Johnston 2005, p. 164.
  30. ^ Dexter 1961, p. 268.
  31. ^ "1 Australian Motor Brigade: History". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  32. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 165.
  33. ^ Dexter 1961, p. 269.
  34. ^ Bradley 2004, p. 179.
  35. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 181.
  36. ^ Keogh 1965, p. 352.
  37. ^ Johnston 2005, pp. 196–205.
  38. ^ Johnston 2005, p. 207.
  39. ^ a b c McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2089.
  40. ^ Keogh 1965, p. 461.
  41. ^ "2/1st Machine Gun Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 13 April 2011.
  42. ^ Keogh 1965, p. 462.
  43. ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 254.
  44. ^ "2/9th Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  45. ^ "2/10th Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  46. ^ "2/12th Battalion". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
  47. ^ "18 Australian Infantry Brigade: Unit Appointments". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 31 March 2011.[permanent dead link]

References

External links

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