23rd Battalion (Australia)
23rd Battalion | |
---|---|
Active | 1915–1919 1921–1929 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~1,000 men |
Part of | 6th Brigade, 2nd Division |
Colours | Brown over red |
Engagements | World War I |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 23rd Battalion was an
History
World War I
Formation
The 23rd Battalion was raised in
Gallipoli
While they were training, the Allies launched the
Following their withdrawal from Gallipoli, the 23rd Battalion was moved to Lemnos Island, where they remained until January 1916 when they were transferred back to Egypt.[14] At this time, the AIF was reorganised and expanded in preparation for future operations. Two new infantry divisions were formed from the experienced troops of the 1st Division who had deployed to Gallipoli at the start of the campaign, while a third division was raised in Australia from scratch. The 2nd Division was largely left untouched, so that it could complete its formation which had been interrupted by its deployment to Gallipoli.[15] The 23rd subsequently spent the early months of 1916 rebuilding its strength and conducting further training in preparation for its transfer to Europe.[16]
Western Front
After arriving in France in March, the battalion moved to the
In early 1918, Russian resistance on the
Following the end of hostilities, the demobilisation process began and slowly the battalion's numbers began to dwindle as its personnel were repatriated back to Australia and returned to civilian life. The 23rd Battalion was disbanded in Belgium on 30 April 1919. Throughout its service during the war, it suffered 686 killed and 2,317 wounded (including gassed).[1] For its involvement during the war, the 23rd Battalion received a total of 19 battle honours; these were bestowed upon the battalion in 1927.[32]
Re-raising and subsequent amalgamation
In 1921, the decision was made to perpetuate the battle honours and traditions of the AIF by re-organising the units of the Citizens Forces to adopt the numerical designations of the AIF units with which they were affiliated.[33] As a result of this decision, the 23rd Battalion was re-raised in Victoria, drawing personnel from the 2nd and 5th Battalions, 23rd Infantry Regiment, and part of the 29th Light Horse Regiment,[34] and perpetuating the battle honours of its AIF predecessor.[35] It later adopted the title of the "23rd Battalion (The City of Geelong Regiment)" when territorial titles were introduced in 1927.[36] At the same time it was granted the motto Nulli Secundus.[37] In 1928, the battalion was part of the 2nd Brigade, within the 3rd Military District.[38]
Initially, the Citizen Forces units were maintained through a mixture of voluntary and compulsory service, but in late 1929, following the election of the Scullin Labor government, the compulsory training scheme was abolished and this, coupled with the economic privations of the Great Depression drastically reduced the number of recruits available.[39] As a result, the decision was made to amalgamate a number of units.[40] The 23rd Battalion was one of those chosen and it was linked with the 21st Battalion to become the 23rd/21st Battalion,[34] adopting the territorial designation of "The City of Geelong Regiment/The Victoria Rangers".[41] This battalion undertook garrison duties in the Northern Territory during World War II, before being disbanded in August 1943 as being surplus to Army requirements without having served overseas.[42][43] After the war, following the demobilisation of the wartime Army, Australia's part-time military was re-formed in 1948,[44] but the 23rd Battalion was not re-raised at the time. In 1961, although the battalion was in a state of suspended animation, it was entrusted with the 13 battle honours awarded to the 2/23rd Battalion for its service in North Africa and New Guinea during World War II.[32]
Commanding officers
During World War I, the following officers served as commanding officer of the 23rd Battalion:
- George Frederick Morton;
- George Hodges Knox;
- Wilfred Kent Fethers;
- William Brazenor;
- William Joseph Bateman.[1]
Battle honours
The 23rd Battalion was awarded the following battle honours:
- World War I:
- World War II:
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ At 30 November 1917, there were 160 German divisions on the Western Front. Following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, this rose to 208.[26]
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "23rd Battalion". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ a b Austin 1998, p. 1.
- ^ Kuring 2004, p. 47.
- ^ Roberts 2013, p. 8.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 4.
- ^ Mallett, Ross. "Part B: Branches – Infantry Battalions". First AIF Order of Battle 1914–1918. Australian Defence Force Academy. Archived from the original on 28 April 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2012.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 9.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 20.
- ^ Austin 1998, pp. 20–21.
- ^ Cameron 2011, p. 174.
- ^ a b Cameron 2011, p. 150.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 44.
- ^ Cameron 2011, p. 265.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 50.
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 99–100.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 56.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 74.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 125
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 117.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 121.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 124.
- ^ Bean 1941a, p. 848
- ^ Bean 1941a, p. 876.
- ^ Bean 1941a, pp. 843–844.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 1998, pp. 132–133.
- ^ a b Baldwin 1962, p. 126.
- ^ Bean 1941b, p. 407.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 108.
- ^ Bean 1942, p. 297.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 188.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 109.
- ^ a b Festberg 1972, pp. 83–84.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
- ^ a b Festberg 1972, p. 83.
- ^ Austin 1998, p. 213.
- ^ Stanley, Peter. "Broken Lineage: The Australian Army's Heritage of Discontinuity" (PDF). A Century of Service. Army History Unit. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
- ^ a b c Festberg 1972, p. 84.
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 102.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 138.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 44.
- ^ Kuring 2004, p. 111.
- ^ "23/21 Battalion". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
- ^ Kuring 2004, p. 215
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 200.
References
- Austin, Ron (1998). Forward Undeterred: The History of the 23rd Battalion 1915–1918. McCrae, Victoria: Slouch Hat Publications. ISBN 0-9585296-0-4.
- Baldwin, Hanson (1962). World War I: An Outline History. London: Hutchinson. OCLC 988365.
- OCLC 41008291.
- Bean, Charles (1941a). The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. IV (11th ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus and Robertson. OCLC 215762427.
- Bean, Charles (1941b). The Australian Imperial Force in France during the Main German Offensive, 1918. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. V (8th ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Angus and Robertson. OCLC 220898057.
- Cameron, David (2011). Gallipoli: The Final Battles and Evacuation of Anzac. Newport, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 978-0-9808140-9-5.
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-611-2.
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- OCLC 7185705.
- Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-99-8.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army: A History of Its Organisation 1901–2001. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551507-2.
- Roberts, Chris (2013). The Landing at Anzac 1915. Australian Army Campaigns Series # 12. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. ISBN 978-1-92213-220-8.