31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment | |
---|---|
Townsville, Queensland | |
Nickname(s) | Kennedy Regiment |
Colours | Chocolate and gold |
March | John Peel |
Engagements | World War I |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (31 RQR) was a Reserve infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Although it was officially formed as 31 RQR in 1965 the battalion can trace its lineage back to units formed in 1881 as part of the colonial defence forces of the state of Queensland.
Over the course of the unit's 127-year history, the unit has largely been used for home service, although it was awarded 42
After the war the battalion underwent a number of changes in organisation and designation before 1965 when it was redesignated as the 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment. Since then the battalion has formed part of the 11th Brigade. In 1976, due to manpower shortages, the battalion was reduced to an independent rifle company before being re-raised as a full battalion again in 1986. In January 2008, the battalion was amalgamated with the 42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (42 RQR) to form the 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (31/42 RQR).
History
Early years
31 RQR can trace its lineage back to units that were formed in Queensland in the mid to late 19th century.
In 1899, the battalion was reorganised and the company at Mackay was converted to a mounted infantry unit.
World War I
With the outbreak of World War I in August 1914, the Kennedy Regiment was the first Australian military unit mobilised when 500 men volunteered for overseas service and were sent to garrison Thursday Island due to concerns of German military action in the Pacific.[1][6] This force then joined the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force for the invasion of German New Guinea, however, when the task force reached Port Moresby, their commander, Colonel William Holmes decided to leave them there as garrison troops as it was felt that they were not ready for combat.[7] The detachment was subsequently sent back to Townsville and subsequently played no further part in the war as it was decided not to deploy the militia units overseas, but rather to raise a separate force for overseas service known as the Australian Imperial Force. Despite this, many members of the Kennedy Regiment enlisted in the AIF, most of them, including the battalion's commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Toll, joining the 31st Battalion which was raised at Enoggera in Brisbane as part of the 8th Brigade in August 1915.[1][8]
The 31st Battalion, AIF, was formed with two companies from Queensland and two companies from Victoria and concentrated at Broadmeadows in Victoria before departing from
On 15 May 1918, Sergeant David Emmett Coyne was nominated for the Victoria Cross for throwing himself on a hand-grenade that he had thrown after it had accidentally bounced back off a parapet, in order to protect other soldiers. However, as this was not in the face of the enemy, the posthumous nomination was changed to that of the
Inter war years
In April 1921, the AIF was officially disbanded and the following month the militia was reformed to perpetuate the designations and battle honours of the AIF.
In 1927, territorial designations were introduced and the 31st Battalion adopted the title of the "Kennedy Regiment". The battalion's motto – Semper Paratus Defendere – was also authorised at this time.[9] At the outset, in 1921 the Citizen Forces units were maintained through a mixture of voluntary and compulsory service, but in late 1929, the scheme was suspended by the Scullin Labor government, and replaced by an all-volunteer "Militia" scheme.[16] Due to the impact of the Great Depression and a general complacency towards matters relating to defence little was spent on the military during the 1930s and there were only a limited number of volunteers.[17] As a result, by 1939, many of the battalion's subunits had been disbanded, although the unit managed to maintain its status as a battalion even though many other units were merged or disbanded in this time.[1]
World War II
Upon the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the 31st Battalion had subunits based all around northern Queensland including Townsville, Ayr, Home Hill, Bowen, Proserpine, Charters Towers and Ingham.[1] As had been the case during World War I, it was decided to raise a separate force for overseas service, this time called the Second Australian Imperial Force and again many members of the battalion volunteered, while others continued to serve on a part-time basis.[1] In this time, as part of the 2nd AIF, the 2/31st Battalion was raised, although this unit was considered separate from the 31st Battalion (Kennedy Regiment).[18] In 1940 the battalion, along with the other units of the 11th Brigade—then composed of the 26th, 31st and 51st Battalions—was called up for a short period of training as a compulsory military service scheme as part of Australia's mobilisation during World War II and they went into camp near Bowen.[17] Following Japan's entry into the war in late 1941 the militia were called up on to full-time service and the 11th Brigade began defensive duties in north Queensland.[1] In early 1943, however, it was decided to release a certain number of men serving in the militia from their compulsory service due to a civilian manpower shortage that was threatening to impact upon the needs of the wartime economy.[17] Consequently, when a large number of rural workers were released from the 31st and 51st Battalions, it was decided to amalgamate the two in April 1943.[17]
In June 1943, after undertaking amphibious training with the Americans, the 31st/51st Battalion (Kennedy and Far North Queensland Regiment) became a part of Merauke Force and were sent to Dutch Western New Guinea to carry out garrison duties, earning the distinction of being the first Australian militia unit to serve outside of Australian territory.[Note 1] In July 1944 the battalion was gazetted as an AIF unit.[19] Later, in August 1944, after being deployed for over a year, they were withdrawn back to Australia and after a period of leave and re-organisation, the 11th Brigade was deployed to Bougainville in the Solomon Islands, arriving there in December 1944.[17]
For the next ten months until Japan's surrender the 31st/51st Battalion took part in a long and costly campaign and suffered a total of 229 casualties, including 61 killed in action.[17] Responsible for the northern and central sectors of the island, the battalion initially advanced along the north-east coast, occupying a number of villages, however they did not experience their first action until they crossed the Genga River and attempted to move up the Tsimba Ridge on 17 January 1944, when they came finally in contact with the Japanese.[17] The Japanese had dug in along the ridge and heavily fortified it with bunkers and mutually supporting machine gun pits and it was only after twenty-one days of continuous fighting that the 31st/51st finally carried the position.[17] After this the battalion carried out a number of patrols throughout the northern sector, before being relieved for a rest out of the line. This rest did not last very long, however, as a company from the 31st/51st were called upon to carry out an amphibious landing at Porton, as the rest of the battalion advanced further north from the line that had been set up at Ratsua–Ruri.[17] The landing occurred on 7 June, however, the company was quickly surrounded by the Japanese and as the rest of the battalion attempted to break through to them, they were evacuated by sea.[17] This brief second campaign on Bougainville lasted until 28 June when the 11th Brigade was relieved by the 23rd Brigade. During this time the 31st/51st had suffered 100 casualties, consisting of seven missing, 14 killed and 79 wounded.[17]
The battalion took no further part in the fighting and after the Japanese surrender the battalion was moved to
Post World War II
After World War II the militia units were re-formed as part of the Citizens Military Force (CMF) and subsequently the battalion was re-raised in 1948,[20] this time as the 31st Battalion, North Queensland Regiment.[1] John Peel was approved as the battalion's regimental march in 1953.[9] In 1960, the battalion's designation was changed again when it was decided to introduce the Pentropic organisation into the Australian Army, a part of which required the reorganisation of the regionally based CMF battalions into six State based regiments.[21] As a result of this the battalion became the 2nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.[1] The battalion received its World War II battle honours in 1961, and was entrusted with those earned by the 2/31st Battalion at the same time.[9] In 1965, the Australian Army moved away from the Pentropic organisation and returned to the previous establishment and it was decided to return to the CMF battalions to their previous numerical designations.[22] This saw the battalion finally become the 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.[1] During this time the battalion's numbers fluctuated as national service was suspended in 1960, reintroduced in 1965 and then finally abolished in late 1972. Finally the strength of the unit declined to the extent that it was reduced to a company-sized element and was subsequently renamed as the 31st Independent Rifle Company in 1976.[1] On 30 October 1986 the unit regained battalion status and it was reformed once more as the 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.[1]
In 2006, the decision was made to re-organise the Brisbane-based 7th Brigade to make it a fully Regular unit. Subsequently, the two Reserve infantry battalions based at Enoggera, the 9th and 25th/49th Battalions, Royal Queensland Regiment, were re-allocated to the 11th Brigade in July 2007.[23] As a result of this, it was decided to amalgamate the two existing battalions of the 11th Brigade, so that the brigade could maintain the traditional three battalion structure. As such, on 1 January 2008, 31 RQR was amalgamated with 42 RQR to form the 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.[1]
Lineage
The following list details the lineage of 31 RQR.[1][4][17][24]
1881–1886 — Independent Rifle Companies
1886–1903 — 3rd Queensland (Kennedy) Regiment
1903–1912 — 1st Battalion, Kennedy Regiment
1912–1921 — 2nd Infantry Battalion, Kennedy Regiment
1921–1943 — 31st Battalion (Kennedy Regiment), AMF
1943–1946 — 31st/51st Battalion (Kennedy and Far North Queensland Regiment), AIF
1948–1960 — 31st Battalion, North Queensland Regiment
1960–1965 — 'C' Coy, 2nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
1965–1976 — 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
1976–1986 — 31st Independent Rifle Company
1986–2008 — 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
Battle honours
The 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment, received 42 battle honours. The first battle honour of South Africa 1899–1902 was bestowed upon the regiment due to the involvement of many men from the Kennedy Regiment in the first and second contingents of the Queensland Mounted Infantry.[1] During World War I, the 31st Battalion, AIF, received 16 battle honours, which were later passed to the 31st Battalion when it was re-raised as a militia battalion in 1921.[1] The 31st/51st Battalion earned five battle honours during World War II, while the 2/31st Battalion earned another 22, which were later passed to the Kennedy Regiment in 1948.[Note 2][1]
- Boer War: South Africa 1899–1902.
- World War I: Egypt 1915–16, Somme 1916–18, Bapaume 1917, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Ancre 1918, Amiens, Albert 1918, Mont St Quentin, Hindenburg Line, St Quentin Canal, France and Flanders 1916–18.
- World War II: Tsimba Ridge, Bonis–Porton, South-West Pacific 1942–45, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Syria 1941, Syrian Frontier, Merjayun, Jezzine, Damour, Hill 1069, Baradene, South-West Pacific 1942–1945, Kokoda Trail, Ioribaiwa, Eora Creek–Templeton's Crossing II, Oivi–Gorari, Buna–Gona, Gona, Lae–Nadzab, Lae Road, Ramu Valley, Shaggy Ridge, Borneo 1945, Balikpapan, Milford Highway.
Popular culture
In 1916, while at
See also
- Military history of Australia
- Military history of Australia during World War I
- Military history of Australia during World War II
- Royal Queensland Regiment
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ Due to provisions of the Defence Act 1903 the government was not allowed to send militia units outside of Australian territory, which at the time included New Guinea as it had become an Australian mandated territory following the end of World War I. This was later changed, by the Defence (Citizen Military Forces) Act 1943 to allow militia units to serve throughout the South West Pacific Area.
- ^ Of the 22 battle honours earned by the 2/31st Battalion, two (Liberation of Australian New Guinea and South-West Pacific 1942–45) were also awarded to the 31st/51st, hence the battalion received only 25 distinct battle honours for World War II.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "11th Brigade History". Department of Defence. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ "Jezzine Barracks Museum Proposal" (PDF). North Australian Military Heritage Association. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ Burla 2005, p. 11.
- ^ a b c d e f "31 RQR". Digger History. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ Burla 2005, p. 22.
- ^ Scott 1941, pp. 196–198.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 87.
- ^ a b c d e "31st Battalion". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Festberg 1972, p. 91.
- ^ Bean 1941, p. 42.
- ^ Grey 2008 pp. 99–100.
- ^ "REL/18689.001 – Albert Medal in Gold : Sergeant D E Coyne, 31 Battalion, AIF". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ "Sgt Coyne, no VC but unique recognition". Digger History. Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
- ^ "Australian Infantry Unit Colour Patches 1921–1949". Digger History. Archived from the original on 15 November 2010. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
- ^ Shaw 2010, p. 9.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "31st/51st Battalion (Kennedy and Far North Queensland Regiment)". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 27 July 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
- ^ "2/31st Battalion, AIF, World War II". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
- ^ Davidson 1999, p. 21.
- ^ Burla 2005, p. 362.
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 227–228.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 239.
- ^ McBean 2007.
- ^ Burla 2005, pp. 573–574.
- Cairns Post. Vol. XXIX, no. 2429. Queensland, Australia. 12 February 1916. p. 4. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
- Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXI, no. 9903. Queensland, Australia. 5 August 1914. p. 4. Retrieved 23 January 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
References
- OCLC 220623454.
- Burla, Robert (2005). Crossed Boomerangs: The History of all the 31 Battalions. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Publications. ISBN 978-1-876439-67-5.
- Davidson, Audrey (2005). Porton: A Deadly Trap – The Facts About the Battle of Porton Plantation, Bougainville, 1945. Moorooka, Queensland: Boolarong Press. ISBN 978-0-646-44766-7.
- 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.
- McBean, Graham (2007). "Historic transfer". Army: The Soldiers' Newspaper (1170 ed.). from the original on 15 May 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2009.
- Scott, Ernest (1941). Australia During the War. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. XI (7th ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 7466425.
- Shaw, Peter (2010). "The Evolution of the Infantry State Regiment System in the Army Reserve". Sabretache. LI (4 (December)). Garran, Australian Capital Territory: Military Historical Society of Australia: 5–12. ISSN 0048-8933.
External links
- Colonial uniform of the Kennedy Regiment
- Collar badge of the Kennedy Regiment[permanent dead link]
- Affoo, Fred A, The Kennedy regiment waltz, W. H. Paling & Co, retrieved 23 January 2017 (digitised version)