14th Brigade (Australia)

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
14th Brigade (Australia)
Soldiers of the 54th Battalion at Peronne, September 1918
Active1912–1960
Country Australia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
Size~3,500 – 4,000 men
EngagementsWorld War I

World War II

Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 14th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Originally raised in 1912 as a Militia formation, it was later re-raised in 1916 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I, the brigade was assigned to the 5th Division and served on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918 before being disbanded. It was later re-raised as part of the Australia's part-time military forces during the inter-war years. During World War II, the brigade was a Militia formation and it took part briefly in the New Guinea campaign with elements of the brigade undertaking defensive duties around Port Moresby before taking part in the fighting along the Kokoda Track and around the Japanese beachheads at Buna–Gona. The brigade was disbanded in mid-1943 as part of a rationalisation of Australian military forces as a result of manpower shortages.

History

The 14th Brigade traces its origins to 1912, when it was formed as a Militia brigade as part of the introduction of the

Glenferrie, Northcote, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, and Richmond.[1]

World War I

During World War I, the brigade was re-raised in mid-1916 in Egypt as part of the expansion of the

cadre of experienced personnel drawn from the 1st Brigade who had fought at Gallipoli, and reinforced by new recruits from Australia.[2] With a strength of around 3,500 to 4,000 men who were organised into four infantry battalions – the 53rd, 54th, 55th and 56th Battalions – the brigade was assigned to the 5th Division.[3] The brigade also later raised the 14th Australian Machine Gun Company and the 14th Australian Trench Mortar Battery, although the machine-gunners were later removed from the brigade and formed into the Australian 5th Machine Gun Battalion in February 1918.[4]

Members of the 53rd Battalion at Fromelles; three of the men survived the battle, all wounded.

In mid-1916, the AIF's infantry divisions were transferred to France, to join the fighting along the

Somme, the battle proved disastrous for the Australians and, due to the heavy casualties the division suffered, it was later described as "the worst 24 hours in Australia's entire history".[6]

For the next two years, the brigade took part in several major operations. In early 1917, the Germans shortened their lines and withdrew to the prepared positions of the

Third Battle of Ypres. Early the following year, the collapse of the Russian Empire enabled the Germans to transfer a large number of troops from the Eastern Front to the west, and they subsequently launched the Spring Offensive.[7] As the offensive drove the Allies back, the brigade was transferred south from Belgium to the Somme, with its infantry battalions manning positions around Villers-Bretonneux, where they were involved in heavy fighting during the Second Battle of Villers-Bretonneux securing flanking positions to the north of the town, resisting heavy attack.[8]

After the German offensive was halted, in the lull that followed the brigade took part in the

Arthur Hall.[11]

Inter-war years

After the cessation of hostilities, the brigade was disbanded in 1919 as part of the demobilisation of the AIF. It was re-raised again in 1921 within the 2nd Military District as Australia's part-time military, the Citizens Force was reorganised to perpetuate the designations of the AIF units.[12] At this time, the 14th Brigade consisted of four battalions – the 3rd, 53rd, 55th, and 56th – and was headquartered at Marrickville, New South Wales.[13] From the outset of their re-formation, the Citizens Forces units were staffed through a mixture of voluntary and compulsory service, but as throughout the 1920s, as a result of economic pressures, the scope of the compulsory service scheme was reduced, and finally in late 1929, the scheme was suspended completely by the Scullin Labor government, and replaced by an all-volunteer "Militia" scheme.[14]

The 55th Battalion receives its Colours in a ceremony at Liverpool, New South Wales, in 1927.

Throughout the 1930s, the economic impact of the

Arthur Allan commanded the brigade, remaining in command until after the outbreak of World War II.[17]

World War II and post war

In September 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, the brigade was mobilised for war service and Brigadier Walter Smith was appointed commander. With a strength of around 3,500 men, it consisted of the 3rd, 34th and 55th/53rd Battalions and was assigned to the 2nd Division.[17] In early war plans, the brigade was assigned a defensive role around Sydney and Port Kembla.[18] As a result of the provisions of the Defence Act, which initially precluded units of the Militia from being deployed outside Australian territory, throughout the early years of the war the brigade was used as a garrison force, defending mainland Australia and providing training to recruits called up under the provisions of the compulsory training scheme, which was reinstated in January 1940.[19] Periods of continuous training were undertaken around Bathurst, New South Wales, initially before the brigade was moved to Newcastle, New South Wales, to occupy a position in reserve, to reinforce troops in the forward areas in the event of an invasion.[20] The defences around Port Kembla were taken over by the 28th Brigade at this time.[18]

The brigade moved to

Second Battle of Eora Creek – Templeton's Crossing and the Battle of Oivi–Gorari. Later, the battalion was committed to the assault on the Japanese beachheads around Buna–Gona.[25]

The 55th Battalion subsequently served in

Sanananda,[28] before rejoining the 14th Brigade when it was transferred north to Gona where they briefly took part in the fighting there throughout January 1943.[29]

Other units that were assigned to the brigade around this time were the 49th Battalion (11–21 August 1942), and the 39th Battalion (18–27 September 1942).[17] Its divisional assignments were changed a number of times after the outbreak of the war as it was moved from the 2nd Division to New Guinea Force in May 1942, the 7th Division in September 1942, the 11th Division in February 1943 and then finally to the 4th Division in March 1943.[17] By April 1943, the 14th Brigade had returned to Australia,[30] and became part of Yorkforce around Townsville.[31] On 11 September 1943 it was disbanded,[17] as manpower shortages required the Australian Army to merge or disband a number of Militia formations to reallocate resources elsewhere. Upon disbandment, the brigade consisted of two battalions, the 55th/53rd and the 36th. The brigade's final commander was Brigadier Ian Fullarton, who took over from Smith on 31 March 1943.[17] The brigade's headquarters was retained, however, and used to raise the headquarters for Goodenough Force at Milne Bay, in New Guinea, underneath the 5th Infantry Division. They were later redesignated as headquarters Milne Bay Fortress before becoming Milne Bay Base Sub Area in October 1943 and then Area Command, Milne Bay in October 1944, retaining this designation as part of the First Army until the end of the war.[31]

In the post war period, the 14th Brigade was briefly re-raised as a part-time formation following the implementation of a conscription scheme that required those called up to serve within the Citizens Military Force. Between 1951 and 1960 it formed part of the 2nd Division, under Eastern Command. The brigade was disbanded when the scheme ended.[32][33]

Notes

  1. ^ Australian Military Forces 1912, pp. 17–18.
  2. ^ Grey 2008, p. 100.
  3. ^ Australian Military Units: First World War, 1914–1918.
  4. ^ a b The 5th Australian Division in 1914–1918.
  5. ^ Stevenson 2007, p. 190.
  6. ^ McMullin 2006.
  7. ^ Baldwin 1962, pp. 126 & 141.
  8. ^ 53rd Battalion.
  9. ^ Grey 2008, p. 109.
  10. ^ First AIF Order of Battle 1914–1918.
  11. ^ The Sunday Mail 25 April 1993, pp. 61–100.
  12. ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
  13. ^ Australian Infantry Colour Patches 1921–1949.
  14. ^ Shaw 2010, p. 9.
  15. ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 46–50.
  16. ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 60, 110 & 112.
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Orders of Battle.
  18. ^ a b McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2077.
  19. ^ Grey 2008, p. 146.
  20. ^ a b c 55th Battalion (New South Wales Regiment).
  21. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, pp. 2077–2078.
  22. ^ Brune 2004, p. 561.
  23. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 111–112.
  24. ^ Dean 2013, p. 231.
  25. ^ 3rd Battalion.
  26. ^ McCarthy 1959, p. 244.
  27. ^ Australian Military Units: Second World War, 1939–1945.
  28. ^ 36th Battalion.
  29. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 512, 518–519 & 526.
  30. ^ Dexter 1961, pp. 16–17.
  31. ^ a b McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2079.
  32. ^ "History of the 2nd Division". Australian Army. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  33. ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 238.

References

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=14th_Brigade_(Australia)&oldid=1056795512"