1st Armoured Brigade (Australia)

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1st Armoured Brigade
RH Nimmo
Brigadier D Macarthur-Onslow

The 1st Armoured Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in July 1941, at Greta, New South Wales from volunteers for the Second Australian Imperial Force and was assigned to the 1st Armoured Division. Raised initially for service in the Middle East, following Japan's entry into the war, the brigade was assigned to the defence of Australia in case of an invasion. After garrison duties in New South Wales and Western Australia, it was disbanded in November 1944 without seeing active service, although some of its former units saw action later with other formations.

It was re-raised in the postwar period, serving in the

Eastern Command
. The brigade's headquarters was broken up when the Australian Army determined that there was no need for large-scale armoured formations as the focus shifted to jungle operations and close infantry-armoured cooperation. Its constituent units were subsequently dispersed to other formations.

History

World War II

In June 1940, the Australian government decided to form an armoured

Brigadier Frederick Hinton, a World War I veteran who had served with the Australian Light Horse at Gallipoli, and then as a machine gun officer on the Western Front. During the interwar years, he had risen through the ranks as a cavalry officer in the part-time forces.[9]

The regiments assigned to the brigade were the 2/5th, 2/6th and 2/7th Armoured Regiments, which were formed in Queensland and New South Wales after the brigade headquarters was raised. After undertaking individual training, the three regiments and the brigade headquarters were brought together at Greta, New South Wales, in November 1941.[6][10] The brigade moved as a formation to Tamworth, in December 1941 to begin more complex collective training.[10] In early 1942, the brigade moved again to Singleton where training facilities for an armoured brigade were being rapidly constructed.[11] It had initially been planned to raise a new 2nd AIF infantry battalion – the 2/34th – as a motorised unit, but instead it was decided to utilise the existing Militia light horse units as motor regiments. As a result, the 15th Motor Regiment joined the brigade.[10]

An armoured vehicle and infantrymen advance through thick grass and palm trees
A 2/6th Armoured Regiment tank supporting infantry during the Battle of Buna–Gona

Early war plans were made for the brigade to deploy to the Middle East in early 1942; however,

Robert Nimmo assumed command of the brigade. He held the position only for a short period, and was replaced by Brigadier Denzil Macarthur-Onslow in July.[14]

The delivery of tanks to the brigade was slow, and until April 1942 its armoured regiments were equipped only with

Edgeroi Station. The following month, the 2/6th Armoured Regiment was detached and deployed to New Guinea to fight against the Japanese,[10] and subsequently took part in the Battle of Buna–Gona.[15][17]

Meanwhile, in October 1942, the 1st Armoured Division was reorganised to provide some of its more experienced personnel to help raise the

Gunnedah.[14] In January 1943, Nimmo resumed command, taking over from Macarthur-Onslow.[14] The following month, the 1st Armoured Brigade had concentrated at Mingenew, and a divisional exercise took place in March 1943.[10]

Several columns of tanks advance across an arid landscape, churning up clouds of dust
The 2/10th Armoured Regiment during a training exercise in Western Australia in 1943

As the tide of war in the Pacific turned in favour of the Allies, the threat of invasion passed. The Australian government decided to reallocate some of the manpower that had been tied up in the armoured divisions to other formations that would be utilised for jungle warfare, or civilian industry.[18][19] As a result, in April 1943, the 15th Motor Regiment returned to the 1st Armoured Brigade when the 2nd Armoured Division was disbanded. The 1st Armoured Division was retained in Western Australia, though, and Brigadier Frank Wells assumed command of the brigade in June.[14] In August, the 1st Armoured Brigade was moved to Moora. The following month, the 1st Armoured Division ceased to exist as a formation and was broken up.[20] The 1st Armoured Brigade was retained as an independent brigade group and reported directly to III Corps. It received the new 2/1st Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, which was formed from the 1st Armoured Division's headquarters, as well as artillery from the 16th Field Regiment and the 112th Anti-Tank Regiment and engineers from the 2/3rd Independent Field Company.[10][21][22] Various other support units were also attached during this time. Brigade headquarters remained at Moora while the brigade's units undertook training at various locations.[10]

Throughout 1944, Australia's armoured forces continued to be reduced.[20] The combat units in Western Australia were also disbanded or transferred as the threat to the state declined.[23] On 8 March, all elements of III Corps were placed on six hours notice to respond to a Japanese naval force which was believed to be headed for the Fremantle–Perth area. This proved to be a false alarm, and all units returned to normal duties on 14 March.[24] The 2/6th Armoured Regiment returned to the brigade in March 1944, releasing the 2/5th Armoured Regiment to join the 4th Armoured Brigade. Following this, further reductions took place as the 2/7th Armoured Regiment was disbanded in May, followed by the 112th Anti-Tank Regiment in June.[10] In June 1944, the brigade's strength was reported as 5,338 personnel.[25] Brigade headquarters moved to Northam that month,[23] at which time III Corps headquarters was redesignated as Western Command as the process of converting it into a line of communications formation began.[26] Nevertheless, the 1st Armoured Brigade's order of battle remained steady until October when the 15th Motor Regiment was disbanded and both the 2/6th Armoured Regiment and the brigade reconnaissance squadron were transferred to the 4th Armoured Brigade in Queensland. The 16th Field Regiment was also transferred to the east coast, moving to Sydney. Finally, in October – November 1944, the brigade ceased to exist – having never seen combat – being broken up to provide reinforcements for forces deployed elsewhere.[10][27] At this time, both 2/10th Armoured Regiment and the 1st Armoured Brigade's headquarters were disbanded at Northam.[10] The 1st Armoured Brigade Group was the last combat unit to be stationed in Western Australia during the war.[23] From its disbandment until the end of the war, the 4th Armoured Brigade commanded the Army's remaining armoured forces.[28]

Postwar

Colour photo of a tank
A former Australian Army Matilda II tank; the 1st Armoured Brigade operated this type between 1948 and 1955

In the postwar period, the Australian Army re-raised two armoured brigades – the 1st and the 2nd – in April 1948 within the part-time Citizens Military Force (CMF). The 1st Armoured Brigade was formed in New South Wales as part of

Armidale, Tamworth, and North Maitland. 'A' Squadron of the Newcastle-based 15th Amphibian Assault Regiment, was assigned to the brigade to provide an amphibious capability, and operated LVT(A)4s.[29][30] As of 1953, the 1st Armoured Brigade's headquarters were located in Lancer Barracks at Parramatta.[31]

Throughout the early 1950s, the brigade's elderly vehicles and equipment became rundown.

Armoured Centre.[35] In 1953, Brigadier Kenneth Arnott took over command of the brigade, remaining in the position until 1956 when Brigadier John James replaced him.[36] In 1957, the director of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) noted that the poor state of the CMF armoured regiments' equipment meant that it was no longer possible for them to become proficient in cooperation between infantry and tanks.[33]

The brigade ceased to exist in September 1957,[36] following a reassessment of the role of armour within the Australian Army. This resulted in a focus upon infantry support in jungle conditions, rather than large-scale armoured warfare. As a result, armoured brigade headquarters were no longer considered unnecessary.[37] Nevertheless, a small armoured headquarters staff was retained underneath the Brigadier, RAAC cell that was established within both Southern and Eastern Commands at this time. This staff was intended as a cadre from which to form a brigade headquarters in an emergency, but represented only about half of the 105 personnel that had previously undertaken the role. It did not command any units, and had an advisory function. The headquarters was disbanded in 1960.[38][39]

The individual regiments previously assigned to the brigade were also affected by the change. The 1st and 15th being amalgamated to form the 1st/15th Royal New South Wales Lancers.[40] The 6th Motor Regiment was converted into an infantry unit designated the 6th Royal New South Wales Rifles, retaining the lineage of its predecessor mounted unit.[41][42] By 1960, with the introduction of the pentropic establishment, the 1st/15th had been assigned to the 3rd Division as a tank unit,[43][44] while the 6th Royal New South Wales Rifles had ceased to exist, being subsumed into the Royal New South Wales Regiment.[45]

Brigade units

The following units served with the brigade during the war:[10][46]

In the postwar period, the following units were assigned to the brigade:[47]

Commanders

The following officers commanded the 1st Armoured Brigade:[48]

  • Brigadier FB Hinton (1941–1942)
  • Brigadier
    RH Nimmo
    (1942–1943)
  • Brigadier D Macarthur-Onslow (1942–1943)
  • Brigadier FE Wells (1943–1944)
  • Brigadier D Macarthur-Onslow (1948–1953)
  • Brigadier KMH Arnott (1953–1956)
  • Brigadier JA James (1956–1957)

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2474.
  2. ^ Lambert 2012, p. 90.
  3. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 51.
  4. ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 182.
  5. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 38.
  6. ^ a b Handel 2004, p. 9.
  7. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 52.
  8. ^ Handel 2004, p. 8.
  9. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 51 & 315.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2122.
  11. ^ Handel 2004, pp. 39–40.
  12. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 90.
  13. ^ Lambert 2012, p. 93.
  14. ^ a b c d Hopkins 1978, p. 315.
  15. ^ a b "2/6 Armoured Regiment". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  16. ^ Handel 2004, p. 45.
  17. ^ Handel 2003, p. 155.
  18. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 125.
  19. ^ Handel 2003, p. 37.
  20. ^ a b Dexter 1961, p. 227.
  21. ^ Beale 2011, p. 191.
  22. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 129.
  23. ^ a b c McKenzie-Smith 2009, p. 27.
  24. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2009, pp. 28–29.
  25. ^ Long 1963, p. 22.
  26. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2028.
  27. ^ Long 1963, p. 32.
  28. ^ Beale 2011, p. 193.
  29. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 181–185.
  30. ^ Handel 1998, pp. 11–12.
  31. The Sunday Herald
    . 2 August 1953. p. 13. Retrieved 2 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  32. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 202–203.
  33. ^ a b McCarthy 2003, p. 66.
  34. ^ Handel 1998, p. 19.
  35. ^ Handel 1998, p. 20.
  36. ^ a b Hopkins 1978, p. 322.
  37. ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 206.
  38. ^ McCarthy 2003, pp. 66–67.
  39. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 207–208.
  40. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 206 & 322.
  41. ^ Hall 1968, Appendix 1.
  42. ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 37 & 42.
  43. ^ Palazzo 2001, pp. 262–263.
  44. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 218–219.
  45. ^ Festberg 1972, p. 27.
  46. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 325–328.
  47. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 180 & 183.
  48. ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 315 & 322.

Bibliography

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