2/14th Battalion (Australia)
2/14th Battalion | |
---|---|
Active | 1940–1946 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~800–900 personnel[Note 1] |
Part of | 21st Brigade, 7th Division |
Engagements | World War II
|
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
The 2/14th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Part of the 21st Brigade, 7th Division, the battalion was raised from Second Australian Imperial Force volunteers drawn mainly from the state of Victoria. After completing training in Australia in 1940, the battalion deployed to the Middle East where it was stationed in Egypt and Palestine before it saw action against the Vichy French in Syria in June and July 1941, in a short lived campaign. Garrison duties in Lebanon followed before the battalion was withdrawn to Australia in early 1942 as Australian forces were concentrated in the Pacific to respond to the threat posed by Japan's entry into the war.
After a short period of re-training in Australia to prepare for jungle warfare, the battalion was deployed to
History
Formation
The 2/14th Battalion
Soon after battalion headquarters was established, the battalion's first
Middle East
Travelling via India, where they camped at
The 2/14th Battalion's involvement in the Syria–Lebanon campaign began on the night of 7/8 June when the unit advanced across the Palestine border from Hanita and attacked Vichy outposts around the village of Alma Chaab.[22][23] Following this, the battalion advanced along the coast towards Tyre, from where it evicted the French defenders before forcing a crossing over the Litani River.[24] On 11 June, the 21st Brigade's advance towards Sidon came up against determined resistance around the Zahrani River, at Merdjayoun. The 2/14th Battalion found themselves up against troops from the French Foreign Legion's 6th Foreign Infantry Regiment. For the next few days the battalion came under attack from Vichy French aircraft and artillery before being committed to a flanking action on 15 June. Conducting a 30-kilometre (19 mi) march during the heat of the day, the Australians approached Sidon through the mountains but arrived just after the town fell to the 2/27th Battalion.[25]
Following this, on 17 June,[25] the battalion was moved to the central sector of the Allied advance to reinforce the 2/31st Battalion, attached to the 25th Brigade, which was holding off a Vichy French counter-attack at Jezzine.[3] After Damascus was captured on 22 June, the 2/14th Battalion was committed to the fighting to secure a number of features on Mount Kharatt, high ground north-east of the town which dominated the surrounding area.[26] These attacks proved unsuccessful, and quite costly for the 2/14th, with 12 killed and 47 wounded on 24 June.[27] The fighting around Jezzine continued until 29 June when the French began to withdraw.[28] After this, the Australians regained the initiative and on 2 July the 2/14th Battalion left Jezzine to begin preparations for the Battle of Damour, to which it was committed on 5 July 1941.[29] Between then and 9 July, the 2/14th were involved in a number of attacks, capturing French positions on Hills 243 and 567.[30]
On 12 July, an
Kokoda Track
The battalion returned to Australia via
On 13 August 1942, the 21st Brigade, including the 2/14th Battalion, disembarked in Port Moresby.[3] Three days later, 16 August, the battalion was transported on trucks to Ilolo before marching to Uberi, reaching Myola on 21 August.[40] On 25 August, the battalion received orders to relieve the severely depleted 39th Battalion, which was holding the Japanese at Isurava. Due to a shortage of supplies it was only possible for one company to move at a time, and as a result 'C' Company was dispatched to Isurava first,[41] while 'B' and 'D' Companies were dispatched to Alola and 'A' Company moved to Templeton's Crossing.[42] 'C' Company subsequently reached the 39th's position late in the evening of 26 August.[43] The following day, the Japanese launched a fresh offensive with three battalions from the 144th Infantry Regiment,[42] and throughout the day a number of minor engagements took place. On 27 August, the Japanese offensive began in earnest as the 39th Battalion's positions around Isurava were subjected to heavy mortar and artillery fire. Japanese infantry broke into the position through the gaps between one of company's depleted platoons, but the situation was restored by two Australian counter-attacks.[44]
The rest of the 2/14th Battalion arrived on 28 August amidst continuing fighting, bringing with them a 3-inch (76 mm) mortar for indirect fire support.[45] The 39th Battalion then moved to the rear, but remained in support of the 2/14th to help repel the next wave of the Japanese attack. By 29 August, the Japanese had about six battalions around Isurava,[45] and in the morning fresh attacks succeeded in breaking into the 2/14th's position with 'C' Company, on the battalion's right, being forced to give ground.[44] With the situation critical, the Australians launched a counter-attack. As a part of this attack, Private Bruce Kingsbury charged the Japanese, firing his Bren light machine gun from the hip, killing at least 30 of them and forcing others to withdraw. Although Kingsbury was subsequently killed by a sniper, his actions allowed the Australians to briefly regain their positions and later he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest military decoration. Further attacks during the day, however, forced the battalion to fall back 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) down the track.[44]
On 30 August, the Japanese began threatening the 2/14th's left flank from the high ground situated there, and as another attack put the battalion's rear in jeopardy, the battalion was forced to give more ground. At this point, the brigade commander, Brigadier Arnold Potts, authorised a withdrawal to Alola.[45] With the Japanese pressing against their rear guard, over the course of the following fortnight, the battalion fought a series of delaying actions and fighting withdrawals towards Ioribaiwa and Imita Ridge. By the time it reached Imita Ridge, the 2/14th was so depleted that it was amalgamated with the 2/16th Battalion to form a composite battalion of just over 300 men,[46] and as the 21st Brigade prepared to make a final stand, the battalions of the 25th Brigade arrived to relieve them.[47][48] Following this, the composite battalion was withdrawn from the line on 16 September. The 2/14th Battalion had begun the Kokoda campaign with 546 men, but upon arriving at Uberi, where they had been placed in reserve, there were only 88 men available, of whom only three were officers.[49] Casualties were high, with 110 men being killed in action, with two more dying of their wounds and another four being killed in accidents. A further 132 were also wounded.[50]
Gona
Following the 21st Brigade's relief, the fighting in New Guinea began to turn in favour of the Allies, as the Japanese, having exhausted their supplies, began to fall back towards their beachheads on the north coast. By November 1942, although the 2/14th had been reformed at
Organised into three half-strength companies, the following day the battalion began the 32-kilometre (20 mi) march towards Gona. On 29 November, the 2/14th attacked along the coast to the east of Gona. The Japanese positions were well-concealed and amidst strong resistance the 2/14th suffered heavy casualties, losing 13 killed and 23 wounded.[56] Early in the morning on 30 November the battalion lost another three killed before it launched a well-planned deliberate attack on the remaining Japanese fortified position. For only two minor casualties, the 2/14th forced the Japanese defenders to abandon their positions and managed to break through to the beach, securing about 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) along the coast.[57]
On 8 December, a reinforced platoon from the 2/14th was ordered to conduct a reconnaissance around Haddy's Village, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of Gona, where the Japanese had landed reinforcements on 6 December. Under the command of Lieutenant Bob Dougherty, the platoon launched a surprise attack against the numerically superior force. In the hand-to-hand fighting that followed over 90 Japanese were killed or wounded, while six men from the 2/14th were wounded. The attack proved a success and enabled the Australians around Gona to attack without concern about being engaged by the Japanese reinforcements. Gona was subsequently taken on 9 December. Dougherty was killed leading a patrol around the village on 11 December.[58] The battalion remained in the area until 8 January 1943, by which time there were only 21 fit personnel left. They were subsequently returned to Australia.[3] Casualties during the fighting around Buna, Gona and Sanananda amounted to 50 killed in action or died of wounds or accidentally, as well as 88 wounded.[50]
Lae and the Finisterres
By the time that the 21st Brigade arrived back in Australia, it was heavily depleted, with only 44 per cent of its authorised strength.
After this, the 2/14th was committed to the advance into the
Throughout early 1944, the battalion was mainly involved in patrol operations in support of the 21st Brigade's advance up the Faria River to capture the Japanese positions on the Kankiryo Saddle during the Battle of Shaggy Ridge.[66] As a part of this effort, the battalion's most significant engagement came on 11 October 1943 when 9 Platoon, under Lieutenant Noel Pallier, destroyed a Japanese company in capturing a ridge that overlooked the valley. The Japanese company had been threatening to cut off the supply line of the 2/27th Battalion, which was leading the 21st Brigade's advance and the following day, heavy fighting took place around John's Knoll and Trevor's Ridge.[67] After this, the battalion undertook mainly patrol actions in the following weeks, these actions varied in size from small groups to company-sized forces, and varied in length from one day to up to a week.[68] In late November, the battalion relieve the 2/25th Battalion around John's Knoll, marching 17 miles (27 km). From there, they occupied an outpost position opposite a strong Japanese position, against which they clashed several times throughout December until being withdrawn to the rear around the Lakes area in late December, and then Port Moresby in early January 1944.[69] Although there were only limited engagements with the Japanese during the four months that the 2/14th were involved in the campaign, the battalion still suffered heavily with 958 men being evacuated due to illness or accidental injury during this time. Of these, four died and a further 546 were permanently removed from the theatre.[70] In contrast, battle casualties during this time amounted to seven killed in action, three died of wounds and 25 wounded.[71][50]
Borneo
After being withdrawn back to Australia in March 1944,
The following day the 2/14th resumed its advance towards Manggar and after crossing the river and beginning to move across the strip the battalion's lead company began to receive artillery fire from Japanese coastal defence guns.
Disbandment
Following the cessation of hostilities in August 1945, the 2/14th Battalion remained on Borneo until October 1945 when it was moved to
During the course of the war, a total of 2,990 men served in the battalion; of these 222 were killed in action or died of wounds, or of illness or accident on active service. A further 378 men from the 2/14th were wounded in action, while 11 men became prisoners of war.
Commanders
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/14th Battalion:[3][62][88]
- Lieutenant Colonel William Cannon (1940–1942);
- Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Key (1942);
- Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Challen (1942–1943);
- Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Honner (1943);
- Lieutenant Colonel Philip Rhoden (1943–1946).
Battle honours
The 2/14th Battalion received the following battle honours for its service during the war:[3]
- Borneo 1945, and Balikpapan.
Notes
Footnotes
- ^ By the start of World War II, the authorised strength of an Australian infantry battalion was 910 men all ranks; however, later in the war it fell to 803.[1]
- ^ The numerical designation of 2nd AIF units was prefixed by "2/", which was used to set them apart from Militia units with corresponding numerical designations.[2]
- ^ There is some discrepancy in the various sources regarding the 2/14th's casualties. Russell provides the figures of 151 killed in action, 31 missing in action, 25 died of wounds, 19 died of illness and 378 wounded in action,[71] while the Australian War Memorial provides totals of 245 dead and 379 wounded.[3]
Citations
- ^ a b Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 51.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "2/14th Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 2 April 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 146.
- ^ "2/14 Infantry Battalion: Superiors". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Russell 1948, pp. 3–4.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 4.
- ^ "VX13432 Lieutenant Colonel William George Cannon". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ a b Russell 1948, p. 3.
- ^ a b Dornan 1999, p. 26.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 18.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 13.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 14.
- ^ Burns 1960, p. 23.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 29.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 19.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 27.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 34.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 37.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 38.
- ^ James 2017, p. 99.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 42–43.
- ^ James 2017, pp. 159–161.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 46.
- ^ a b Dornan 1999, p. 48.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 52.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 61.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 66.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 65.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 68–69.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 70.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 73.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 74.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 77.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 77–78.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 78–81.
- ^ a b Johnston 2005, p. 248.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 85–86.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 183.
- ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 183–184.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 106–107.
- ^ a b Keogh 1965, p. 206.
- ^ McAllester 1990, p. 238.
- ^ a b c "Battle of Isurava". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 19 April 2011.
- ^ a b c Keogh 1965, p. 207.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 211.
- ^ Brune 2004, p. 238.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 215.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 156.
- ^ a b c Johnston 2005, p. 249.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 171.
- ^ Brune 2004, p. 435.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 174.
- ^ Williams 2012, p. 112.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 257.
- ^ Dornan 1999, p. 184.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 184–185.
- ^ Dornan 1999, pp. 186–187.
- ^ Dexter 1961, p. 268.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 163.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 165.
- ^ a b c "2/14 Infantry Battalion: Appointments". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
- ^ Dexter 1961, p. 385.
- ^ a b Bradley 2004, p. 46.
- ^ Bradley 2004, pp. 48, 67–69.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 345.
- ^ Bradley 2004, pp. 66–84.
- ^ Russell 1948, pp. 238–240.
- ^ Russell 1948, pp. 242–252.
- ^ Russell 1948, pp. 252–253.
- ^ a b c Russell 1948, p. 321.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 211.
- ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 461–462.
- ^ a b Long 1963, p. 514.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 520.
- ^ & Keogh 1965, p. 462.
- ^ a b c Keogh 1965, p. 463.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 522.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 525.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 527.
- ^ Long 1963, pp. 529–530.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 250.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 311.
- ^ Russell 1948, pp. 315–316.
- ^ Russell 1948, p. 316.
- ^ McAllester 1990, pp. 373–375.
- ^ a b Dornan 1999, p. 191.
- ^ McAllester 1990, p. 2.
References
- ISBN 0-19-555100-1.
- Brune, Peter (2004) [2003]. A Bastard of a Place: The Australians in Papua. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74114-403-1.
- Burns, John (1960). The Brown and Blue Diamond at War: The Story of the 2/27th Battalion A.I.F. Adelaide, South Australia: 2/27th Battalion Ex-servicemen's Association. OCLC 2104460.
- Dexter, David (1961). The New Guinea Offensives. OCLC 2028994.
- Dornan, Peter (1999). The Silent Men: Syria to Kokoda and on to Gona. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86448-991-X.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- James, Richard (2017). Australia's War with France: The Campaign in Syria and Lebanon, 1941. Newport, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 978-1-925520-92-7.
- ISBN 1-74114-191-5.
- OCLC 7185705.
- OCLC 18400892.
- Long, Gavin (1963). The Final Campaigns. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. VII. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 1297619.
- McAllester, James (1990). Men of the 2/14 Battalion. Melbourne, Victoria: 2/14 Battalion Association. ISBN 978-0-7316-8581-3.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey (eds.). The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–101. ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the originalon 9 March 2016.
- Russell, William (1948). The Second Fourteenth Battalion: A History of an Australian Infantry Battalion in the Second World War. Sydney, New South Wales: Angus and Robertson. OCLC 12884515.
- Williams, Peter (2012). The Kokoda Campaign 1942: Myth and Reality. Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-107-01594-4.