2/23rd Battalion (Australia)
2/23rd Battalion | |
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Second World War
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Insignia | |
Unit colour patch (1940–42) | |
(1942–46) |
The 2/23rd Battalion was an
History
Formation and establishment
Established at Victoria Barracks, in Melbourne, in June 1940, the 2/23rd Battalion was raised as part of the all volunteer
The colours initially chosen for the battalion's
Middle East
Embarking in November 1940 on the transport Strathmore at Port Melbourne, the 2/23rd arrived in Egypt in mid-December.
The battalion was withdrawn from Tobruk in October 1941 when they were relieved by Polish troops. A period of reorganisation in Palestine followed before the 2/23rd was sent to Syria in January 1942 to undertake garrison duties.[8][7] This came to an end in June 1942, when the 9th Division was hurriedly moved to Egypt to help bolster Allied forces fighting around El Alamein. The 2/23rd subsequently took part in both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein; its most significant actions came around Tel el Eisa with the battalion launching two main attacks, one on the ridge in July and another to secure a road to the west of the ridge in October. Both attacks resulted in heavy casualties, with the battalion's losses being around 400 in total; nevertheless, both resulted in some tactical gains before the battalion was withdrawn on 1 November 1942, when the 24th Brigade relieved the 26th.[9] Lieutenant Colonel Reg Wall took over command of the battalion at this time, after Evans was promoted to brigadier to take over the 24th Brigade.[10][11]
A period of rest followed, and following a request by the Australian government to return the 9th Division to Australia to join the other two divisions that had been redeployed from the Middle East – the
New Guinea and Borneo
The battalion's personnel concentrated at
Lae fell in mid-September, more quickly than the Allies had expected, as troops from the 7th Division entered the town from the west, but a large part of the Japanese garrison managed to escape inland towards the Huon Peninsula. Shortly afterwards, the 2/23rd took part in a second amphibious landing north of Finschhafen, at a beach designated "Scarlet Beach" by the Allies. Between 22 September and 9 December, the 2/23rd took part in the Huon Peninsula campaign, taking part in significant actions around Sattelberg and Wareo as the Australians advanced inland. Early in 1944, the battalion took part in the advance to Sio as the withdrawing Japanese were pursued north. Their involvement was limited mainly to patrol actions, and no significant battles were fought before the 9th Division was withdrawn from New Guinea and transported back to Australia for rest in February 1944.[14]
For the next year, the battalion was based around
The fighting came to an end in August 1945 following the dropping of the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima and afterwards the 2/23rd was slowly reduced in size as personnel were sent back to Australia for demobilisation or posting. In early December, the remaining members were transported back to Australia on the Stamford Victory and on 17 February 1946, the 2/23rd was disbanded at
Battle honours
The 2/23rd Battalion received the following battle honours:
- North Africa 1941–42, Defence of Tobruk, The Salient 1941, Defence of Alamein Line, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943–45, Lae-Nadzab, Finschhafen, Borneo, Busu River, Sattelberg, Wareo and Tarakan.[7]
Commanding officers
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/23rd:[7][17]
- Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Evans (1940–1942);
- Lieutenant Colonel Reginald Wall (1942–1943);
- Major Eric McRae (1943); and
- Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Tucker (1943–1945)
Tarakan flag
In 2018, the Australian Flag Society announced the discovery of an Australian flag believed to have used by the 2/23rd Battalion and flown at Lingkas during the invasion of Tarakan.[18] A photographed believed to have been of this event, has in recent years been reidentified as a flag being raised on Sadau Island, Tarakan by the 2/4 Commando Squadron, based on other photographs of this event. [19]
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]
- ^ See Palazzo 2004 for more information about the conversion of Australian Army units for jungle warfare.
- ^ Morgan provides different figures: 244 killed in action, 52 died of wounds, three died from accidents, as well as 766 wounded and 103 prisoners of war.[16]
- Citations
- ^ Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 41–42.
- ^ a b Morgan 2014, p. 42.
- ^ Morgan 2014, p. 41.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
- ^ a b c d e f "2/23rd Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ a b Morgan 2014, p. 43.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 43–44.
- ^ a b Morgan 2014, p. 44.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 45–46.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 47–48.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 48–49.
- ^ a b c Morgan 2014, p. 49.
- ^ Morgan 2014, pp. 41–50.
- ^ "Finding a National Treasure", Warwick Daily News, 22 August 2018, p. 1.
- ^ "Photograph P02334.002". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
References
- OCLC 18400892.
- Morgan, Joseph (2014). "Making or Finding a Way: Albury's Own – The 2/23rd Infantry Battalion During the Second World War". Sabretache. LV (3 (September)). Garran, Australian Capital Territory: Military Historical Society of Australia: 41–50. ISSN 0048-8933.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the originalon 9 March 2016.
- Share, Pat (1991) [1978]. Mud and Blood: Albury's Own, Second Twenty Third Australian Infantry Battalion Ninth Australian Division. Swanbourne, Western Australia: John Burridge Military Antiques. ISBN 978-0-9596867-1-5.