2/24th Battalion (Australia)
2/24th Battalion | |
---|---|
![]() Soldiers from the 2/24th prepare for a patrol around Sattelberg, November 1943 | |
Active | 1940–1946 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~800–900 personnel[Note 1] |
Part of | 26th Brigade, 7th Division 26th Brigade, 9th Division |
Nickname(s) | "Wangaratta's Own" |
Engagements | World War II |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch (1940–1942) | ![]() |
(1942–1946) | ![]() |
The 2/24th Battalion was an
History
Formation and service in the Middle East
Assigned to the
With an authorised strength of around 900 personnel,
After arriving in the Middle East, the 26th Brigade was reassigned from the 7th Division to the 9th and, after completing further training in Cyrenaica, the battalion subsequently saw action for the first time around Tobruk in April 1941, after the strategically important port was placed under siege by German forces. The battalion remained there for eight months, occupying various positions around the perimeter before they were withdrawn by sea in late October 1941 along with the majority of the 9th Division. A period of garrison duties followed in Palestine and Syria before the 9th Division was hastily moved to El Alamein in response to a German advance through the desert towards Egypt. The 2/24th was subsequently heavily involved in both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein between July and November 1942.[3] During the first battle, the battalion fought to secure Tel el Eisa where they captured a German intelligence unit; during the second battle the 2/24th advanced from Tel el Eisa towards the sea, amidst fierce fighting around a position dubbed the "Saucer".[4]
Fighting in the Pacific
In December 1942, the 9th Division was concentrated in Palestine, following a decision to return it to Australia to take part in the fighting against the Japanese. The 2/24th
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Australian_infantry_advance_behind_a_Matilda_tank_on_Tarakan_%28AWM_photo_128724%29.jpg/220px-Australian_infantry_advance_behind_a_Matilda_tank_on_Tarakan_%28AWM_photo_128724%29.jpg)
For over a year the 2/24th remained in Australia training on the Atherton Tablelands, waiting for further employment in the Pacific.
Disbandment
Following the end of hostilities in August 1945, the battalion's personnel were slowly transferred to other units for further service, or repatriated back to Australia for demobilisation. The remaining cadre sailed back to Australia in December 1945, and the battalion ceased to exist in early 1946,
Decorations awarded to 2/24th personnel included: four
Battle honours
The 2/24th Battalion received the following battle honours:[3]
- Busu River, Sattelberg, Wareo, Wareo–Lakona, Tarakan, Tel el Eisa, North Africa 1941–42, Defence of Tobruk, The Salient 1941, Defence of Alamein Line, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943–45, Lae–Nadzab, Finschhafen, Liberation of Australian New Guinea and Borneo.
Commanding officers
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/24th:[3][18]
- Lieutenant Colonel Allan Spowers (1940–1942)
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles Gladstone Weir (1942);[19][20]
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hector Finlay (1942–1943);
- Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Basil Gillespie (1943–1945); and
- Lieutenant Colonel George Radford Warfe (1945–1946).
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]
- Citations
- ^ a b Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 51.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "2/24th Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 11 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d "The Story of the 2/24th Battalion". 2/24th Battalion Association. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
- ^ a b Serle 1963, p. 1.
- ^ "Lieutenant Colonel Allan 'Jiggy' Spowers". People profiles. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ Maughan 1966, p. 189.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 52.
- ^ Serle 1963, p. 241.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 315.
- ^ Johnston 2002, p. 153.
- ^ Johnston 2005, p. 11.
- ^ Maitland 1999, p. 89.
- ^ Campbell 2007, pp. 211–221.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 432.
- ^ Serle 1963, Nominal Roll.
- ^ Pratten 2009, p. 326.
- ^ Johnston 2002, p. xvi.
- ^ Serle 1963, p. 177.
References
- Campbell, John (2007). Machine-Gunners: A History of 6 Australian Machine-Gun Battalion 1942–1944. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 978-1-87643-983-5.
- ISBN 1-920720-55-3.
- Johnston, Mark (2002). That Magnificent 9th: An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Division 1940–46. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-654-1.
- OCLC 7185705.
- OCLC 18400892.
- Maitland, Gordon (1999). The Second World War and its Australian Army Battle Honours. East Roseville, New South Wales: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 0-86417-975-8.
- Maughan, Barton (1966). Tobruk and El Alamein. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. 3. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 954993.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the originalon 9 March 2016.
- ISBN 978-0-521-76345-5.
- Serle, R. P, ed. (1963). The Second Twenty-Fourth: A History of the 2/24 Australian Infantry Battalion of the 9th Australian Division. Brisbane, Queensland: Jacaranda Press with 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion Association. OCLC 12043822.