2/32nd Battalion (Australia)
2/32nd Battalion | |
---|---|
Troops from 'D' Company, 2/32nd Battalion coming ashore at Jesselton, September 1945 | |
Active | 1940–1946 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~800–900 personnel[Note 1] |
Part of | 25th Brigade, 9th Division 24th Brigade, 9th Division |
Engagements | World War II |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch (1940–1942) | ![]() |
(1942–1946) | ![]() |
The 2/32nd Battalion was an
History
Initially designated the 71st Battalion,
The circumstances of the battalion's establishment overseas resulted in the unique situation of the battalion's personnel being issued two different
The feared invasion of the United Kingdom never eventuated, and by early 1941, the two Australian infantry brigades that had been sent to the United Kingdom were transferred to the Middle East.
In December 1942, the battalion was withdrawn back to Gaza, where the 9th Division concentrated prior to departure from the Middle East; the Japanese had entered the war in the Pacific the previous year, and the Australian government had requested that their troops be returned as they were needed for the fighting in New Guinea. After a parade at Gaza in December, the 9th Division departed the Middle East in January 1943, arriving back in Australia the following month.[3]
A period of reorganisation followed, during which time the battalion was converted to the
A long period of training followed on the
Following the end of hostilities in August, the 2/32nd's personnel were repatriated to Australia in drafts for demobilisation or transfer to other units for further service. The remaining personnel were transported back to Australian as a cadre in January 1946, at which time the 2/32nd was disbanded.
Battle honours
The 2/32nd Battalion received the following battle honours:
- North Africa 1941–42, Defence of Tobruk, Defence of Alamein Line, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943–45, Finschhafen, Defence of Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Borneo, Lae–Nadzab, Beaufort, Tell el Makh Khad, Sanyet el Miteirya and Pabu.[3]
In 1961, these battle honours were entrusted to the 32nd Battalion, and through that link are now maintained by the Royal Victoria Regiment.[12]
Commanding officers
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/32nd:[3][13]
- Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo Sydney Clive Sparkes (1940–1941);
- Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Keith Anderson (1941);
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mayo Conroy (1941–1942);
- Lieutenant Colonel David Adie Whitehead (1942).
- Lieutenant Colonel John Walter Balfe (1942); and
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Henry Scott (1942–1945).
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.[4]
- Citations
- ^ Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
- ^ Festberg 1972, p. 118.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "2/32nd Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2012.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 51.
- ^ "Colour Patches: Infantry Battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force". Digger History. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 472.
- ^ Coulthard-Clark 2001, p. 252.
- ^ Long 1963, p. 475.
- ^ Dennis 1995, p. 114.
- ^ Johnston 2002, p. 247.
- ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 29 & 92.
- ^ Johnston 2002, p. xv.
References
- Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-634-7.
- Dennis, Peter (1995). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-553227-9.
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- ISBN 1-86508-654-1.
- OCLC 18400892.
- Long, Gavin (1963). The Final Campaigns. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. VII. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 1297619.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the originalon 9 March 2016.
Further reading
- Trigellis-Smith, Syd (1993). Britain to Borneo: A History of the 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion. 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion Association. ISBN 978-0-646-13407-9.