2/4th Pioneer Battalion (Australia)

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For other uses, see 4th Pioneer Battalion (Australia).

2/4th Pioneer Battalion
Troops from the 2/4th parade at Wongabel, Queensland, in May 1944
Active1941–1946
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
RolePioneer
SizeBattalion
Part of23rd Brigade
3rd Brigade
1st Beach Group
ColoursPurple, white and grey
EngagementsWorld War II
  • Borneo campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/4th Pioneer Battalion was a unit of the

Borneo campaign where, as part of the 1st Beach Group, it fought against the Japanese in support of the 9th Division
. It was disbanded in early 1946 following the end of hostilities.

History

Formed in February 1941 at

2nd Australian Imperial Force's four infantry divisions.[1] Trained as infantry, the battalion undertook both the infantry and engineer support roles and was organised along conventional infantry lines with a headquarters and four companies, but was made up of personnel with trade or practical skills, and within the divisional structure, the pioneers were administered as corps troops under the direction of the divisional engineer commander.[1]

Allocated to the

Koepang as part of Sparrow Force on Timor. An advanced party was sent to the island in early February 1942,[4] and on 14 February the rest of the battalion followed; however, the convoy in which they were embarked was attacked by Japanese aircraft and it was turned back. Returning to Darwin, the majority of the 2/4th's equipment was lost when the ship carrying it was sunk in Darwin harbour during a Japanese air attack on 19 February.[5] Consequently, the battalion's deployment was cancelled and it remained in the north for more than a year, during which time they undertook defensive duties to counter the threat of Japanese invasion.[3] During this time, the battalion was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel John McCarty.[6] In November 1942, the battalion was reassigned to the 3rd Brigade, a Militia formation that had been mobilised for full-time service and sent to the Northern Territory earlier in the year to bolster the field force there.[2][7]

In March 1943, the strategic situation had improved and the pioneers were relieved of garrison duties, moving to the

Borneo, assigned to support the 9th Division. Serving in the terminal support role around the beachhead, the 2/4th saw limited combat and its casualties during the fighting on Borneo were light with only five men being killed in battle. The majority of these were suffered during a raid on the Australian beachhead by 50 Japanese soldiers on 21 June.[10]

Following the conclusion of hostilities in August 1945, the battalion remained in the Kuching area where it undertook garrison duties maintaining law and order and processing Japanese prisoners of war for return to Japan,[11] before returning to Australia in December. As the demobilisation process began, the battalion's personnel were transferred for further service or discharged and it was eventually disbanded in early 1946.[3]

For its service during the war, the 2/4th received two

Mention in Despatches.[3] After the war, the pioneer role was assumed as a specialisation within the conventional infantry establishment within the Australian Army, and consequently the wartime pioneer battalions have not been re-raised.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Dennis et al 2008, p. 421.
  2. ^ a b Orders of Battle.
  3. ^ a b c d e Australian War Memorial.
  4. ^ Wray 1987, pp. 38–39.
  5. ^ McCarthy 1959, pp. 68–69.
  6. ^ McCarthy 1959, p. 75.
  7. ^ McCarthy 1959, p. 69.
  8. ^ Long 1963, p. 459.
  9. ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 161.
  10. ^ Long 1963, pp. 474 & 501.
  11. ^ Long 1963, pp. 561 & 564.

References

Websites
  • "2/4th Pioneer Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  • "2/4 Pioneer Battalion: Superiors". Orders of Battle.com. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
Books

Further reading

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