2/8th Battalion (Australia)
2/8th Battalion | |
---|---|
Active | 1940–1945 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~800–900 men[Note 1] |
Part of | 19th Brigade, 6th Division |
Engagements | World War II
|
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 2/8th Battalion was an
History
Formation
The 2/8th Battalion
The battalion's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel John Mitchell, who had served in the 8th Battalion during World War I and had subsequently commanded it during the inter-war years. Like Mitchell, the majority of the battalion's recruits came from the state of
Middle East, Greece and Crete
After a month long voyage as part of a large convoy carrying Australian troops to the Middle East, the 2/8th reached El Kantara, in Egypt, on 18 May 1940.[3] Upon arrival, the battalion concentrated at the Australian camp at Kilo 89, near Gaza, in Palestine, where it joined the rest of the 19th Brigade.[9] It undertook further exercises and training in Egypt and Palestine prior to the Australians being committed to the fighting against the Italians in the Libyan desert in January 1941 during
They subsequently took part in the
In the aftermath of the Crete campaign, the 2/8th was rebuilt in Palestine.[3] Reinforcements were brought in at this time, and a new commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Robert Winning, arrived in July.[18] After this, a period of garrison duty followed in Syria, as the 2/8th was dispatched to form part of the Allied occupation force that had been established there in the wake of the Syria–Lebanon campaign to defend against a possible Axis thrust through the Caucasus. They remained there between October 1941 and January 1942 when the Australian government requested their return to fight against the Japanese.[3]
Garrison duties in Australia and service in New Guinea
Embarking upon the troopship Aronda at Port Tewfik on 12 February 1942, the sailed for Australia. After briefly disembarking at Port Sudan, they continued on to Colombo and then to Fremantle, before continuing on to their final destination.[19] Arriving in Adelaide on 28 March 1942, the 2/8th took over billets in Strathalbyn before subsequently deploying by train to the Northern Territory, in late May to defend against a possible Japanese invasion, that never eventuated.[3] During this time, the battalion was based around Adelaide River, about 76 miles (122 km) to the south of Darwin. From there they were poised to deploy across a broad front in the case of invasion.[20] In February 1943, Lieutenant Colonel W. Stace Howden assumed command of the battalion after Winning took over command of the 3rd Brigade.[21][18] While other elements of the 6th Division were sent to New Guinea in late 1942 and early 1943 and saw combat against the Japanese along the Kokoda Track and around Wau, the 19th Brigade remained in Darwin until June 1943, when the 19th Brigade was moved to northern Queensland as the 6th Division's other two brigades – the 16th and 17th – returned to Australia from New Guinea. As the division was brought back up to strength, a long period of training followed. Consequently, it was not until late in the war that the 2/8th was committed to its first, and only, campaign against the Japanese, deploying to Aitape–Wewak in November 1944,[3] as the Australians took over from US forces in the region.[22]
Sailing aboard the US troopship Thomas Corwin, the battalion arrived off Aitape on 12 November and came ashore aboard several landing craft. After moving into a camp around Korako, they began minor patrolling operations and reconnaissance around Anamo.[23] The 19th Brigade was initially tasked with securing the area between around the Driniumor, Danmap and Danimul Rivers,[24] and throughout the final months of the war, the battalion took part in clearing the area around the Danmap, relieving the 2/4th Battalion around Idakaibul, which was secured as a patrol base before pushing the Australian line towards the east, capturing several features between there and Malin and fighting numerous small scale patrol actions. Throughout the final stages of 1944, the 2/8th established a battalion defensive position around Anamo and further patrols were sent out before the battalion moved to the mouth of the Danmap around Luain, with a detachment further inland around Idakaibul.[25]
Early the following year, the battalion was withdrawn back to Aitape by sea from Dogreto Bay, moving into a reserve position around Tadi plantation.[26] Later, starting in late March they moved to But by landing craft,[27] and from there joined the advance towards Wewak, which fell on 10 May. They subsequently pushed into the Prince Alexander Range in the interior, where the last significant Japanese forces were concentrated. In late June, the 19th Brigade advanced on the position from the north, while the 17th advanced from the west. On 10 June, the battalion began preliminary actions to secure the Japanese strong hold on Mount Shiburangu. The approaches were secured over the course of a week with artillery and flamethrowers being used to help overcome the Japanese bunkers, and on 27 June the battalion assaulted the summit. Over 3,000 rounds of artillery were fired to soften up the Japanese defences, but the Australians still came up against heavy resistance, as the Japanese defenders employed salvaged aircraft machine-guns. These were outflanked by a platoon that advanced up a steep slope, attacking the Japanese left from behind and allowing the rest of 'C' Company to secure the summit. This was the battalion's final major action of the war, and cost it three killed and seven wounded. Between 44 and 70 Japanese were killed, with over 50 bunkers being destroyed.[28]
Disbandment
The battalion's final combat operations of the war came in late July during patrol operations around Hambrauri, to the south-east of Wewau, after which they were relieved and moved back to Wewak. The fighting came to an end in mid-August 1945, after which the 2/8th was employed making improvements to camp facilities and carrying out garrison duties. In the aftermath, the 2/8th's frontage slowly shrunk as elements were returned to Australia from demobilisation based on length of service. Others who did not qualify for discharge were transferred to other units for further service.
Battle honours
The 2/8th received the following battle honours for its involvement in the war:[3]
- Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, Derna, Mount Olympus, Vevi, Canea, 42nd Street, Withdrawal to Sphakia, Abau–Malin, Wewak, and Mount Shiburangu – Mount Tazaki.
These honours were subsequently entrusted to the 8th Battalion in 1961,[31] and through this link are maintained by the Royal Victoria Regiment.[32]
Commanding officers
The following officers commanded the 2/8th during the war:[3][33]
- Lieutenant Colonel John Mitchell (1939–1941);
- Lieutenant Colonel Robert Winning (1941–1943); and
- Lieutenant Colonel W. Stace Howden (1943–1946).
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 Australian War Memorial.
- ^ Johnston 2008, p. 3.
- ^ Long 1952, p. 52.
- ^ Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 1–3.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 6–7.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 30.
- ^ Thompson 2010, pp. 155 & 159.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 203.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 283.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 340.
- ^ 42nd Street.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 354.
- ^ Thompson 2010, p. 366.
- ^ Thompson 2010, pp. 381–382.
- ^ a b Pratten 2009, p. 324.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 107–109.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 113–117.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 125–126.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 402.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 131–132.
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 404.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 131–135.
- ^ Bentley 1984, p. 149.
- ^ Bentley 1984, p. 150.
- ^ Capture of Mount Shiburangu.
- ^ Bentley 1984, pp. 195–199.
- ^ Johnston 2008, p. 242.
- ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 66–67.
- ^ Festberg 1972, pp. 29–30.
- ^ Johnston 2008, p. 5.
References
- "2/8th Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 31 July 2010.
- "Battle of 42nd Street". War history. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
- Bentley, Arthur (1984). The Second Eighth: A History of the 2/8th Australian Infantry Battalion. Melbourne, Victoria: 2/8th Battalion Association. ISBN 978-0-95906-190-1.
- "Capture of Mount Shiburangu". War history. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- ISBN 978-0-521-51411-8.
- OCLC 7185705.
- OCLC 18400892.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9.
- ISBN 978-0-521-76345-5.
- Thompson, Peter (2010). Anzac Fury: The Bloody Battle of Crete 1941. North Sydney, New South Wales: William Heinemann. ISBN 978-1-86471-131-8.
Further reading
- Ewer, Peter (2008). Forgotten Anzacs: The Campaign in Greece, 1941. Carlton North, Victoria: Scribe Publications. OCLC 457093199.