36th Battalion (Australia)
36th Battalion | |
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![]() Members of the 36th Battalion are addressed by their commanding officer on a troopship en route to New Ireland in 1944 | |
Active | 1916–1918 1921–1945 |
Country | ![]() |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | 800–1,000 men[Note 1] |
Colours | White over green |
Engagements | World War I |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders |
The 36th Battalion was an
History
World War I
The 36th Battalion was raised at
Over the course of the next six months the 36th Battalion was mainly involved in only minor defensive actions and it was not until 7 June 1917 the battalion fought in its first major battle, at Messines.[1] After this the battalion participated in the attack on Passchendaele on 12 October 1917. During this battle, the battalion managed to secure its objective, however, as other units had not been able to do so, the battalion had had to withdraw as its flanks were exposed to German counter-attacks and there was a lack of effective artillery support.[1] For the next five months the 36th Battalion alternated between periods of duty manning the line and training or labouring in the rear areas in Belgium, before it was moved south to the Somme to help blunt the German advance during their last-ditch effort to win the war as part of the Spring Offensive of 1918.[1] During this time they were deployed around Villers-Bretonneux in order to defend the approaches to the strategically important town of Amiens, taking part in a counter-attack at Hangard Wood in late March before beating off a concerted German attack on Villers-Bretonneux on 4 April, where the battalion suffered greatly when the Germans attacked with gas.[1]
This was to be the 36th Battalion's last contribution to the war, as it was disbanded on 30 April 1918 in order to reinforce other 9th Brigade units.
Inter-war years
In 1921, the decision was made to perpetuate the battle honours and traditions of the AIF battalions that had served during World War I by reorganising the
The battalion's headquarters was relocated to
World War II
With the outbreak of
Despite being withdrawn back to Port Moresby the campaign continued and late in December, the 36th Battalion, now part of the
In October 1944, the 36th Battalion was placed under the command of the 6th Brigade and along with the 14th/32nd and 19th Battalions they moved by sea to the north coast of New Britain.[8] Operating on the Gazelle Peninsula, the 36th Battalion took part in the Australian campaign of containment against the much larger Japanese forces that were in existence on the island at the time. In doing so, the battalion made a name for itself carrying out numerous long-range patrols and amphibious landings, becoming known as "Ike's Marines".[8] In June 1945, after seven months on New Britain, the 36th Battalion was relieved and brought back to Australia in June 1945. It was disbanded in August 1945.[8] Throughout its service during the war, the battalion lost 77 killed in action or died on active service, and 126 wounded.[8] Members of the 36th Battalion received the following decorations: one Distinguished Service Order and 14 Mentions in Despatches.[8] Four battle honours were awarded to the 36th Battalion for its involvement in the war in 1961.[4]
Commanding officers
World War I:
- Lieutenant ColonelMarcus Logan.
- Lieutenant Colonel James William Albert Simpson.
- Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander Milne.
- Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fletcher White.[1]
World War II:
- Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Brown.
- Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Alexander Burrows.
- Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Cedric Isaachsen.
- Lieutenant Colonel Muir Purser.[8]
Battle honours
The 36th Battalion held the following battle honours:[4]
- Boer War: South Africa 1901–02;[12][Note 2]
- World War I: Ypres 1917, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Somme 1918, France and Flanders 1916–18;[1]
- World War II: Sanananda Road, Liberation of Australian New Guinea.[8]
See also
Notes
- Footnotes
- ^ During World War I the standard size of an Australian infantry battalion was 1,023 men. Later, during World War II it was between 800 and 900 men.
- ^ The battalion inherited the battle honour of "South Africa 1901–02" from the 7th Volunteer Infantry Regiment (St George's Rifles), which sent a contingent of 75 men to South Africa during the Second Boer War.
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "36th Battalion". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
- ^ Neillands 2004, p. 493
- ^ Bean 1968, p. 435
- ^ a b c d e Festberg 1972, p. 95
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125
- ^ Brigg & Brigg 2003, pp. 1–2
- ^ Sweeting 1990, pp. 73–74
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "36th Battalion (St George's English Rifle Regiment)". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 138
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 110
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 44
- ^ a b Brigg & Brigg 2003, p. 2
- ^ Morgan 2019, p. 7.
- ^ Cranston 1983, p. 192
References
- Bean, Charles (1968). Anzac to Amiens: A Shorter History of the Australian Fighting Services in the First World War (5th ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 315997515.
- Brigg, Stan; Brigg, Les (2003) [1967]. Ike's Marines: The 36th Australian Infantry Battalion, 1939–1945. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-81-5.
- Cranston, Fred (1983). Always Faithful: A History of the 49th Infantry Battalion, 1916–1982. Brisbane, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. ISBN 978-0908175604.
- Festberg, Alfred (1972). The Lineage of the Australian Army. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing. ISBN 978-0-85887-024-6.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- OCLC 7185705.
- Morgan, Joseph (2019). "They Also Served: The 6th and 7th Machine Gun Battalions During World War II". Sabretache. LX (1). ISSN 0048-8933.
- Neillands, Robin (2004). The Great War Generals on the Western Front 1914–1918. London: Magpie Books. ISBN 1-84119-863-3.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation 1901–2001. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551507-2.
- Sweeting, A.J (1990). "Stevens, Arthur Borlase (1880–1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 12. Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. pp. 73–74.