46th Battalion (Australia)
46th Battalion | |
---|---|
Active | 1916–1919 1921–1942 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~900–1,000 men[Note 1] |
Part of | 12th Brigade, 4th Division (1916–19) 4th Brigade (1921–42) |
Nickname(s) | Brighton Rifles |
Colours | Yellow over blue |
Engagements | First World War Second World War |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 46th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War, the battalion served on the Western Front before being disbanded in 1919. It was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens Forces in 1921 and in 1927 adopted the title of the "Brighton Rifles", before becoming part of the Militia in 1929. During the Second World War the 46th served in a garrison role before being amalgamated with the 29th Battalion in August 1942 to form the 29th/46th Battalion.
History
First World War
The 46th Battalion was originally formed on 24 February 1916,
The battalion's first major battle came at
During its service throughout the war, the battalion lost 590 men killed and 1,939 wounded.
Inter-war years
In 1921, the Australian government decided to perpetuate the
Initially, the strength of Australia's part-time units was maintained by a mixture of voluntary and compulsory service, but in 1929, the
Second World War
Following the commencement of hostilities, the Australian government announced that it would raise an all volunteer force, known as the Second Australian Imperial Force, for service overseas because the provisions of the Defence Act (1903) prohibited sending the units of the Militia outside of Australian territory to fight.[15] The Militia was to provide the base upon which this force would be raised, while at the same time improve the nation's overall preparedness for war by undertaking defensive duties at strategic locations around Australia and providing training to conscripts following the re-commencement of the compulsory training scheme in early 1940.[15]
Following this, the 46th Battalion undertook a number of training camps as the Militia were called up for periods of continuous training throughout 1940 and 1941. Following Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, however, the tempo was increased and in March 1942 the battalion was moved to Queensland along with the rest of the 4th Brigade to conduct garrison duties.[11] In mid-1942, however, amid concerns about the ability of the Australian economy to continue to meet the demands being placed upon it by the war effort, the decision was made by the government to reduce the size of the Australian military forces and return manpower to industry by disbanding or amalgamating a number of Militia units.[16] The 46th Battalion was one of those units chosen to be amalgamated and, as a result, in August 1942, the 46th Battalion was amalgamated with the 29th Battalion to form the 29th/46th Battalion.[11] The 29th/46th would later go on to serve in New Guinea during the Huon Peninsula campaign in 1943–44 and then the New Britain campaign in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946.[11] After the war, although the 46th Battalion was not re-raised, in 1961 the 46th Battalion was awarded three battle honours, which it bore for the 29th/46th Battalion.[9]
Battle honours
The 46th received the following battle honours:[9]
- First World War: Egypt 1915–16.[5]
- Second World War: South West Pacific 1943–45, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, and Gusika–Fortification Point.[9]
Notes
- Footnotes
- Citations
- ^ Kuring 2004, p. 47
- ^ Palazzo 2004, p. 94
- ^ Polanski 1999, p. 2
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 99–100
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "46th Battalion". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
- ^ Polanski 1999, p. 6
- ^ Polanski 1999, p. 97
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 109
- ^ a b c d e f g Festberg 1972, p. 104
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125
- ^ a b c d e f "29th/46th Battalion". Second World War, 1939–1945 units. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 138
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 110
- ^ Keogh 1965, p. 44
- ^ a b Grey 2008, p. 146
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 184
References
- 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.
- Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications. ISBN 1-876439-99-8.
- Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey (eds.). The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–101. ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the originalon 9 March 2016.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army. A History of its Organisation 1901–2001. South Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-551507-2.
- Polanksi, Ian (1999). We Were the 46th: The History of the 46th Battalion in The Great War of 1914–18. Box Hill, Victoria: Jenkin Buxton Printers. ISBN 0-9577622-0-8.