2/1st Medium Regiment (Australia)

Australian Army artillery unit November 2019 2/1st Medium Regiment File:2-1st Medium Regiment training at Ingleburn (AWM P02729.036).JPG 2/1st Medium Regiment training at Ingleburn, 1940 Australia Artillery Army 1940–1945 I Corps II Corps 23rd Brigade 11th Division 5th Division 2 batteries Blue and red Colours Unit colour patch Abbreviation World War II North African campaign New Guinea campaign Home front The 2/1st Medium Regiment was an artillery regiment of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in 1940 as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the regiment undertook garrison duties in Australia, Nauru and on Ocean Island, and served in the Middle East. It was converted to a field regiment, designated the 2/13th Army Field Regiment, due to a lack of howitzers, but was later converted back into a medium regiment. During 1943–1944, the regiment served as the 2/13th Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment before returning to the medium role. It was disbanded in July 1945, in Queensland. History The regiment was raised in May 1940 in Ingleburn, New South Wales, as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel E.J.W Pope.Horner 1995 229 Upon formation it consisted of two batteries: the 1st and 2nd Medium Batteries.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3098 Training was undertaken at Ingleburn with six-inch howitzers. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P02729.036/ Ingleburn, NSW. 1940. Unidentified members of the 21st Medium Regiment Australian War Memorial 30 August 2019 In October 1940, the regiment was converted into a field regiment due to a shortage of medium artillery pieces,McKenzie-Smith 2018 3058 designated as the 2/13th Army Field Regiment.Horner 1995 286 As a field regiment, it consisted of the 25th and 26th Batteries.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3098 As a corps-level unit, it was assigned directly to I Corps.Horner 1995 229 In February 1941, the regiment deployed two detachments of around 50 personnel and two 18-pounders to Nauru and Ocean Island as garrison troops as part of Heron Force and Wren Force; they were relieved in August 1941 and returned to Australia. Meanwhile, the rest of the regiment was deployed to Darwin, Northern Territory from in Cowra, New South Wales, in April 1941 in support of the 23rd Infantry Brigade.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3098Horner 1995 232–233 While in the Northern Territory, the regiment was based in Winnellie. In July 1941, the regiment handed over its equipment to the 2/14th Field Regiment.http://www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au/items/show/1146 2/13th Field Regiment Northern Territory Library 30 August 2019 1 September 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190901013350/http://www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au/items/show/1146 dead The regiment deployed to the Middle East in September 1941.Horner 1995 286 The regiment was initially based at Hill 93 in Palestine. In October 1941, the regiment reverted to a medium regiment.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3059 & 3099 At that time it received sixteen US-made, French-designed 155 mm howitzers. They moved to Beit Jirja and then later Beir Suneid,McKenzie-Smith 2018 3099 but did not see combat before being brought back to Australia in March 1942 and saw no further active service throughout the war.Horner 1995 286 On return to Australia, the regiment landed in Adelaide and then moved to Queensland via Ingleburn.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3099 By July 1942, the 2/1st Medium Regiment, still under the command of Pope was assigned to the corps artillery within I Corps, based in Toowoomba, Queensland.Horner 1995 310 The regiment provided some personnel for the 1st Mountain Battery, which served in the New Guinea campaign.Horner 1995 342 By January 1943, the regiment was based in Helidon, Queensland.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3099 There was little need for medium artillery in the Pacific, and as a result the regiment was underemployed. In July 1943, it was converted into the 2/13th Composite Anti Aircraft Regiment at Chermside, Queensland; at this time it consisted of the 14th Heavy Anti Aircraft and 15th Light Anti Aircraft Batteries. Part of the 14th HAA Battery was detached in November 1944 to provide anti aircraft defence around Buna in New Guinea, during operations to secure Finschafen, remaining there until May 1944. Meanwhile, in January 1944, the regiment was transferred to Southport, Queensland, and in September 1944 it briefly gained the 84th Mobile Searchlight Battery before this sub unit was deployed to New Guinea in November. The regiment then moved to Mapee, where they came under the command of II Corps; in August, they were reassigned to the 11th Division around Kairi, Queensland.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3099 In December 1944, the regiment returned to the medium role,Horner 1995 392 as the need for anti-aircraft defences in Australia diminished due to the decline in Japanese air power as the war progressed. At this time, it readopted the 2/1st Medium Regiment designation, and consisting of the 1st and 2nd Medium Batteries. For a period was assigned to the 5th Division.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3099 It remained in Australia and did not see further action until it was disbanded on 31 July 1945, while at Kairi, as it was deemed surplus to requirements.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2660042 AWM52 4/5/1: 2/1 Medium Regiment Royal Australian Artillery AIF Unit war diaries 1939–1945 war Australian War Memorial 30 August 2019 Notes References Horner David David Horner The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery 1995 Allen & Unwin Sydney, New South Wales 1-86373-917-3 McKenzie-Smith Graham Graham McKenzie-Smith 2018 The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939–1945, Volume 3 Big Sky Publishing Warriewood, New South Wales 978-1-925675-146 External links 2/1st Medium Regiment war diary, Australian War Memorial 2/1st Medium Regiment, Australian War Memorial Category:Artillery regiments of Australia Category:Military units and formations established in 1940 Category:1940 establishments in Australia Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Category:1945 disestablishments in Australia