11th Battalion (Australia)

2/11th Battalion (Australia) Infantry battalion of the Australian Army January 2017 September 2020 11th Battalion Australian 11th Battalion group photo.jpg Soldiers of 11th Battalion posing on the Great Pyramid of Giza on 10 January 1915, prior to the landing at Gallipoli 1914–19191921–19461967–1987 Australia Australian Army Infantry ~800–1,000 personnel 3rd Brigade, 1st Division 13th Brigade, 4th Division Perth, Western Australia Vigilans Brown over light blue Colours World War I Gallipoli campaign Western Front World War II New Britain Campaign 70px Unit colour patch The 11th Battalion was an Australian Army battalion that was among the first infantry units raised during World War I for the First Australian Imperial Force. It was the first battalion recruited in Western Australia, and following a brief training period in Perth, the battalion sailed to Egypt where it undertook four months of intensive training. In April 1915 it took part in the invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula, landing at Anzac Cove. In August 1915 the battalion was in action in the Battle of Lone Pine. Following the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt where it was split to help form the 51st Battalion. In March 1916, the battalion was deployed to the Western Front in France and Belgium where it took part in trench warfare until the end of the war in November 1918. The battalion was disbanded in 1919, but since 1921 has been re-activated and merged several times as a reserve unit, initially as the 11th Battalion (City of Perth Regiment), which fought a brief campaign against the Japanese on New Britain during World War II. Other units that have maintained the traditions of the original 11th Battalion include the 11th/44th Battalion (City of Perth Regiment), 'A' (City of Perth) Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment and the current 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment. 3 World War I Formation The 11th Battalion was formed on 17 August 1914, less than two weeks after the declaration of war on 4 August,Gill 2004 14Belford 1992 2 and was among the first infantry units raised during World War I for the all-volunteer First Australian Imperial Force. Along with the 9th, 10th and 12th Battalions, it formed Colonel Ewen Sinclair-MacLagan's 3rd Brigade, which was assigned to the 1st Division.Hurst 2005 5https://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11198.asp 11th Battalion First World War, 1914–1918 units Australian War Memorial 24 July 2013 The first battalion raised in Western Australia, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Lyon-Johnston, the 11th concentrated at Blackboy Hill, Western Australia. Drawing personnel from around the state with the majority coming from Perth and the goldfields,Gill 2004 13 recruits came from all elements of society, with the majority being former labourers and agricultural workers or miners. Seventy-three percent of original enlistments were Australian-born, with the remaining recruits being mainly English-born with smaller numbers coming from other parts of the British Isles.Gill 2004 13 By 24 September it had reached its authorised strength of 1,023 officers and other ranks.Kuring 2004 47 On formation, the battalion consisted of eight rifle companies, designated 'A' to 'H', and a headquarters company with signals, transport, medical and machine-gun sections.Hurst 2005 6–7Belford 1992 7–8 The majority of the battalion's non-commissioned officers were long-serving Citizens Forces soldiers or regular personnel.Gill 2004 14Belford 1992 4 Some had previously fought in South Africa during the Boer War and others had previously served in the British Army.Hurst 2005 3–8 Rudimentary training was undertaken at Bellevue, Western Australia, and at the end of October it sailed from Fremantle on the Ascanius and Medic 1899 6. Originally bound for the United Kingdom, where they were to complete training, after stopovers in the Cocos Islands and Colombo, their orders were changed due to concerns about overcrowding in training camps in the United Kingdom and at the start of December, the battalion arrived at Mena Camp in Cairo, Egypt.Gill 2004 20Hurst 2005 15–19 There, the battalion's eight companies were reorganised into the four that existed under the British Army establishment and further training was undertaken. The battalion remained in Egypt until early March 1915 when it sailed on Suffolk and Nizam from Alexandria to the island of Lemnos in the Aegean Sea, in preparation for the Landing at Anzac Cove.Gill 2004 20–21 Gallipoli Landing at Anzac Cove On 24 April 1915, the battalion disembarked from Suffolk and boarded London 1899 6, which was bound for Gallipoli in the Dardanelles.Gill 2004 27 At 4:30 on the morning of 25 April, 'A' and 'C' Companies of the battalion landed at North Beach, north of Ari Burnu Knoll, a mile south of Fisherman's Hut,Bean 1941a 255 on the left flank of the first wave. Under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, the battalion stormed the cliffs, driving the Turks back. However, the battalion became disorganised during the landing and mixed with other units. Small sections of the battalion were engaged in firefights all along the Australian front.Gill 2004 27–28 Major Edmund Drake-Brockman, one of the battalion's senior officers, tried to sort the scattered men into their battalions: 9th on the right, 10th in the middle and 11th on the left.Bean 1941a 262 Meanwhile, the second half of the battalion landed further north of the first wave, directly under heavy machine-gun fire from Turks fully prepared and alerted by the first wave.Bean 1941a 267–268 Over the next few days, the battalion dug in on the first and second ridges under heavy fire from the Turks. Casualties were heavy, but a defensive line was established. On 30 April, the battalion was withdrawn and moved into reserve on the beach. The next day, it reoccupied its section of the front. At this stage, the battalion was 450-strong.Gill 2004 28 By 1 May, 30 officers and 940 other ranks from the battalion had landed.Bean 1941a 281 thumb|right|Troops from the Australian 11th and 12th Battalions on board HMS London en route to Gallipoli. 24 April 1915. AWM Photo|alt=Soldiers standing on the deck of a ship Raid on Gaba Tepe On 4 May 1915, a party of 100 men from the battalion, led by Captain Raymond Leane and a detail of engineers, launched an unsuccessful attack on a Turkish fort at Gaba Tepe,Gill 2004 28 which was being used to observe artillery fire onto Australian positions around Anzac Cove. The Turks opened heavy fire on the party which was forced to withdraw. The Australians lost four killed, including an officer, and 19 others were wounded. The raid was the AIF's first of the war.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341887 AWM4-23/28/2: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: May 1915 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 At this point, the battalion estimated that it had suffered 38 killed, 200 wounded and 197 missing. On 15 May, the battalion received 244 reinforcements,Gill 2004 28 bringing its total strength to 23 officers and 723 other ranks. In the early morning on 19 May, Turkish forces launched an attack against the left flank of the Australian lines, which developed into a major battle along the whole Australian front. The attack was repulsed with heavy losses. The 11th Battalion suffered nine killed and eight wounded,Gill 2004 28 mainly from shrapnel. One Turkish officer and five soldiers surrendered. On 21 May, a truce was declared and a burial party from the 12th Battalion was sent out. However, it was fired at by the Turks and as a result burial parties were discontinued. A similar truce was declared on 24 May.Gill 2004 28 A line was drawn halfway between the two lines and each side sent out parties to bury the dead and collect equipment. Lone Pine On 27 July 1915, after two weeks in reserve, the battalion relieved the 12th Battalion at Tasmanian Post, on the right on the Australian front line. On 31 July, a party of around 200 men led by Leane were ordered to capture a section of Turkish trenches in front of the battalion's position. After engineers detonated three mines prepared near Turkish communications trenches, the storming party captured the Turkish trench following a bayonet charge, with the loss of one officer and 36 other ranks killed. Seventy-three other members of the battalion were wounded during the attack, including Leane, who was mentioned in despatches. Turkish casualties were estimated by the battalion to be 60 killed.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341908 AWM4-23/28/4: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: July 1915 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013Gill 2004 29 On 6 August, the battalion held off a fierce Turkish counterattack on the trench, which became known as "Leane's Trench" during the Battle of Lone Pine. Heavy casualties were sustained on both sides. The battalion suffered 41 killed, 94 wounded and 19 missing.https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1341917 AWM4-23/28/5: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: August 1915 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 By the end of the month, the 11th Battalion's strength, despite having received six batches of reinforcements, had fallen to just over 500 men, approximately half its authorised strength.Gill 2004 34 The following month, command of the battalion passed to Leane when Lyon-Johnston took over as brigade commander. As the health of the men deteriorated, the battalion's strength fell further to just over 300. The arrival of winter in October brought heavy rain and even harsher conditions.Gill 2004 34 Withdrawal In November, the battalion supported the 5th Light Horse around "Chatham Post" until it was withdrawn, with the 9th Battalion, from Anzac Cove. The withdrawal had been planned for the 14th, but due to bad weather this was delayed until the night of the 16/17 November 1915. From Anzac Cove, it sailed to Lemnos where it recuperated at Sampi Camp, following seven months in the trenches. The battalion's war diary records particularly bad weather on Lemnos during this period, noting "Mudros seems a most unsuitable place to send troops for a rest". During this rest period, the battalion reported its first and only case of diphtheria, following which the whole brigade was quarantined.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-8.pdf AWM4-23/28/8: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: November 1915 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 On 17 December, the battalion's last casualty of the campaign, a soldier named Private Hayes, died from meningitis.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-9.pdf AWM4-23/28/9: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: December 1915 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 The battalion lost a total of 353 men killed during the campaign.Gill 2004 35 Western Front In early 1916, the battalion sailed to Alexandria on the Empress of Britain. From Alexandria, it travelled by train to bivouac at Tall al Kabir.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-10.pdf AWM4-23/28/10: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: January 1916 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 At this time, the battalion received 367 reinforcements from Australia before undertaking defensive duties around Gebel Habieta, guarding the Suez Canal.Gill 2004 37 In February, the AIF was re-organised and expanded. This saw the veteran battalions split to provide cadres for new battalions and as a part of this process, the 11th Battalion provided personnel to the 51st Battalion,Bean 1941b 42 by transferring the even numbered sections to the new battalion.Hurst 2005 194 At this time, the battalion received four Lewis Guns for organic direct fire support.Gill 2004 38 On 30 March 1916, as the AIF's infantry divisions were transferred to Europe, the battalion sailed from Alexandria aboard the HMT Corsican.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-12.pdf AWM4-23/28/12: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: March 1916 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 It arrived at Marseille, France, on 5 April and then moved by train to Flêtre where it was billeted until the 19th when it moved to Sailly, where it commemorated Anzac Day on 25 April.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-13.pdf AWM4-23/28/13: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: April 1916 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 In mid-May, after a period of acclimatisation and training to prepare them for the European battlefield, the 11th Battalion moved up to the front line around Petillon in the Fleurbaix sector, with a strength of 27 officers and 929 other ranks. A further draft of reinforcements, totalling 69 men all ranks, arrived on 25 May,Gill 2004 39 and on 30 May the battalion had its first experience of combat on the Western Front.Hurst 2005 196 Late that evening, German artillery bombarded the Allied line around the Cordonnerie salient, before infantry launched a raid on the 11th Battalion's trenches. In the fighting that followed the 11th Battalion lost four men captured, 37 killed and 70 wounded.Gill 2004 39 Pozières and Mouquet Farm Throughout June, the 11th Battalion was placed in support of the front as it was brought back up to strength. At this time, the battalion's organic fire support was increased by the addition of two extra Lewis Guns. The following month, they moved to the Somme and were committed to the fighting around Pozières. After arriving at Albert on 19 July amidst a gas attack, the battalion spent the next couple of days preparing to attack, working to improve trenches and cache stores, during which they were subjected to heavy artillery bombardment.Gill 2004 40 The attack was put in just before midnight on 23 July and was a costly success. Amidst heavy casualties, the 11th Battalion took the forward German trenches and amidst the confusion of the fighting advanced beyond their limit of exploitation, entering Pozières and moving beyond where they became embroiled in close quarters fighting. After capturing five artillery pieces, the battalion's officers and non-commissioned officers eventually managed to regain control of the advance and the battalion was brought back into a defensive line along their first objective. At dawn, patrols from the battalion entered the village again and cleared out the cellars beneath the battered remains of the village's buildings, capturing over 40 prisoners.Gill 2004 40 During the night of 24/25 July, the Australians attacked again, but after establishing a new defensive line, the 11th was forced to withdraw after suffering heavily from both friendly and enemy shelling. In the morning of 25 July, further casualties were sustained by German artillery. German infantry then launched a counterattack on the battalion's right, but the Australians managed to hold their ground. They remained in the line throughout the day, before the 19th Battalion arrived as part of the 5th Brigade's relief of the 3rd Brigade. Having lost 19 officers and 512 other ranks killed, wounded or missing, the battalion had suffered the most of all the 3rd Brigade's battalions and was moved back to Berteaucourt to be rebuilt.Gill 2004 40Hurst 2005 198 After re-organising, in mid-August the 11th Battalion moved to La Boisselle where they were placed into brigade reserve. Just before dawn on 21 August, about 200 men from the 11th took part in an attack around Mouquet Farm; casualties amounted to 20 killed and 40 wounded and afterwards the battalion was moved to Belgium.Gill 2004 45 The 11th Battalion spent the remainder of 1916 in the Ypres sector, in Flanders, but was moved back to the Somme at the end of the year as the worst winter in 40 years descended on the front.Stevenson 2007 191 Louverval thumb|upright|alt=Portrait of a military officer |Lieutenant Charles Pope, the 11th Battalion's sole Victoria Cross recipient. In early 1917, the Germans fell back towards the Hindenburg Line in an effort to shorten their lines and move into prepared positions.Baldwin 1963 99 As the Allies pursued the withdrawing Germans, in late February the 11th Battalion captured Le Barque, conducting mopping-up operations before advancing to Thilloy where they fought a minor engagement before being relieved by the 3rd Battalion, having lost 12 killed and 30 wounded during the fighting and a further 10 men killed and 13 wounded by artillery. Sickness also took a heavy toll during this time due to the bad weather.Gill 2004 47 In March, Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Rafferty took over as commanding officer and the following month, as the Allied line was pushed further forward towards the Hindenburg Line, the 11th Battalion played a supporting role during the 3rd Brigade's attack around Boursies, before occupying the front around the village of Louverval.Gill 2004 47–48 On 15 April 1917, during the Battle of Lagnicourt, Lieutenant Charles Pope, of 'A' Company, was in command of an important picket post on the right of the battalion's positions outside Louverval, with orders to "hold the position at all costs".30122 y 5703 8 April 1917 The Germans attacked the position with overwhelming numbers and surrounded the post. Having used up their ammunition, the remainder of the post charged with fixed bayonets into the surrounding German positions. Pope's body was later found with those of his men, having killed 80 Germans. Pope was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross, Australia's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM4/23/AWM4-23-28-26.pdf AWM4-23/28/26: 11th Infantry Battalion War Diary: April 1917 Australian War Memorial 3 August 2013 Bullecourt and the Third Battle of Ypres In early May, the 11th Battalion moved to Norieul, where they occupied a recently captured portion of the German line. A couple of days later, during the Second Battle of Bullecourt, their position was attacked by German "shock troops". In response to the attack, supporting artillery was called down, and the attack repulsed. The Germans laid down a heavy bombardment in retaliation. An attack was ordered, but the order was rescinded when the senior officer in the forward trench, Major Aubrey Darnell, expressed concerns about the state of the soldiers in the assault wave. The Germans then put in another attack, which was once again turned back, before the 11th launched a limited counterattack and regained the ground that had been lost. The battalion, having lost 68 men killed, two captured and 140 wounded, was down to a strength of just over 400 men. They were relieved and then moved back to Bapaume, where they received a draft of over 100 reinforcements.Gill 2004 53 Over the next couple of months, the battalion was rebuilt, reaching a strength of 44 officers and 1,002 other ranks by late August. The following month they were committed to the Third Battle of Ypres. Their first attack came around Glencorse Wood on 20 September, during which the 11th Battalion lost 46 killed and 100 wounded, before moving to Westhoek Ridge in early October. Another move saw them transferred to Broodeseinde Ridge, where they conducted a raid on German positions around Celtic Wood on 6/7 October in concert with the 12th Battalion.Gill 2004 55 The following day, the 11th Battalion moved to a position on "Anzac Ridge", before later moving to Zonnebeke at the end of the month where they suffered heavy casualties from German artillery. Throughout November and the first part of December, the battalion remained out of the line, resting around Bologne, before returning to the front around Messines in late December, remaining there over New Years. The battalion's strength during this time was 32 officers and 687 other ranks.Gill 2004 55–56 German Spring Offensive and the final Hundred Days In early 1918, after the capitulation of the Russian Empire the Germans, having moved the bulk of their forces to the Western Front, launched the Spring Offensive, striking against the British forces in the Somme.Baldwin 1963 126 & 140 The initial onslaught pushed the Allied forces back and the Australian divisions, which had been merged into the Australian Corps, were thrown into the line in an effort to stem the tide.Grey 2008 108 In early March, the 11th Battalion moved to the Hollebeke sector, where they were subjected to gas attacks before being sent south to Amiens at the start of April, joining the rest of the 1st Division in defence of Hazebrouck in the middle of the month.Gill 2004 59 For the next couple of months the battalion rotated through the line in a defensive role as the German offensive was blunted. In June, as the Allies sought to regain some of the initiative, they undertook a series of Peaceful Penetration raids.Stevenson 2013 188 On 2 June, the 11th Battalion attacked Mont de Merris, which resulted in the capture of a large amount of German equipment and over 200 prisoners for the loss of 16 men killed and 74 wounded. A lesser attack was launched on the German trenches opposite the battalion on 22 June.Gill 2004 60 Around this time, a small group of US soldiers was attached to the 11th Battalion to gain experience. The following month, the battalion captured Gerbedoen Farm before supporting the 10th Battalion's successful attack on Merris.Gill 2004 60–62 On 8 August, the Allies launched their own offensive, known as the Hundred Days Offensive, around Amiens.Baldwin 1963 147 The 11th Battalion did not take part in the opening phase of the offensive, moving to Hamel and establishing themselves in a defensive position around Harbonnieres. On 10 August, the battalion was committed to a strong attack around Lihons; although successful, the attack lasted three days and resulted in heavy casualties, including 58 killed and 140 wounded. On the night of 12/13 August, the 11th was withdrawn to the support line just behind the front. Later, they were moved to Vaire and then Cerisy, before supporting the 9th and 12th Battalions around Chuignolles and Proyart on 23 August and then around Chuignes and Cappy two days later, where further losses were experienced.Gill 2004 62–63 The 11th Battalion's final attack came against the Hindenburg Outpost Line on 18 September when they launched a three-company attack around Fervaque Farm and Carpeza Copse near Villeret. Despite being severely understrength – each company had an average strength of just 76 men – they advanced over 3000 yd m and took over 120 prisoners and large quantities of German equipment, for the loss of 18 men killed. Further casualties came on 24 October when German aircraft attacked the battalion headquarters, killing a number of officers, including Darnell, who was the acting commanding officer.Gill 2004 68 The heavy casualties that the Australians had suffered during the final year of the war, and the decrease in volunteers arriving from Australia, meant that the battalion was desperately understrength. In October, they were withdrawn from the line for rest and reorganisation, at the insistence of the Australian prime minister, Billy Hughes. At this time, the battalion was reorganised into a two-company structure. In early November, the battalion prepared to return to the front around St. Quentin, but before they could return to the fighting, an armistice came into effect, bringing the war to an end.Gill 2004 69 By the end of the war, a total of over 9,000 men had served in the 11th Battalion, of which 1,115 were killed and 2,424 wounded.Belford 1992 665 Members of the battalion received the following decorations for their service during the war: one Victoria Cross, one Companion of the Order of the Bath, two Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George, seven Distinguished Service Orders, one Officer of the Order of the British Empire, 30 Military Crosses and one Bar, 25 Distinguished Conduct Medals with one Bar, 96 Military Medals with two Bars, three Meritorious Service Medals, 85 Mentions in Despatches and seven foreign awards. Following the armistice, the 11th Battalion was moved to Chaelet, in Belgium, where the demobilisation process began. The battalion's personnel were slowly repatriated to Australia, while those that waited undertook training to prepare them for civilian life. On 6 February 1919, the 11th Battalion was amalgamated with the 12th, to form the 11th/12th Battalion; a further amalgamation occurred on 27 March when the 11th/12th merged with the 9th/10th Battalion, forming the 3rd Australian Infantry Brigade Battalion. A short time later, the battalion disbanded.Gill 2004 69–70 The 11th Battalion's final commanding officer was Major Jack O'Neil, an original member of the battalion who had been appointed a company sergeant major during the battalion's formative period at Blackboy Camp.Belford 1992 4 & 666 Inter war years and World War II In 1921, following the conclusion of the demobilisation of the AIF, the government undertook a review of Australia's military requirements and the part-time military force, the Citizens Forces, was reorganised to perpetuate the numerical designations of the AIF units.Grey 2008 125 As a result, the 11th Battalion was reformed in Perth, drawing personnel and lineage from the 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 51st Infantry Regiment.Festberg 1972 70 Upon formation, the battalion was assigned to the 13th Brigade,McKenzie-Smith 2018 2203 and inherited the battle honour of "South Africa, 1899–1902", which it bore for the 1st and 2nd Battalions, West Australian Infantry. In 1927, territorial designations were introduced and the battalion adopted the title of the "Perth Regiment"; it was also awarded battle honours for World War I, receiving a total of 23. Its motto at this time was Vigilans.Festberg 1972 71 thumb|Battalion headquarters at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, December 1944 Upon establishment, the Citizens Forces units were manned through both voluntary and compulsory service;Grey 2008 125 & 138 but, in 1929–30, following the election of the Scullin Labor government, the compulsory service scheme was abolished and the Citizens Forces was replaced with an all volunteer "Militia".Keogh 1965 44 As a result of the economic pressures of the Great Depression the number of volunteers fell, and consequently a number of infantry battalions had to be disbanded or amalgamated.Keogh 1965 44 The 11th Battalion was one of those amalgamated, being joined with the 16th Battalion in 1930 to become the 11th/16th Battalion. The two units remained linked until 1 October 1936, when the 11th Battalion (City of Perth Regiment) was re-formed in its own right,Festberg 1972 70 as part of an expansion of the Militia due to concerns about war in Europe.Shaw 2010 9 During World War II, like most Militia units, the 11th Battalion performed garrison duties for most of the war. It was mobilised for war service at Melville, Western Australia, in December 1941.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2203 In the early part of the war, the battalion remained in Western Australia, and was assigned to the 4th Division, as part of the 13th Brigade, before later moving to the Northern Territory in 1943,https://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11899.asp 11th Battalion (City of Perth Regiment) Second World War, 1939–1945 units Australian War Memorial 24 July 2013 where the 13th Brigade was deployed to defend Darwin, replacing the 3rd Brigade.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2204 Later in 1943, the battalion was gazetted as an AIF battalion, after more than 65 percent of its personnel volunteered to serve outside Australian territory.Festberg 1972 70 As the threat to Darwin passed, its garrison was reduced and the 13th Brigade was reorganised to prepare it for operations in the Pacific. The battalion, along with the rest of the 13th Brigade, was later transferred to the 5th Division and saw service against the Japanese during 1945 in the New Britain Campaign. Due to the large size of Japanese forces on New Britain, the Australian campaign was focused mainly upon containment.Keogh 1965 411–412 After landing at Jacquinot Bay the battalion was based around the Tol Plantation and conducted patrolling operations to restrict the Japanese to the Gazelle Peninsula. Little contact was made and actual combat was limited; the battalion's casualties amounted to three dead and four wounded. Following the end of the war, the 11th Battalion occupied Rabaul,McKenzie-Smith 2018 2204 before being disbanded on 11 April 1946.Festberg 1972 70 Post World War II In 1948, Australia's part-time military force was re-raised in the guise of the Citizens Military Force.Grey 2008 200 At this time, the 11th/44th Battalion (City of Perth Regiment) was formed. From 1960, following a reorganisation of the Army that saw the adoption of the Pentropic divisional establishment, the 11th/44th was reduced to a company-sized element and 'A' (City of Perth) Company, 1st Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment maintained the traditions of the 11th Battalion.Festberg 1972 71 The following year, the 11th Battalion was awarded the 15 battle honours that had been earned by the 11th and 2/11th Battalions during World War II.Festberg 1972 71 A separate 11th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment was reformed in 1966, being formed through a designation of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment.Shaw 2010 11 Ten years later, the battalion was reduced to an independent company and in 1987, the 11th Independent Rifle Company was amalgamated with the 28th Independent Rifle Company to form the current 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment.Shaw 2010 10–11http://www.rwar.org.au/Regiment-History Regiment History Royal Western Australia Regiment Association 4 August 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130410190341/http://www.rwar.org.au/Regiment-History 10 April 2013 Alliances The 11th Battalion held the following alliance: United Kingdom – Royal Sussex Regiment (approved in 1925).Festberg 1972 71 Battle honours The 11th Battalion received the following battle honours:Festberg 1972 71 Boer War South Africa, 1899–1902 (inherited). World War I Somme 1916–18, Pozières, Bullecourt, Ypres 1917, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, Passchendaele, Lys, Hazebrouck, Amiens, Albert 1918, Hindenburg Line, Epehy, France and Flanders 1916–1918, ANZAC, Landing at ANZAC, Defence of ANZAC, Suvla, Sari Bair, Gallipoli 1915, Egypt 1915–16. World War II North Africa 1940–41, Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, Derna, Greece 1941, Brallos Pass, Crete, Retimo, South-West Pacific 1944–45, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Matapau, Abau–Malin, Wewak, Wirui Mission. References Citations Bibliography 2 Baldwin Hanson World War I: An Outline History 1963 London Hutchinson 793915761 Bean Charles Charles Bean The Story of ANZAC from the Outbreak of War to the End of the First Phase of the Gallipoli Campaign, May 4, 1915 1941a 11th Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 I Angus & Robertson Sydney, New South Wales https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069750/ 220878987 Bean Charles The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916 Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 III 12th 1941b Australian War Memorial Canberra, Australian Capital Territory https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069752/ Belford Walter "Legs-Eleven": Being the Story of the 11th Battalion (A.I.F.) in the Great War of 1914–1918 1992 1940 John Burridge Military Antiques Swanbourne, Western Australia 221479550 Festberg Alfred 1972 The Lineage of the Australian Army Melbourne, Victoria Allara Publishing 978-0-85887-024-6 Gill Ian Fremantle to France: 11th Battalion A.I.F. 1914–1919 2004 2nd Advance Press Myaree, Western Australia 0-9750588-0-0 Grey Jeffrey Jeffrey Grey A Military History of Australia 3rd Cambridge University Press Melbourne, Victoria 2008 978-0-521-69791-0 Hurst James Game to the Last: The 11th Australian Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli 2005 Oxford University Press South Melbourne, Victoria 0-19-555331-4 Keogh Eustace Eustace Graham Keogh South West Pacific 1941–45 1965 Grayflower Publications Melbourne, Victoria 7185705 Kuring Ian 2004 Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001 Loftus, New South Wales Australian Military History Publications 1-876439-99-8 McKenzie-Smith Graham Graham McKenzie-Smith 2018 The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939–1945, Volume 2 Big Sky Publishing Warriewood, New South Wales 978-1-925675-146 Shaw Peter The Evolution of the Infantry State Regiment System in the Army Reserve Sabretache Military Historical Society of Australia LI 4 2010 0048-8933 Stevenson Robert The Forgotten First: The 1st Australian Division in the Great War and its Legacy Australian Army Journal IV 1 http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/LWSC/Our-publications/Australian-Army-Journal/Past-issues/~/media/Files/Our%20future/LWSC%20Publications/AAJ/2007Autumn/15-TheForgottenFirstThe1st.pdf 2007 185–199 30798241 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131203101744/http://www.army.gov.au/Our-future/LWSC/Our-publications/Australian-Army-Journal/Past-issues/~/media/Files/Our%20future/LWSC%20Publications/AAJ/2007Autumn/15-TheForgottenFirstThe1st.pdf 3 December 2013 Stevenson Robert To Win the Battle: The 1st Australian Division in the Great War, 1914–1918 2013 Cambridge University Press Port Melbourne, Victoria 978-1-107-02868-5 External links 11th Battalion's War Diary – Australian War Memorial collapsed Category:Infantry battalions of Australia 11 Category:Military units and formations established in 1914 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1987 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1919 Category:Military units and formations established in 1921 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 Category:Military units and formations established in 1967