2/4th Battalion (Australia)

Infantry battalion of the Australian Army 4th Battalion (Australia) 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment January 2017 January 2017 2/4th Battalion Australian 2-4th Infantry Battalion carriers Syria (AWM photo 021259).jpg Carriers from the 2/4th in Syria, October 1941 1939–1945 Australia Australian Army Infantry ~800–900 all ranksBy 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.Palazzo 2004 94 Note 19th Brigade, 6th Division White and green Colours World War II North African campaign Greek campaign New Guinea campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign 100px|alt=A two toned triangular image Unit colour patch The 2/4th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that was raised for service during World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. Deploying to the Middle East in early 1940, the battalion took part in the early fighting in North Africa in early 1941 along with the rest of the 6th Division, before being sent to Greece and then Crete, where it was heavily engaged and suffered heavy losses. Rebuilt in Palestine, the battalion undertook occupation duties in Syria. In early 1942, the 2/4th returned to Australia in response to Japan's entry into the war, and subsequently undertook a long period of defensive duties and training in Darwin, and then in north Queensland. While other elements of the 6th Division saw action in New Guinea in 1942–1943, the 2/4th saw no combat again until late in the war, when it was committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign in late 1944, fighting throughout the remainder of the war. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion was disbanded in Australia in November 1945. History Formation and training The 2/4th BattalionThe numerical designation of 2nd AIF units was prefixed by "2/", which was used to set them apart from Militia units with corresponding numerical designations.Long 1952 51 Note was raised on 3 November 1939 at Victoria Barracks, in Sydney, as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). Among the first batch of troops raised as part of the new force, the battalion was initially attached to the 16th Brigade, which was assigned to the 6th Division.Australian War Memorial Consisting of four rifle companies – designated 'A' to 'D' – under a headquarters company and a battalion headquarters, like other 2nd AIF infantry battalions raised at the time, the battalion had an authorised strength of around 900 personnel.Palazzo 2004 94 The colours chosen for the battalion's unit colour patch (UCP) were the same as those of the 4th Battalion, which had been raised for service during World War I as part of the First Australian Imperial Force, and had subsequently been re-raised as Militia battalion. These colours were white over green, in a horizontal rectangular shape, although a border of grey was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart.Long 1952 321–323 Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Percival Parsons, a World War I veteran who had served in the Militia between the wars, the battalion began the process of training its personnel at Ingleburn, New South Wales with several instructors being attached from the Australian Instructional Corps. Many of the initial volunteers had had previous military experience in the part-time forces, with the first group of commissioned and non-commissioned officers all being sourced from New South Wales Militia battalions including the 4th, 20th/19th and 56th Battalions. Training included basic soldiering skills such as weapon handling, drill, physical fitness, navigation, anti-gas techniques and fieldcraft. Finally, by early January 1940, the battalion was deemed ready to deploy overseas and on 4 January, the 2/4th took part in a farewell march through the streets of Sydney.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 3–11 Less than a week later, on 10 January 1940, the battalion departed Sydney aboard Strathnaver 2, bound for the Middle East. Sailing via Fremantle and Colombo,AWM52 8/3/4/2: January – February 1940 the 2/4th arrived at Kantara, in Egypt, in mid-February.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 33 left|thumb|250px|Parade at Gaza, April 1940 Middle East, Greece, Crete and Syria Following a re-organisation of the structure of the Australian Army, which saw each infantry brigade reduced from four infantry battalions to three, the battalion was re-allocated to the 19th Brigade.Australian War Memorial This change occurred while the 2/4th was at sea, and after arriving in the Middle East, it concentrated at a camp at Kilo 89, near Gaza, in Palestine where it joined the 2/8th and 2/11th Battalions.Thompson 2010 30 For a brief period, following Italy's entry into the war, the battalion was converted to an anti-aircraft regiment and employed in the defence of Haifa, before it was converted back into an infantry battalion in August 1940.Mackenzie-Smith 2018 2089 After rejoining the 19th Brigade, the 2/4th 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 Operation Compass. A series of actions were fought by the Australians around Bardia, Tobruk and Derna, before the 2/4th entered Benghazi in February. In reserve at Bardia,Thompson 2010 85 the battalion's main action came around Derna.Australian War Memorial During this action, a deception plan was executed by the battalion second-in-command, Major Robert Winning, drawing Italian artillery fire into no man's land.Connor 2002 The battalion subsequently occupied Benghazi in early February.Australian War Memorial In April 1941, as the Allies grew concerned about a German invasion of Greece, a combined force of British, Australian and New Zealand troops were deployed there from North Africa. It was a short lived campaign, as the Germans advanced quickly, rapidly pushing the Allies back. In freezing temperatures, the 2/4th was heavily engaged around Vevi, in northern Greece near the border with Yugoslavia,Thompson 2010 155 but also found itself being evacuated by the end of the month, departing from Megara.Australian War Memorial A small number of the battalion was not evacuated, however. Of these, most were captured and eventually sent to prisoner of war camps, although a couple were able to make their own way through Turkey to Palestine, where they eventually returned to the battalion. Several members of the 2/4th also managed to successfully escape from German or Italian prisoner of war camps.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 183–196 About 500 men from the 2/4th were evacuated by sea to Crete, arriving on 27 April.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 139–144 After the Germans launched an airborne invasion of the strategically important island on 20 May, the 2/4th fought around Heraklion airfield, being temporarily detached to the British 14th Infantry Brigade.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 146 During the initial landing, the German paratroopers attacking the airfield were repulsed, but they successfully managed to establish a strong foothold around the Allied position, and after heavy fighting the battalion was withdrawn from town, being taken off the Heraklion mole aboard several British destroyers as the island fell to the Germans.Thompson 2010 375 During the evacuation several of the warships that carried the 2/4th were subjected to heavy aerial attack, and several from the battalion were killed or wounded.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 176 After arriving in Alexandria, the battalion was rebuilt in Palestine, making up its losses from the earlier campaigns from new reinforcements in Palestine. In the wake of the Syria–Lebanon campaign, the battalion deployed to Syria as part of the Allied occupation force established there to defend against a possible German invasion through the Caucasus. They remained there until January 1942, enduring a cold and snowy winter. In the middle of the month, the 19th Brigade moved to Palestine, and from there the 2/4th embarked upon the troopship HMT Rajula at Port Tewfik,Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 204–205 for the return to Australia, following Japan's entry into the war.Australian War Memorial Sailing via Colombo, they arrived in Fremantle in mid-March 1942, before proceeding on to Port Adelaide.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 205–206 Home service and fighting in New Guinea 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 was allocated to defensive duties in Darwin, Northern Territory. Thus, after a fortnight's leave, the 2/4th Battalion, which had been temporarily headquartered around Mount Lofty in South Australia, was ordered north in late May 1942.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 207 They remained there until June 1943, when the battalion was moved to northern Queensland, along with the rest of the 19th Brigade, aboard Duntroon 2,Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 215 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 2/4th was committed to its first, and only, campaign against the Japanese, deploying to Aitape–Wewak in November 1944,Australian War Memorial aboard the US transport City of Mexico,Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 220 as the Australians took over from US forces in the region.Keogh 1965 402 thumb|Troops from the 2/4th attack around Wewak with tank support, 10 May 1945 After establishing themselves, the 19th Brigade was initially tasked with securing the area between around the Driniumor, Danmap and Danimul Rivers,Keogh 1965 404 and throughout the final months of the war, the battalion undertook an amphibious landing around But, before joining the advance towards Wewak, with fighting around Matapau in late December 1944 and then around Abau and Malin in early January 1945. After Wewak fell on 10 May and the Australians began pushing into the Prince Alexander Range in the interior. Further actions were fought around the Wirui Mission in the middle of May, and then around Mount Shiburangu and Mount Tazaki in May and early July, before the fighting came to an end in August 1945.Australian War MemorialUnit History Editorial Committee 1963 297 Following the end of hostilities, the process of demobilisation began. There was a large turn over of personnel at this time. Men who were eligible for discharge began returning to Australia in drafts after September, with the first batch departing aboard Katoomba 2, bound for Brisbane. Those who were not eligible for discharge were transferred to other battalions for further service.Unit History Editorial Committee 1963 291 By October, all that remained was a small cadre of personnel tasked with returning the battalion's equipment and obtaining the necessary clearances for the battalion's equipment accounts to be closed and records finalised. These personnel arrived in Australia in late October, and the 2/4th Battalion was subsequently disbanded at Chermside on 12 November 1945.Australian War Memorial During its service a total of 2,624 men served with the 2/4th Battalion of whom were 94 killed, 243 were wounded and 195 were captured.Johnston 2008 242 One of the unit's soldiers, Private Edward Kenna, received the Victoria Cross for his actions during an attack on the Wirui Mission in May 1945; in addition, members of the battalion also received the following decorations: one Distinguished Service Order, nine Military Crosses, six Distinguished Conduct Medals, 11 Military Medals, and 53 Mentions in Despatches. Two members of the 2/4th were invested as Members of the Order of the British Empire.Australian War Memorial Battle honours The 2/4th received the following battle honours for its involvement in the war:Australian War Memorial Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, Veve, Soter, Heraklion, Wewak, Wirui Mission, and Mount Shiburangu – Mount Tazaki. These honours were subsequently entrusted to the 4th Battalion in 1961,Festberg 1972 61–62 and through this link are maintained by the Royal New South Wales Regiment.Festberg 1972 27–28 Commanding officers The following officers commanded the 2/4th during the war:Australian War MemorialJohnston 2008 5 Lieutenant Colonel Percival Parsons (1939–1940); Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Dougherty (1940–1942); Lieutenant Colonel Nevis Farrell (1942–1945); and Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Cox (1945). Notes Footnotes Note Citations 30em References http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11255.asp 2/4th Battalion Second World War, 1939–1945 units Australian War Memorial 31 December 2010 CITEREFAustralian War Memorial 1963 White Over Green: The 2/4th Battalion and Reference to the 4th Battalion Angus and Robertson Sydney, New South Wales 19985329 CITEREFUnit History Editorial Committee1963 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1026342/?image=7 AWM52 8/3/4/2: January – February 1940: 2/4th Infantry Battalion Unit war diaries Australian War Memorial 17 March 2016 CITEREFAWM52 8/3/4/2: January – February 1940 winning-robert-emmett-12053 Winning, Robert Emmett (1906–1971) Connor John 2002 16 8 September 2019 Festberg Alfred The Lineage of the Australian Army 1972 Allara Publishing Melbourne, Victoria 978-0-85887-024-6 Johnston Mark Mark Johnston (historian) The Proud 6th: An Illustrated History of the 6th Australian Division 1939–1945 2008 Cambridge University Press Port Melbourne, Victoria 978-0-521-51411-8 Keogh Eustace Eustace Graham Keogh South West Pacific 1941–45 1965 Grayflower Publications Melbourne, Victoria 7185705 Long Gavin Gavin Long To Benghazi 1952 Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army I 1st Australian War Memorial Canberra, Australian Capital Territory https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070200/ 18400892 Mackenzie-Smith Graham 2018 The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939–1945, Volume 2 Big Sky Publishing Warriewood, New South Wales 978-1-925675-146 Palazzo Albert Organising for Jungle Warfare The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944 2004 Dennis, Peter Grey, Jeffrey Jeffrey Grey Army History Unit Canberra, Australian Capital Territory http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/Army-History-Unit/Chief-of-Army-History-Conference/Previous-Conference-Proceedings/~/media/Files/Our%20history/AAHU/Conference%20Papers%20and%20Images/2003/2003-The_Pacific_War_1943-1944_Part_1.ashx 86–101 978-0-646-43590-9 https://web.archive.org/web/20160309213301/http://army.gov.au/our-history/army-history-unit/chief-of-army-history-conference/previous-conference-proceedings/~/media/files/our%20history/aahu/conference%20papers%20and%20images/2003/2003-the_pacific_war_1943-1944_part_1.ashx 9 March 2016 Thompson Peter Anzac Fury: The Bloody Battle of Crete 1941 2010 William Heinemann North Sydney, New South Wales 978-1-86471-131-8 Further reading Ewer Peter Forgotten Anzacs: The Campaign in Greece, 1941 2008 Scribe Publications Carlton North, Victoria 978-1-921215-29-2 457093199 collapsed 4 4 4 4