2/6th Field Regiment (Australia)

Australian Army artillery regiment 2/6th Field Regiment File:6th Australian Field Regiment - Syria 1941 (AWM 008195).jpg Troop command post from the 2/6th Field Regiment during the Syria–Lebanon campaign, 1941 1940–45 Australia Australian Military Forces Regiment Artillery 3 batteries 7th Division World War II North African Campaign Syria–Lebanon Campaign Salamaua–Lae campaign Huon Peninsula campaign Borneo campaign 120px Unit colour patch The 2/6th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed as part of the 7th Division in May 1940 for operations during World War II. The regiment served in Egypt and Syria in 1941–1942 before returning to Australia after Japan's entry in the war. Throughout 1943 and 1944, the regiment served against the Japanese in New Guinea. The regiment's involvement in the fighting in New Guinea saw it committed to several campaigns, including those around Salamaua and on the Huon Peninsula. Its final campaign of the war was fought on Borneo in mid-1945. Shortly after the conclusion of hostilities, the regiment was disbanded in late 1945. History The 2/6th Field Regiment was raised in May 1940, as part of the 7th Division,McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067 which formed part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force that was raised for overseas service during the war.Grey 2008 146–147 Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Daly.Horner 1995 230 The regiment consisted of three numbered batteries: 11th, 12th, and 56th,http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww2/pages-2aif-cmf/who-was-there.htm Who served where, and when? Digger History 21 February 2016 although upon formation only the first two were raised; the 56th was created in September 1941.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067 The regiment was raised at Ingleburn, New South Wales, but moved to Bathurst in September 1940. The following month they embarked for the Middle East. By November, the regiment was located at Deir Suneid, in Palestine. In March 1941, the regiment was planned to move to Amiriya, in Egypt, where they were to receive the remaining equipment required to bring them up to establishment, after which they would deploy to Greece; these plans were changed following German advances in both North Africa and Greece. Instead, the regiment moved to Ikingi Maryut for equipping and then undertook defensive duties around Mersa Matruh.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067 The regiment remained in Egypt until May 1941, when it was moved to Palestine in preparation for its involvement in the Syria–Lebanon campaign.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067 During the fighting against the Vichy French forces, the 2/6th Field Regiment was assigned to support the 25th Infantry Brigade, which advanced along the central route. In mid-June, the regiment supported efforts to capture Merdjayoun, with the 11th and 12th Batteries supporting actions around Khirbe and Khiam, and then supporting the attack on Jezzine. In response to a Vichy French counter-attack, the regiment returned to support further fighting around Merdjayoun, and then supported the 25th Infantry Brigade's continued advance towards Badarane and Rharife as part of the drive towards Beirut. The campaign ended with an armistice that was signed in mid-July.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067Coulthard-Clark 1998 194 The regiment remained in Syria after the armistice, forming part of the Allied occupation force, based around Tripoli. During this time, the regiment's third battery was raised. In response to Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the Australian government requested the return of the 6th and 7th Divisions from the Middle East. As a result, in January 1942, the 2/6th was moved to Palestine, as part of preparations to embark for Australia. Departing in February, they arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, the following month. A short period of time was spent at Woodside Camp, before the regiment moved to Casino, New South Wales, and then Caboolture, Queensland in April and May, to occupy defensive positions to respond along the east coast in case of a Japanese invasion.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3067–3068 thumb|left|Gunners from the 2/6th around Port Moresby, September 1942 In September 1942, as fighting on the Kokoda Track intensified, the regiment deployed to New Guinea along with the 25th Infantry Brigade. It was initially deployed to defend against an advance on Port Moresby until February 1943, when they moved to Dobodura; with batteries deployed to Simeni, Soputa and the Kumusi River, the regiment's main role was to support troops mopping up isolated pockets of Japanese troops left in the area following the Allied counter-offensive along the Kokoda Track, and in the aftermath of the Battle of Buna–Gona. Throughout April to September, the regiment detached several elements to support US troops as part of the Salamaua–Lae campaign,McKenzie-Smith 2018 3068 landing at Tambu Bay during the Battle of Roosevelt Ridge;Bradley 2010 235–246 during this time several troops operated 155 mm guns. The 12th Battery and part of the 56th also deployed in support of the 9th Division during the landing at Lae. After November, the regiment concentrated around Finschaffen as part of the 9th Division to support operations during the Huon Peninsula campaign; when the 4th Infantry Brigade began the advance on Sio, the 2/6th Field Regiment was switched to support them until January 1944, when the regiment handed over its equipment to the 2/14th Field Regiment and embarked for Australia.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3068 Upon arrival in Australia, the regiment established a camp at Warwick, Queensland. The Australian Army's adoption of the jungle division establishment reduced the allocation of field artillery regiments to each division to one, and as a result the 2/6th was deemed surplus to the 7th Division's requirements and was reassigned to a line of communications headquarters. Without a clear role or plan for future employment, the regiment was nearly disbanded, but eventually returned to the 7th Division at Kairi, Queensland, in October 1944. Further training took place on the Atherton Tablelands until the 7th Division was tasked with taking part in recapturing Borneo. Within this plan, the 2/6th was tasked with supporting the landing at Balikpapan.Long 1963 507Horner 1995 418 A preliminary move to Morotai Island took place in June 1945. For the initial landing on 1 July, the regiment was in reserve, but as the Australians advanced inland the regiment came ashore to support the 25th Infantry Brigade as they carried out final mopping up operations before the end of the war in August.McKenzie-Smith 2018 3068 The regiment's losses in its final campaign amounted to four killed.Long 1963 545 The regiment was disbanded in late 1945.https://www.monumentaustralia.org/themes/conflict/ww2/display/90039-2nd---6th-australian-field-regiment 2nd / 6th Australian Field Regiment Monuments Australia 7 February 2016 Throughout its involvement in the war, a total of 1,923 men served with the 2/6th Field Regiment of whom 19 were killed, and 61 wounded.Johnston 2005 248 The Australian War Memorial lists 25 members of the regiment who received decorations as a result of their service.https://www.awm.gov.au/advanced-search/people?roll=Honours%20and%20Awards&people_roll_type=award&facet_related_units=2/6th%20Field%20Regiment Honours and awards: 2/6th Field Regiment Australian War Memorial 15 September 2019 Commanders The 2/6th was commanded by the following officers:Horner 1995 230, 277, 310, 396 Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Daly Lieutenant Colonel John Reddish Lieutenant Colonel Francis St John References Bibliography Bradley Phillip To Salamaua Cambridge University Press Port Melbourne, Victoria 2010 9780521763905 Coulthard-Clark Chris 1998 Where Australians Fought: The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles First Allen & Unwin St Leonards, New South Wales 978-1864486117 Grey Jeffrey Jeffrey Grey A Military History of Australia 3rd Cambridge University Press Melbourne, Victoria 2008 978-0-521-69791-0 Horner David David Horner The Gunners: A History of Australian Artillery 1995 Allen & Unwin Sydney, New South Wales 1-86373-917-3 Johnston Mark The Silent 7th: An Illustrated History of the 7th Australian Division 1940–46 2005 Crows Nest, New South Wales Allen & Unwin 1-74114-191-5 Long Gavin Gavin Long The Final Campaigns https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070206/ Australia in the War of 1939–1945 Series 1 – Army. Volume VII 1963 Australian War Memorial Canberra 1297619 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 Further reading Warby John The 25 Pounders: From Egypt To Borneo 1995 Pymble, New South Wales 2/6th Field Regiment Association 978-0-64626-530-8 June 2017 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 Category:Artillery regiments of Australia