11th Brigade (Australia)

Australian Army reserve brigade April 2020 July 2013 11th Brigade 11_Brigade_Insignia.png 120px 11 Brigade insignia 1912–present Australia Australia Australian Army Reserve 100 (regular)2,700 (reserve)50 (civilian)The Australian Army. Modernisation from Beersheba and Beyond Commonwealth of Australia 5 http://www.army.gov.au/~/media/Content/Our%20future/About/Army%20101%20Brief%20Ver%207%20-%20Modernising%20from%20Beersheba%20and%20Beyond%20v4.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20150326190445/http://army.gov.au/~/media/Content/Our%20future/About/Army%20101%20Brief%20Ver%207%20-%20Modernising%20from%20Beersheba%20and%20Beyond%20v4.pdf 4 December 2014 26 March 2015 2nd Division Townsville Headquarters James Cannan John Stevenson 75px Unit colour patch The 11th Brigade is an Australian Army brigade which currently comprises most Australian Army Reserve units located in Queensland. The brigade was first formed in early 1912 following the introduction of the compulsory training scheme. Later, as part of the 3rd Division and saw action during World War I on the Western Front as part of the First Australian Imperial Force. In the interwar years, the brigade was re-raised with its headquarters in Brisbane. During World War II, it undertook garrison and defensive duties in north Queensland before deploying to Dutch New Guinea in 1943. In 1944–1945, the brigade took part in the fighting against the Japanese on Bougainville. In the postwar era, the 11th Brigade was raised and disbanded several times, before being raised in Townsville in 1987, where its headquarters is currently located. It forms part of the 2nd Division, and consists of units based across Queensland and New South Wales. History Formation and World War I The 11th Brigade traces its origins to 1912, when it was formed as a Militia brigade as part of the introduction of the compulsory training scheme, assigned to the 2nd Military District. The brigade's constituent units were spread across various locations in New South Wales including Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange, Parkes, Dubbo, Liverpool, Goulburn, Wagga Wagga and Albury.Australian Military Forces 1912 19 During World War I, the 11th Brigade was raised in early 1916 as part of the First Australian Imperial Force. Forming part of the 3rd Division,Palazzo 2002 1 the brigade was formed in Australia during the period shortly after the Gallipoli Campaign when the AIF was being expanded prior to its commitment to the fighting on the Western Front. On formation, the brigade consisted of four infantry battalions: the 41st, 42nd, 43rd and 44th.Bean 1941 42 Of these, the first two were drawn from Queensland, while the 43rd was recruited mainly from South Australia and the 44th came from Western Australia. In addition to these battalions, the brigade was supported by the 11th Field Ambulance, the 11th Trench Mortar Battery and the 11th Machine Gun Company (later part of the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion).http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/ww1/1aif/3div/11bde/11th_brigade_aif.htm 11th Brigade Harris, Ted Digger History 8 June 2018 thumb|Australian troops from the 11th Brigade, with US troops, during the Battle of Hamel, July 1918 Following the brigade's establishment, a brief period of training was undertaken in Queensland until May 1916 when the formation embarked for the United Kingdom where they concentrated with other elements of the 3rd Division in the Salisbury Plain Training Area for further training after July 1916. There, they undertook further training until November that year, when the troops of the 3rd Division began moving across the Channel to the Western Front.Palazzo 2002 21Bean 1941 176 The brigade's first commander was Brigadier General Colin Rankin. He was replaced by Brigadier General James Cannan in December 1916. Following its commitment to the Western Front, the 11th Brigade took part in many battles over the course of the next two years. These include: the Third Battle of Ypres, the Battle of Broodseinde, the Battle of Passchendaele, the Second Battle of Morlancourt, the Battle of Hamel and the Hundred Days Offensive. Militia and interwar period While the AIF was deployed, a separate Citizens Force (later known as the Militia) formation remained in Australia. By 1918, an 11th Brigade had been established within the 2nd Military District, consisting of the 41st (Blue Mountains), 42nd (Lachlan-Macquarie), 43rd (Werriwa), and 44th (Riverina) Infantry Battalions.Australian Military Forces 1918 8–31 The AIF was formally disbanded in 1921, at which time it was decided to reorganise the Citizens Force to perpetuate the numerical designations of the AIF.Grey 2008 125 Forming part of the 1st Military District,Kuring 2004 109 the 11th Brigade was based in north Queensland at this time, with its headquarters in Brisbane.http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/infantry.htm Australian Infantry Unit Colour Patches 1921–1949 Digger History 2 February 2014 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20101115085809/http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/infantry.htm 15 November 2010 McKenzie-Smith 2018 2071 It was raised as a mixed brigade and included one light horse regiment: the 2nd, based in Ipswich.Hall 1968 77 In 1928, the brigade consisted of the 9th, 31st, 42nd and 47th Battalions.Palazzo 2001 102 By 1938, the brigade had been expanded and along with its infantry units it also included light horse regiments that had previously been assigned to the 1st Cavalry Brigade: these were the 2nd/14th, 5th and 11th, which were spread across depots in Brisbane and further afield in south-east Queensland such as Goondiwindi and Kingaroy.Hall 1968 78 World War II At the outbreak of World War II, the 11th Brigade consisted of four Queensland-based infantry battalions: the 26th (Hughenden), 31st (Townsville), 42nd (Rockhampton) and 51st (Cairns).http://www.ordersofbattle.com/Units/UnitSubordinates?UniX=6232 11th Brigade: Subordinates Orders of Battle 8 June 2018McKenzie-Smith 2018 2071–2072 The early war years saw the brigade undertake short periods of continuous service to provide training to part-time soldiers called up under the compulsory service scheme.31st/51st Battalion (Kennedy and Far North Queensland Regiment) Second World War, 1939–1945 units Australian War Memorial http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11316.asp 4 May 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080727101610/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11316.asp 27 July 2008 In December 1941, at the outset of the war in the Pacific, the brigade was called up for full time service, and was allocated to the defence of northern Queensland. During this time, they were engaged with improving camp infrastructure, building defences and individual and collective training.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2072 Later, the brigade was reorganised into a triangular formation, and the 42nd Battalion was transferred to the 29th Brigade. In early 1943, the brigade became part of the 4th Division. The 31st and 51st Battalions were merged, forming the 31st/51st Battalion, following a government decision to release some personnel back to war essential civilian industries.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2073 The brigade was later reinforced by the 20th Motor Regiment, for a brief period between April and August 1944, before the 55th/53rd Battalion joined the brigade in August 1944. In the intervening period, the 11th Brigade, after amphibious warfare training, deployed to Merauke in Dutch New Guinea, under the command of Brigadier John Stevenson. There, the brigade provided a garrison to defend the area in case of Japanese attack. In deploying to Merauke, the brigade became the only Militia formation to deploy outside Australian territory during the war.Palazzo 2001 153 As the war progressed, the threat to Merauke reduced as the Allies advanced north through New Guinea. As a result, the brigade was withdrawn from Merauke in August 1944, and after a period of leave concentrated at Strathpine, Queensland, where they undertook further training. In December 1944, the brigade deployed to Bougainville,Kuring 2004 195 where Australian troops had taken over from US forces, which were subsequently redeployed to the Philippines.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2073Gailey 1991 191 The 11th Brigade relieved the US 148th Infantry Regiment, and subsequently took part operations in the northern and central parts of the island. Following its deployment in Bougainville, the brigade was assigned to the II Army Corps. During this time, the brigade's three infantry battalions alternated between holding actions in the central sector, and the advance in the north. Several notable actions were fought at Tsimba Ridge and Porton Plantation before the 11th Brigade was relieved by the 23rd Brigade in June 1945. The brigade was moved back to Torokina after this, remaining there until the end of the war. In September 1945, the brigade was assigned to the 11th Division and moved to Rabaul to carry out garrison duties.McKenzie-Smith 2018 2074 Army Reserve thumb|right|Men from the 31st/51st Battalion about to go out on patrol around Porton Plantation, Bougainville, 9 June 1945 Following the war, the wartime military was demobilised and the part-time Citizens Military Force was formed in 1948.Grey 2008 198–200 In the post-war period, the 11th Brigade was raised, disbanded and redesignated several times. After being re-formed in the immediate post war years, it was assigned to Northern Command in 1953.Palazzo 2001 238 The brigade was disbanded in 1960. It was re-raised in 1972 as the 11th Task Force, before being renamed the 11th Field Force Group in 1977. The brigade was re-established in 1987, based in Townsville. At this time, the brigade was tasked with vital asset protection in northern Australia in the event of war.Kuring 2004 392 In 2000, the brigade was allocated an area of responsibility including Cape York Peninsula.Kuring 2004 436 In July 2007, a re-organisation of the 7th Brigade saw the transfer of the Brisbane-based 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment and the 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment to the 11th Brigade. At the same time, the brigade was transferred from the 1st Division to the 2nd.McBean 2007 In July 2008, the 31st and 42nd Battalions merged to form the 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/forces-command/2nd-division/11th-brigade/31st42nd-battalion-royal-queensland 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment Our people Australian Army 8 June 2018 12 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141944/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/forces-command/2nd-division/11th-brigade/31st42nd-battalion-royal-queensland dead Under Plan Beersheba, the brigade is tasked with generating a battlegroup in support of the 3rd Brigade, one year in every three.Clay Peter The Australian Army's 2nd Division: An Update http://www.rusinsw.org.au/Papers/20130924.pdf United Service Royal United Services Institute of New South Wales June 2014 65 2 29 The battlegroup is known as Battlegroup Cannan.https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/gladstone-soldiers-the-strongest-battle-group-at-i/3203877/ Gladstone soldiers 'the strongest battle group' at international exercise Gladstone Observer 24 July 2017 Steger, Sarah 8 June 2018 While the majority of the brigade's units are based in Queensland, headquartered either in Townsville or Brisbane, its cavalry unit, the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers, is based in Tamworth. Between October 2010 and June 2011, a composite company designated "ANZAC Company", formed from 11th Brigade Reservists deployed to Timor Leste under Operation Astute.Boddy 2012 16 The brigade led recovery efforts following Tropical Cyclone Marcia in early 2015, providing a Reserve response force at short notice from elements of 31/42 RQR, the 11th Combat Service Support Battalion and the 35th Field Squadron.Mosby 2015 60–65 Organisation As of 2026 the 11th Brigade consists of the following units:https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/army-order-of-battle Army Order of Battle Australian Army 7 June 2018 31 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103814/https://www.army.gov.au/our-people/army-order-of-battle dead Headquarters 11th Brigade (HQ 11 Bde) – Brisbane 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (9 RQR) – Brisbane 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (25/49 RQR) – Greenbank 31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment (31/42 RQR) – Townsville 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers – Tamworth/ Caboolture 11th Engineer Regiment (11 ER) – Brisbane 11th Combat Service Support Battalion (11 CSSB) – Brisbane Notes References Australian Military Forces 1912 The Military Forces List of the Commonwealth of Australia, 1 January 1912 Government Printer Melbourne, Victoria 221429471 Australian Military Forces 1918 Officers' List of the Australian Military Forces, 1st August 1918 Government Printer Melbourne, Victoria 48935638 Bean Charles Charles Bean The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916 Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918 III 12th 1941 Australian War Memorial Canberra, Australian Capital Territory https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069752/ 220623454 Boddy S. ANZAC Company in Timor Leste Australian Infantry Magazine 2012 Oct 2011 / Apr 2012 16–20 1447-5545 Gailey Harry A. 1991 Bougainville, 1943–1945: The Forgotten Campaign University Press of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 0-8131-9047-9 Grey Jeffrey Jeffrey Grey A Military History of Australia 3rd Cambridge University Press Melbourne 2008 978-0-521-69791-0 Hall Richard John The Australian Light Horse 1968 W.D. Joynt & Co. Blackburn, Victoria 59504 Kuring Ian Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001 2004 Australian Military History Publications Loftus, New South Wales 1-876439-99-8 Graham McBean Historic transfer http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1170/topstories/story8.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20070909112846/http://www.defence.gov.au/news/armynews/editions/1170/topstories/story8.htm 9 September 2007 1170 Army News: The Soldiers' Newspaper 12 July 2007 16 March 2008 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 Mosby Edward The 11th Brigade Response to Tropical Cyclone Marcia Australian Infantry Magazine 2015 Apr/Oct 2015 60–65 1447-5545 Palazzo Albert 2002 Defenders of Australia: The 3rd Australian Division 1916–1991 Australian Military Historical Publications Loftus, New South Wales 1-876439-03-3 Palazzo Albert The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation 1901–2001 Oxford University Press Melbourne, Victoria 2001 978-0-19-551506-0 External links http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13060.asp 11th Brigade 16 March 2008 Australian War Memorial website https://web.archive.org/web/20080208100208/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13060.asp 8 February 2008 live http://www.defence.gov.au/army/hq11bde/default.asp 11th Brigade Official Website 3 August 2009 Australian Army Website 11 Category:Military units and formations established in 1912 Category:Military units in Queensland