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World War 2
North Africa | Greece | Crete | Malaya | Singapore | Papua | New Guinea | New Britain
NORTH
AFRICA
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/1st Bn
Battle Honours:North
Africa, Bardia, Capture of Tobruk
The 2nd/1st Aust Inf Bn, 2nd AIF, was the third of the predecessor units
of 1/19 RNSWR to go to war. The Bn arrived in North Africa as part of
the 16th Bde of the 6th Div.
Those killed included WO2 Matthews (Acting RSM) who was mortally wounded
when his ammo truck hit a mine.
The 2nd/1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honours NORTH AFRICA 1940-41,
BARDIA, and CAPTURE OF TOBRUK for this campaign. NORTH AFRICA and BARDIA
are emblazoned on the Queen's Colours.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/1st Bn
Battle Honours:Greece,
Mount Olympus, Brallos Pass
Those killed included LT MacPherson MC (Liaison Officer to the 3rd Bn).
The 2nd/1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honours GREECE 1941, MOUNT OLYMPUS
and BRALLOS PASS for this campaign. GREECE is emblazoned on the Queen's
Colours.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/1st Bn
Battle Honours:Middle
East, Crete, Retimo
The 2nd/1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honours MIDDLE EAST 1941, CRETE
and RETIMO
for this campaign.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/19th Bn
Battle Honours:Malaya,
Johore, The Muar
Decoration:LTCOL Charles Anderson,
VC
The 2nd/19th Aust Inf Bn, 2nd AIF, was the fourth of the predecessor
units of 1/19 RNSWR to go to war. The Bn arrived in Malaya as part of
the 22nd Bde of the 8th Div.
Those killed included WO2 Moody (CSM B Coy) and PTE Williams MM.
The 2nd/19th Bn was awarded the Battle Honours MALAYA 1941-42, JOHORE
and THE MUAR for this campaign. MALAYA is emblazoned on the Queen's
Colours.
LTCOL Charles Anderson, MC was awarded the VC for brave leadership,
determination and outstanding courage on 18-22 Jan 42 at the Muar River.
LTCOL Anderson, in command of a small force, was sent to restore a vital
position and to assist a brigade. His force destroyed ten enemy tanks.
When later cut off, de defeated persistent attacks on his position from
air and ground forces and forced his way through the enemy line to a
depth of 15 miles. In the first action of the fighting retreat, LTCOL
Anderson personally destroyed two machine-gun posts with grenades and
shot two Japanese with his revolver. He was again surrounded and subjected
to very heavy frequent attacks, resulting in severe casualties to his
force. He personally led an attack
with great gallantry on the enemy, who were holding a bridge, and succeeded in destroying four guns. LTCOL Anderson, throughout all this fighting, protected his wounded and refused to leave them. He obtained news by wireless of the enemy position and attempted to fight his way back through eight miles of enemy occupied country. This proved to be impossible, and the enemy were holding too strong a position for any attempt to be made to relieve him. On 19 Jan LTCOL Anderson was ordered to destroy his equipment and make his way as best he could around the enemy position.
with great gallantry on the enemy, who were holding a bridge, and succeeded in destroying four guns. LTCOL Anderson, throughout all this fighting, protected his wounded and refused to leave them. He obtained news by wireless of the enemy position and attempted to fight his way back through eight miles of enemy occupied country. This proved to be impossible, and the enemy were holding too strong a position for any attempt to be made to relieve him. On 19 Jan LTCOL Anderson was ordered to destroy his equipment and make his way as best he could around the enemy position.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/19th Bn
Battle Honour:Singapore
Island
Those killed included MAJ Hughes (ADJT), MAJ Keegan (OC B Coy), MAJ
Bradley (OC
HQ Coy), CAPT Shale (RMO), WO2 Layton (CSM D Coy), and WO2 Brady from
Orange (CSM A Coy).
The 2nd/19th Bn was awarded the Battle Honour SINGAPORE ISLAND for this
battle.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/1st Bn
Battle Honours:South West Pacific,
Kokoda Trail, Eora Creek-Templeton's Crossing,
Oivi-Gorari, Buna-Gona, Sanananda Road
Those killed included LT Leaney MC (OC A Coy).
The 2nd/1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honours KOKODA TRAIL, EORA CREEK-
TEMPLETON'S CROSSING II, OIVI-GORARI, BUNA-GONA and SANANANDA ROAD
for this campaign. KOKODA TRAIL and BUNA-GONA are emblazoned on the
Queen's Colours.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:2nd/1st Bn
Battle Honours:Liberation
of Australian New Guinea, Nambut Ridge, But Dagua,
Hawain River
The 2nd/1st Bn was awarded the Battle Honours LIBERATION OF AUSTRALIAN
NEW GUINEA, NAMBUT RIDGE, BUT DAGUA and HAWAIN RIVER for this campaign.
Gallery:2nd World War
Exhibit:Exhibit Case
Unit:19th Bn
Battle Honours:South
West Pacific, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Waitavolo
The 19th Bn (Militia, later 2nd AIF) was the fifth and last of the predecessor
units of 1/19 RNSWR to be deployed on operations in a World War. It
was formed by the re-designation of the Darwin Inf Bn, and was deployed
as part of the 6th Bde of the 5th Div to New Britain in one of Australia's
final campaigns in 1944-45. The 1st Bn (Militia) served as part of the
1st/45th Bn. It was employed in Australia, but was not deployed overseas
during the war.
The 19th Bn's major action during the New Britain campaign was the engagement
at Waitavolo. The Bn was the lead battalion of the Div, crossed the
Wulwut River under heavy fire, and for the next nine days fought its
way forward from hill to hill through rainforest against an enemy well
dug in and supported by many mortars. The Japanese were then all concentrated
on one hill in an area about 500m x 500m and had lost heavily. The understrength
5th Div succeeded in imprisoning a Japanese force of 90,000 in the fortress
of Rabaul and the surrounding Gazelle Peninsula.
The 19th Bn suffered only 27 men killed in the New Britain campaign,
including CAPT Kath
and SGT Goodenough.
The 19th Bn was awarded the Battle Honours LIBERATION OF AUSTRALIAN
NEW GUINEA and WAITAVOLO for this campaign.