11th Brigade History
','450','339') "Men of the 11th Infantry Brigade in the crater made by an aerial bomb at Potijze Farm, in the Ypres sector. This bomb wounded six men, one of whom subsequently died from the injuries he received. Bomb dropping at Ypres was carried out with great intensity by the Air Forces of both sides. (Courtesy of AWM http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/E01095) (click to enlarge in new window)")
11th Brigade was formed in Queensland in 1916 from the following units:
41st Battalion (QLD),
42nd Battalion (QLD),
43rd Battalion (SA),
44th Battalion (WA),
11 Field Ambulance (SA),
25th Company Service Corps (SA),
11th Machine Gun Company, and
11th Trench Mortar Company (which joined later).
The Brigade first paraded on ANZAC Day in 1916 Commanded by Brigadier C.D.W. Rankin, VD.
On 17 May 1916 Brigade embarkation began for Britain, concentrating at Larkhill, Wiltshire by 27 July 1916. On 22 November that year the Brigade, as part of 3rd Division, embarked for France after the Somme Offensive. They fought in the Battle of Messines under the command of Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD. Included in the WWI battle honours were:
','450','315') "A German machine gun captured at a house in Hamel. The success of the battle of Hamel cut out the German re-entrant in the Australian lines between Hill 104, near Villers-Bretonneux, and the Somme at Sailly Laurette. The village itself with Vaire Wood formed the chief obstacle to the advance. A number of machine guns were taken by the 11th Brigade in the capture of the village. (Courtesy of AWM http://cas.awm.gov.au/photograph/E02669) (click to enlarge in new window)")
Third Battle of Ypres,
Broodseinde,
Passchendaele,
Morlancourt,
Villers-Bretonneux,
Hamel,
Mericourt,
Suzanne,and
The capture of Mount St Quentin and Peronne and the Hindenberg Line.
In December 1941 the Brigade reformed under Brigadier F.R. North CB, MC, ED and comprised of:
26th Battalion,
31st Battalion, and
51st Battalion.
','1635','2335') "2 Div Monument - Mount St Quentin 2008 (click to enlarge in new window)")
In the ensuing period 42nd Battalion transferred to 29 Brigade, the 11th Brigade moved to Cairns and 31st Battalion and 51st Battalion linked as the 31st/51st Battalion. In July 1943 the Brigade embarked for Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, Commanded by Brigadier J.R. Stevenson CBE, DSO, ED. The Brigade returned to Strathpine in April 1944 for retraining and was reinforced by 55th/53rd Battalion. In January 1945 they sailed for Bougainville under 3rd Division where 31st/51st Battalion fought the Battle of Porton Plantation on 8 June 1945.
The Brigade paraded for the last time on 21 May 1960 under the command of Colonel I.M. Hunter, CVO, MBE. The post war period saw many changes to units and formation with HQ 11th Task Force being established in January 1972 under Colonel J.M. Church, DSO and changing again in November 1977 to 11th Field Force Group then under Colonel N.S. Harris, ED.
The 11th Brigade was re-raised in Townsville on 5 September 1987, under command of Brigadier G.L. Mansford, AM.
On 1 Jul 2007 the 9th Battalion and the 25th/49th Battalion were placed under command of the 11th Brigade. On 1 Jan 2008 the 31st Battalion and the 42nd Battalion were linked to form 31/42 Royal Queensland Regiment (31/42 RQR).
The original Saxe blue oval shoulder patch is still part of the 11 Bde badge.
Western Front 2008
The following pictures are in a variety of Western Front locations taken in 2008 over 90 years after WWI. These sites hold historic importance to 11 Bde or units within 11 Bde.
Menin Gate Ieper - Belgium
The Menin Gate is on the Eastern side of Ieper (old spelling Ypres) on the road to Menin. It is in this and surrounding areas that many units of the 1st AIF saw intense action in WW1. Approximately 11km to the North East is the town of Passendale (old spelling Passchendaele) after which the 11 Bde lines are named.
Polygon Wood is located approximately 6km to the East of the Menin Gate and is where the Australian 5th Division achieved a decisive victory and where Private Patrick Bugden of the 31st Battalion earned his Victoria Cross.
','644','483') "Menin Gate - Ieper Belgium (click to enlarge in new window)")
','625','469') "Menin Gate - Ieper Belgium (click to enlarge in new window)")
','663','498') "Menin Gate - covered with Inscriptions of soldiers lost from each unit (click to enlarge in new window)")
','584','438') "Polygon Wood Cemetery looking south from 5 Div Monument towards the regenerated woods (click to enlarge in new window)")
Tyne Cot Cemetery - Belgium
Tyne Cot Cemetery is located approximately 9km North East of Menin Gate and 2km South West of Passendale. It is the largest and most visited Commonwealth Cemetery in the world with approximately 12000 soldiers buried there. This area became synonymous with the worst kind of trench warfare in the mud and rain.
','656','492') "Tyne Cot Cemetery (click to enlarge in new window)")
','649','260') "Plaque at the entrance of Tyne Cot - English version (click to enlarge in new window)")
','524','528') "Cross of Sacrifice - Tyne Cot (click to enlarge in new window)")
','584','438') "Memorial plaque on Cross of Sacrifice built upon the largest of the German Pillboxes (click to enlarge in new window)")
','613','460') "Inside one of the original German Pillboxes located within the Cemetery (click to enlarge in new window)")
This link is a Google map enabling the viewer to locate the abovementioned places.
Mont St Quentin - France
Mont St Quentin is where the famous 2 Div monument now stands. It is a small hill not far from the town of Perrone (France) which was attacked and ultimately taken by 2 Div troops in WWI.
','426','641') "2nd Division Monument Mont St Quentin (France) (click to enlarge in new window)")
','484','645') "Plaque - 2 Div Monument Mont St Quentin (click to enlarge in new window)")
','730','547') "The incline that the Australians attacked yelling like bushrangers at the base of the 2 Div Monument (click to enlarge in new window)")
Pozieres - France
Pozieres is a small French town where many 1st AIF soldiers saw action and is the location of the famous Windmill site. It was soil from this area that was scattered by a fellow WW1 soldier in the tomb of the unknown soldier now interred at the Australian War Memorial.
','672','504') "Windmill Site (Pozieres) plaque (click to enlarge in new window)")
','481','642') "Picture of Australian Digger from WWI at the entrance of Pozieres France (click to enlarge in new window)")
','1094','821') "Pozieres (click to enlarge in new window)")
','449','599') "Local landmark with the names of British Empire troops that earned the Victoria Cross in this area. Note the name J. leak who was a member of the 9th Battalion (click to enlarge in new window)")
','654','490') "Windmill Site (click to enlarge in new window)")
Villers-Bretonneux
Villers-Bretonneux is a large village in the Somme region of France which saw continuous action during WWI. The name of this village became etched in history on 24 Apr 1918 when Australian troops finally halted the German offensive. It is from this area where the unknown soldier now interred in Canberra was exhumed. The Franco-Australian Museum is housed in the first floor of the school building.
','657','492') "Villers-Bretonneux Memorial - looking North towards the township of Fouilloy..... (click to enlarge in new window)")
','627','470') "Sign inside the quadrangle at the Villers-Bretonneux school (click to enlarge in new window)")
','657','492') "Plaque outside the school at Villers-Bretonneux (click to enlarge in new window)")
','759','442') "The village of Villers-Bretonneux looking South from Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (click to enlarge in new window)")
This link is a google map enabling viewers to locate the abovementioned locations in France.