6th infantry battalion australian_army originally formed service world war battalion fought gallipoli western battalion disbanded raised adopted title royal melbourne regiment battalion serve overseas second world war eventually disbanded raised remained existence absorbed today honours traditions maintained 5th 6th battalion history world war following outbreak world war decision raise volunteer force outside existing units overseas service known completely recruited victoria drawing melbourne surrounding suburbs north battalions 55th 56th 63rd infantry headquartered raising complete fortnight outbreak war august months later battalion embarked overseas troop transport suffolk forming 2nd brigade battalion proceeded egypt arriving december period training took landing april went ashore second wave shortly landing 2nd brigade transferred cape assist attack unsuccessful attack 6th battalion suffered heavy casualties losing men killed died wounds returned arriving defending established august allies attempted break battalion took attack lone pine september withdrawn period rest returned november resumed defensive duties time failure august offensive campaign evolved stalemate remained line december allies carried successful evacuation campaign lost officers ranks killed withdrawal gallipoli battalion returned egypt received reinforcements carried defensive duties time reorganised expanded fresh divisions raised order spread experience new units existing units split 6th battalion provided half experienced officers non commissioned officers battalion march sailed france deployed sent quiet sector near combat came june battalion launched trench raid germans opposite position major action france came later july time lost men killed later battalion fought belgium returning winter time undertook defensive duties patrols man land battalion took second battle taking september lieutenant earned 6th battalion victoria_cross march april battalion took defensive actions response german spring offensive subsequently taking allied days offensive launched near august joined advance following day striking taking capture battalion continued operations late september taking advance withdrawn line rest reorganisation combat november members battalion began repatriated australia process began process undertaken gradually based length service battalion numbers began amalgamated march later battalion amalgamated 5th 8th battalions form war 6th battalion lost killed wounded members battalion received following decorations victoria_cross order bar military crosses bars distinguished conduct medals military medals bars mentioned despatches foreign awards inter war years decision numerical designations battle honours raising units existing units adopt identity units recruited regions pre war citizen soldiers served designed maintain regional identity units honours traditions units time 6th battalion raised personnel drawn existing units 6th infantry regiment 29th 46th infantry regiment 60th infantry regiment 21st infantry regiment units battalion gained complex lineage including infantry unit trace lineage claimed oldest infantry unit australia initially attached territorial titles adopted army battalion adopted title 6th battalion city adopted motto time following election government compulsory training scheme abolished place new system introduced maintained time voluntary basis renamed militia time decision suspend compulsory training coupled economic great depression meant manpower militia units dropped considerably result decision number units 6th battalion affected decision formed alliance battalion designated title officially approved king george jubilee unique honour battalion time australian infantry unit carry royal prefix second world war outset second world war provisions defence act prohibited sending militia fight outside australian territory decision raise volunteer force serve overseas initial operations conceived likely middle_east france later possibly england decided militia defend australian mainland improve australia overall level readiness compulsory military service extended periods continuous periods training time 6th battalion called number periods continuous service order bolster readiness undertook garrison duties australia decision unit australian government sought resources economy began process early later january battalion parent unit disbanded post second world war completion process raised established restricted establishment divisions force announced raised companies formed melbourne battalion headquarters depots located preston decided battalion battle honours 6th battalion fought north_africa greece new_guinea war approved battalion regimental march australian_army adopted divisional structure based establishment company battalions result reduction number units merged form new units establishment time decided old local regional regiments existed new multi battalion state based regiments result changes july 6th battalion merged 32nd battalion form royal victoria regiment organisation 6th battalion identity maintained prior march battalion received freedom city system abandoned organisation undertaken existing battalions reduced additional battalions raised populous areas queensland victoria new south wales time concerns regional identity units addressed old numerical designations result large battalions split 6th battalion raised battalion known royal victoria regiment july declining troop numbers reorganisation resulted amalgamation 5th 6th battalions albeit guise royal victoria regiment lasted august concerns strategic situation following russian invasion afghanistan australian government announced expansion decided raise battalion victoria battalion 5th 6th battalion royal victoria regiment reached peak strength following year battalion split form new unit remains existence today maintains battle honours traditions predecessor militia units alliances united_kingdom royal battle honours awarded following battle honours second boer war south africa world war road wood france flanders landing defence gallipoli egypt second world war north_africa greece south west pacific liberation australian new_guinea
6th Battalion (Australia)