15th infantry battalion australian_army formed volunteer queensland recruits battalion fought western world war disbanded war later raised time unit based queensland consisting mixture volunteers economic pressures limited manpower resulted battalion amalgamated battalions couple times inter war years rising tensions europe led expansion australian military battalion formed right second world war 15th battalion wartime service initially undertook defensive duties australia taking fighting japanese new_guinea battalion disbanded raised history world war formation service gallipoli 15th battalion originally raised volunteer september drawing personnel volunteers queensland tasmania formed 4th brigade 13th 14th 16th battalions authorised strength men battalion initially consisted companies came queensland tasmania queensland companies concentrated september began initial training formed october late november battalion concentrated victoria command lieutenant colonel later rose general world war battalion officers non commissioned officers previously served fought south_africa boer war india british_army following short period training battalion embarked overseas transport ship late december marching streets melbourne initially planned send australians fight germans western poor conditions training camps united_kingdom resulted australian contingent sent egypt instead commenced training briefly undertook defensive duties ottoman forces raided suez_canal travelling albany western australia suez_canal disembarked alexandria february moved camp assigned major general new_zealand arrival battalion reorganised merging companies larger companies designated shortly battalion draft reinforcements arrived extensive period training desert followed february march finally april 15th battalion moved train alexandria embarked bound gallipoli leaving alexandria 15th battalion sailed allied force assembled prior assault assigned follow waves 15th battalion landed afternoon april ottoman defenders checked allied advance inland arrival 15th battalion rushed line left flank advance inland stalled battalion isolated threatened destruction withdrew force position later helped shore line occupying positions pope hill russell joined attack occupied quinn post defended strong ottoman counterattack fighting occurred battalion position ottoman troops began man land divided lines counter mining actions undertaken significant attack 15th battalion position briefly forced restoring situation strong counterattack period stalemate fell peninsula early june 15th battalion strength having fallen men withdrawn quiet sector known rest months illness battalion personnel completely replaced received drafts reinforcements amounting men including transport element early august reached strength men august allies launched offensive effort try break 15th battalion attacked heights known australians hill later supporting 14th battalion attack hill casualties heavy september battalion withdrawn brief rest strength having fallen officers ranks returned gallipoli early november occupying position winter began remained evacuated december transport main allied withdrawal battalion casualties campaign amounted officers ranks killed officer ranks captured fighting western following evacuation gallipoli organised egypt saw splitting veteran battalions provide new battalions infantry divisions egypt doubled process 15th battalion provided personnel 4th brigade australian 4th division period training june battalion sailed france aboard transport landing 15th battalion moved northern france rail moving line brief period june amidst battle launched july following month 15th battalion committed fighting western time entering line august relieved shattered 2nd relief battalion suffered heavy moved trenches village sunken road followed brief german attack repulsed resulted battalion capturing germans days followed battalion worked improve defensive line digging german trenches patrols sent man land late august 15th attack alongside british battalion left amidst heavy machine gun attack stalled following loss officers assaulting companies despite progress left succeeded capturing german line ordered withdraw following day night august second attack concert succeeded securing german line despite heavy noon following day 15th relieved withdrawn line replaced 13th casualties battalion battle western high killed wounded following 15th battalion moved supported attack carried defensive duties remained early september withdrawn occurred august 15th experienced change command promoted brigadier general replaced lieutenant colonel remainder year spent winter fell western worst winter europe years men suffered heavily sickness cold rotated line conducting defensive duties moving later new year winter passed effort lines prepared positions germans fell line allies advanced follow withdrawal battalion fought major battle early april attacked complete formation time gallipoli committed protection artillery barrage expecting tank support win day suffered heavy casualties night tanks broke second proven unable breach enemy defences leaving infantry force way hours fighting soldiers 4th lay dead wounded committed including 15th end attack men battalion assault force remained subsequently withdrawn line farmland village battalion rebuilt eventually reaching strength personnel ranks australians moved belgium focus british operations shifted sector effort draw german attention away french effort came southern flank series tunnels dug german lines june mines detonated ensuing fighting british captured assigned support role 15th battalion held reserve attack following day committed hold gains attack relieving new farm 15th remained sector subsequently took fighting wood september november battalion withdrawn line month rest spending winter early collapse russia enabled germans transfer significant number troops western march having amassed divisions launched offensive british forces heavily outnumbered british dominion troops pushed initial onslaught thrown line effort stem tide moved initially securing late month experienced heavy artillery bombardment turning german attack later relieved battalion moved april 13th 15th brigades fought significant actions battalion received drafts reinforcements bringing total officers ranks prepared replace 15th brigade late april following arrival undertook support role constructing defences moving remaining marched end month near conducted patrol actions german advance sector exhausted june allies began prepare offensive conducting series small scale advances known peaceful month number american troops assigned battalion gain experience united_states began building forces western lieutenant general having taken commander decided launch combined arms attack reduce developed line july australian american forces attacked assigned task attacking german strong point designated pear trench 15th attached company americans suffered highest losses australian battalion committed battle losing officers ranks men committed losses began assault preparatory barrage dropped short forming point darkness tanks assigned support attack temporarily lost consequence 15th initial attack went armoured support coming strong resistance sited machine gun posts advance held overcome lewis gun teams section level fire movement allowed battalion gain pear trench 15th battalion sole victoria_cross recipient private henry received award actions time serving number lewis gun team rushing german machine gun post revolver taking pear trench battalion exploited position moving trench concert tanks finally arrived following capture village battalion defended captured ground relieved late july battalion moved august allies launched days offensive days advance battalion suffered heavy setback commanding officer mortally wounded bombardment trying rescue wounded soldier major temporarily took command advancing battalion attacked village despite enduring gas attack succeeded capturing germans advances followed actions followed 15th battalion continued fight outpost line late september time taken heavy casualties strength men eve battalion final battle handed command lieutenant colonel battles depleted australians inflicting heavy casualties unable replace recruitment australia fallen october request australian prime minister withdrawn line rest reorganisation return action armistice signed november battalion strength slowly reduced men individually repatriated australia process battalion ceased exist march having reduced company strength war battalion lost men killed wounded members battalion received following decorations victoria_cross companion order bath companions order michael distinguished service orders members military crosses distinguished conduct medals military medals mentions despatches foreign awards inter war years following conclusion process government undertook review australia military requirements decided organise time military forces numerical designations units result raised brisbane queensland 1st military district personnel drawn 15th infantry regiment traced lineage raised 9th battalion received battle honours world war territorial designations introduced time battalion known recognition connection region granted motto following year battalion allied initially strength units maintained mixture voluntary compulsory service newly elected government terminated compulsory service replaced volunteer militia funding cut heavily training opportunities reduced combined economic pressure caused great depression difficult time soldiers maintain continuing training commitments meant number volunteers fell sharply consequently number infantry battalions disbanded amalgamated result decision merged 9th form 9th 15th battalion memorial plaque battalion unveiled square brisbane 9th 15th split 15th merged 26th battalion form 15th 26th battalion formation split july hasty expansion australia military force tensions europe raised concerns country event future war forming 15th battalion established drill hall near second world war garrison duty australia service new_guinea outbreak second world war september provisions defence act militia sent outside australian territory fight decision raise volunteer force overseas service known second australian imperial force 2nd force dispatched middle_east fight germans italians australia compulsory service scheme established january militia called short periods continuous service days basis improve overall readiness australia military forces partially continuous service august year battalion sent detachment men undertake garrison duty territory 7th brigade detachment stationed mile camp near port later year detachment transferred remained rest 15th battalion remained brisbane serving time capacity november december battalion received large drafts consisting individuals attached battalion receive months compulsory time training war pacific received time university students previous military experience served volunteers militia prior initially personnel formed separate training companies receiving months continuous training university students completing shorter period days fit semester break later february completed period mandatory training released service moved battalion rifle companies served alongside volunteers time service following japanese victories malaya singapore pacific late early 15th battalion wartime service tasked undertaking defensive duties coast queensland based concerns potential invasion invasion occur 15th battalion transferred 29th brigade consisting 42nd 47th battalions 29th moved north battalion served garrison force january 29th brigade deployed new_guinea serve garrison troops areas recently secured allied forces initially sent remaining months moved july remain long transferring weeks later battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel appealed battalion volunteer service majority men classified militia personnel meant battalion restricted serve liable broken classified battalion provisions newly passed act cent personnel volunteer service outside australian territory response considerable august battalion battalion later month australians fought secure battalion moved barges committed combat time occupying position known ridge marching arriving august battalion initially placed divisional reserve 29th brigade committed drive campaign proceed conjunction effort capture japanese garrison pressed 7th division advancing 9th division advancing coast beaches east town japanese sought reinforce moving troops south sensing opportunity early september began drive north august battalion joined fighting advancing right flank attacking junction course days heavy fighting hard going steep slopes gained position securing september battalion lost men killed wounded process killed japanese following day 15th advanced japanese resistance hard pressed japanese garrison begun withdraw completing process allies entered town september battalion total casualties fighting april september numbered killed wounded following fall town remainder rested 15th battalion seen action held reserve committed pursuing withdrawing japanese battalion advanced north september companies transported barge effort cut arrived hour late september battalion established large ambush site coast south river prevent fleeing japanese evacuating sea following day ambush sprung platoon sized group attempted away beaten jungle launched attack australian positions blocking escape ensuing hand hand fighting japanese killed prisoner taken minor clashes followed 15th patrolled north late october entered battalion subsequently took defensive duties town 29th brigade assigned task holding free troops 7th division operations west fighting battalion remained vicinity june withdrawn australia established moving greater brisbane area period leave battalion organised preparation employment campaign remaining 29th brigade transferred 3rd adopted jungle divisional establishment battalion authorised strength fell free troops service philippines australians took garrison arrived november prior arrival garrison maintained defensive posture australians launched limited scale offensive island evolved main drives north south centre island embarked transport november arrived days later rest 29th brigade relieved infantry regiment assigned southern drive main japanese force based involvement campaign came december 15th battalion departed led 29th brigade advance western coast reaching river order skirt thick jungle company sent barge rest battalion advanced inland january 15th joined 29th brigade battalions fought relieved 15th formation 7th brigade subsequently sent rest remaining early july point 29th brigade committed fighting moving took advance 15th brigade 15th battalion advanced relieve 57th 60th battalion clashed japanese units july company came heavy attack 15th battalion dispatched tanks support provide assistance heavy fighting continued afternoon following arrival japanese killed 15th battalion occupied position track southern sector brigade area australians preparations resume advance stronghold forward battalion july subjected heavy attacks japanese sought infiltrate australian forward positions cut lines communication result attacks plan advance cancelled temporarily patrols 15th sent daily initiative frequent actions followed involving contacts japanese forces strong small scale actions culminated large scale attack july japanese killed captured loss australians killed wounded patrols sent strong japanese resistance heavy rain frustrated 15th efforts carry detailed reconnaissance opposite bank effectively halting australian advance ending significant combat island south battalion able send patrols early august man swept downstream swollen waters number clashes occurred august august small patrol killed japanese surprising platoon east following day japanese killed clashes 15th battalion soldier battalion killed wounded japanese exploded remote control road august patrol 15th able penetrate far preparations began battalion resume advance august advance cancelled week later anticipation japanese surrender following news atomic bombing hiroshima nagasaki battalion involvement fighting came end battle casualties campaign listed australian official historian officers ranks killed wounded disbandment legacy battalion concentrated october preparation post war personnel repatriated australia transferred units service strength mid december battalion remaining personnel embarked transport river sailed brisbane arriving christmas eve process continued battalion finally disbanded march australian war memorial lists battalion casualties second world war men killed wounded personnel received following decorations officers order british empire following disbandment militia battalions raised established remained australian army order battle battalion finally awarded battle honours second world war time entrusted earned corresponding 2nd battalion 15th battalion surviving australian veteran gallipoli died age member campbell enlisted tasmania age arrived peninsula reinforcement final stages campaign later wounded evacuated illness prior final evacuation allied forces december alliances 15th battalion held following alliance east yorkshire regiment battle honours 15th battalion awarded following battle honours world war road wood france flanders landing defence gallipoli egypt second world war south west pacific liberation australian new_guinea battalion longer australian_army order battle entrusted battle honours awarded 15th battalion service 2nd world war honours inherited time north_africa road defence borneo liberation australian new_guinea commanding officers following officers commanded 15th battalion world war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel major lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel second world war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
15th Battalion (Australia)