31st battalion australia 31st battalion infantry battalion australian_army served world war raised june assigned 25th brigade 7th division initially served united_kingdom undertook defensive duties moved middle_east taking fighting syria lebanon battalion undertook garrison duties tripoli transferred australia late battalion sent new_guinea fight japanese track subsequently fought number battles early campaign came landed borneo war battalion disbanded march history formation battalion formed united_kingdom june 2nd personnel originally designated service non infantry roles grouped form infantry battalion initially designated battalion manpower shortages composed rifle companies instead normal establishment command lieutenant colonel battalion initially based august replaced lieutenant colonel commanding officer october battalion designation changed 31st battalion order bring line designations rest 2nd moved november battalion assigned 25th brigade time battalion suffered casualty members killed german air raid england battalion undertook training employed defensive duties guarding possible invasion german forces circumstances battalion establishment overseas resulted situation battalion personnel issued different unit colour patches personnel united_kingdom end issued circular consisting black red border grey issued reference australia issued battalion reinforcements australia consisting upright brown yellow inside grey circle intended link battalion 31st battalion served world war arrival middle_east patches replaced black red patches middle_east january threat invasion england reduced decided send 2nd units middle_east battalion arrived egypt march following battalion moved palestine undertook training received draft reinforcements enabled raise fourth company order bring establishment having transferred 7th division battalion took defensive positions taking syria lebanon campaign took battles came early june battalion captured town lebanon advancing june 31st supported troop 7th crossed bridge led advance coming fire french troops hills overlooking town battalion suffered number casualties including commanding officer lieutenant colonel clearing french main position green hill finally secured june french brought reinforcements subsequently launched series australians june french attack repulsed 31st launched unsuccessful attack hill key feature area lost seven killed wounded following day men killed french aircraft attacked battalion positions hotel egypt rest month fighting continued june french began withdraw early july 31st commenced operations north aim securing high ground night july advanced steep terrain cover heavy artillery barrage fighting followed battalion members private performed deeds subsequently received victoria_cross crawling forward single attacking french post holding company advance july armistice signed allies french following battalion established undertook occupation duties mid september 25th brigade received orders tripoli 31st battalion assigned task miles north tripoli completion task battalion undertook defensive duties february new_guinea campaigns concerns entry japan war pacific battalion brought australia early departing port february battalion arrived port adelaide south australia march moved camp early april conducted road rail casino new south wales weeks leave granted moving queensland time battalion undertook defensive duties securing northern approach brisbane battle coral sea june began jungle training preparation deployment new_guinea september units militia fighting delaying campaign japanese track august command lieutenant colonel battalion moved brisbane embarked bound port arriving september battalion received orders proceed arrived september soon arrived forced pull japanese exhausted supply lines unable follow australian force able begin advance november 31st vanguard entered village following handed command battalion lieutenant colonel command battalion took significant battles december miller died casualties combat disease mounted battalion eventually withdrawn fighting port embarked return australia january end battalion involvement campaign men fit duty following months training organisation australia 31st returned new_guinea july command lieutenant colonel previously served second command took campaign carrying patrolling operations range range campaign having relieved january 31st withdrawn australia arriving february train phase war borneo battalion spent year training queensland moving later taking landing rest 7th division australian campaigns war landing july second day operation 31st went ashore unopposed moved inland taking positions centre australian line location called establishing hill later day struck artillery commencing clearing patrols occupying smaller feature known resort following day battalion commenced operations japanese began withdraw attacking japanese positions nurse features 31st encountered heavy opposition japanese defenders having lost men killed wounded battalion occupied positions july japanese withdrew having lost killed following australians advanced open country relying heavily direct indirect fire support suppress japanese positions numerous ridges lay axis advance going slow july open country coast turned thick bush australians began encounter improvised explosive devices traps early july company 31st battalion launched successful attack saw capture inch naval guns japanese defensive system loss wounded late afternoon fighting feature battalion suffered setback company ambushed resulting killed wounded brief period inactivity followed advance continued july result casualties suffered earlier month battalion withdrawn fighting moved rear undertook security duties action war ended august fighting 31st battalion suffered highest number casualties allied unit deployed borneo campaign losing men killed wounded disbandment following end war battalion remained borneo initially stationed undertook garrison duties october moved time process began battalion long serving personnel offered opportunity return australia transferred raised australian contribution january remaining personnel embarked return australia landed brisbane february battalion disbanded early following month course war total men served 31st battalion killed died wounded members battalion received following decorations victoria_cross military crosses distinguished conduct medal military medals mentions despatches battle honours 31st battalion received battle honours service world war honours syria hill south west pacific crossing road liberation australian new_guinea commanding officers following officers served commanding officer 31st battalion lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
2/31st Battalion (Australia)