10th battalion australia 10th battalion adelaide rifles infantry battalion australian_army raised overseas service volunteer 2nd world war formed october 2nd unit raised state south_australia war completing period training australia battalion embarked overseas initially intended 10th parent brigade 18th brigade sent middle_east join brigades 6th division instead 18th brigade sent united_kingdom help strengthen garrison france reassigned 10th remained united_kingdom undertaking defensive duties late finally arrived middle_east 18th brigade 7th division battalion experience combat came attack italian garrison march followed defensive actions year 10th joined allied garrison syria early following japan entry war 10th withdrawn australia august height japanese advance pacific battalion committed fighting bay suffering heavy casualties debut pacific fighting came 10th brought australia reorganisation march august returned new_guinea undertaking jungle training near port december moving inland later fought withdrawn australia battalion fighting final months war committed fighting july conclusion hostilities 10th battalion disbanded december history formation training australia 10th battalion established adelaide october volunteer 2nd raised australia shortly outbreak war overseas service organised rifle companies designated headquarters company 10th 2nd unit raised state south_australia war colloquially known adelaide rifles colours chosen battalion unit colour patch 10th battalion unit served world war raised militia formation colours purple light blue horizontal rectangular shape border gray added distinguish battalion militia counterpart 9th 11th 12th battalions 10th command 18th brigade recruited populous states queensland western australia south_australia tasmania initially allocated 2nd infantry divisions command lieutenant colonel world war veteran served 10th 50th battalions battalion recruits concentrated 10th carried initial training city east camp moving new_south_wales east coast australia training completed early battalion ready deploy overseas embarked transport ship departed sydney bound middle_east garrison duties united_kingdom 10th departed australia germans launched lightning assault france low countries rapidly led capitulation france evacuation amidst concerns possible invasion united_kingdom australian government decided divert troops middle_east consequence 18th brigade sailing middle_east united_kingdom june docked port scotland brigade subsequently australians transported south england eventually establishing wiltshire number battalion personnel married local girls amidst backdrop stationed battalion carried garrison duties undertook training enable rapidly respond event invasion took place received large new equipment time improve mobility including new universal carriers weapons lightweight personal load carrying equipment experienced german air attacks time july battalion incurred casualty members wounded air raid early october 10th undertook large scale exercise near middle month winter set moved replaced tents living stone buildings battalion stay short lived following month threat invasion passed order arrived australians embark middle_east 10th subsequently mid november moved north scotland november boarded fighting middle_east having journey egypt travelling south_africa red_sea threat attack present mediterranean battalion arrived new years 18th brigade reassigned february time 7th division remainder war time brigade converted battalion structure 11th transferred help form 19th brigade march battalion undertook ground action war companies company supported 9th battalion attack italian held fort battalion major action complete unit come april undertook defensive actions battle fought early 10th took position northern flank perimeter relieving 48th battalion coming heavy air attack initial german italian assault evening 18th brigade counter attacked retake positions lost 10th given supporting role tasked carrying raids deep opposing forces territory 9th 12th battalions attacked shoulders fighting followed 10th casualties missing wounded inflicted heavy casualties enemy withdrawing blue line fighting early 10th withdrawn brief respite placed reserve middle returned advanced line yards 10th carried raids man land siege continued august battalion withdrawn palestine training september 10th sent syria assigned allied garrison occupied country following conclusion syria lebanon campaign defeat french forces order defend possible german attack strategically important middle eastern time 10th battalion stationed near battalion manned outposts near syrian turkish border frontage miles long new_guinea campaigns 10th remained syria january having endured freezing cold winter included snow transported palestine preparation return australia following japan entry war previous december light allied pacific australian government requested return forces order bolster defence australia concerns possible invasion 10th subsequently embarked dutch passenger ship bound australia early february stopping bombay battalion transferred transport continued journey adelaide arrived late march period reorganisation training followed queensland battalion committed campaign new_guinea following japanese landings north coast new_guinea july australian forces area fighting desperate holding action seen pushed port early august situation australians critical august 10th embarked dutch transport week later august 10th infantry battalions 18th brigade landed bay reinforced 7th brigade defending area fortnight later japanese landed force bay attempt secure airfields australians built ensuing australians eventually won significant victory 10th suffered heavily losing killed wounded october 10th flown near coast tasked carrying patrols defending beach possible japanese landing helping construct airfield battalion major action came late december transported sea arriving south heavily engaged disused japanese constructed fortnight fighting battalion suffered casualties including killed attack mid january 10th withdrawn fighting flying port february embarking transport march return australia landing march establishing queensland months period battalion men taking leave discharged tropical diseases injuries previous campaign battalion brought strength large draft volunteers 11th motor regiment militia light horse unit consisting largely period rest reorganisation followed units 2nd converted establishment large scale divisional manoeuvres took place mid july battalion received orders sail overseas embarking transport canberra arrived port early august period 18th brigade held reserve port defend approaches december 10th sent joined rest 7th division campaign culminated heavy fighting months proved significant action 10th withdrawn australia transported home borneo disbandment period leave followed battalion july went camp near brisbane august took march brisbane travelling north september moved near large number reinforcements arrived time battalion severely transfers injuries illnesses 10th began long period training result employment australian troops war spent year waiting final campaign came final months war committed fighting borneo staging early morning july came ashore operation landing fought control high ground west dubbed ridge australians prior fighting town july withdrawn fighting placed brigade reserve fighting cost 10th killed wounded battalion undertook series local patrols fighting constituted 10th major actions war hostilities ended mid august following japan surrender battalion personnel slowly repatriated australia drafts discharge chose remain army group transferred units subsequent service 34th brigade formed undertake occupation duties japan battalion finally disbanded december disbandment members battalion left 10th final parade battalion flag entrusted served briefly garrison role australia war subsequently raised south_australia war course war total men served 10th battalion killed died active service wounded members battalion received following decorations member order british empire seven military crosses distinguished conduct medals military medals mentions despatches battle honours 10th awarded following battle honours north_africa south west pacific cape new_guinea honours subsequently entrusted 10th battalion link maintained commanding officers following officers commanded 10th world war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
2/10th Battalion (Australia)