5th 5th battalion infantry battalion australian_army operated world war raised melbourne victoria october 2nd attached 17th brigade 6th division 5th australian infantry battalions fight major axis powers war seeing action germans italians egypt libya greece crete french syria returning australia fight japanese following period garrison duties ceylon formed australian force established defend possible japanese invasion following return australia battalion organised jungle warfare took campaigns new_guinea campaigns came involved defence campaign took campaign following end war battalion embarked australia december disbanded early february battle honours maintained 5th 6th battalion history formation training following outbreak world war september australian government announced decision raise volunteer 2nd defence act sending australia time military forces overseas force 5th battalion raised melbourne victoria october began receive intake men november moved battalion initial recruits came victorian scottish regiment militia unit associated raised world war battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel replaced commander major battalion went combat cook considered old lead troops combat 6th 7th 8th battalions 5th formed 17th brigade assigned infantry division formed 2nd colours chosen battalion unit colour patch colours black red horizontal rectangular shape border gray added distinguish battalion militia counterpart authorised strength personnel like australian infantry battalions time battalion consisted rifle companies consisting companies supported battalion headquarters headquarters company specialist signals pioneer anti aircraft transport administrative mortars battalion regimental aid post attached battalion personnel assembled november april undertaking basic training australia embarking middle_east april aboard transport port melbourne north_africa greece syria battalion arrived egypt joined 17th brigade infantry battalions camp period training palestine followed battalion took fighting italians libya january february 5th involved attacks australians went battle time fighting battalion commander seriously wounded artillery bombardment temporarily replaced major battalion committed fighting second phase assault advancing established railway later assault 5th tasked conducting attack east italian perimeter battalion time libya cost killed wounded months later april 6th division sent greece order defend possible german invasion nation invasion took place anticipated end british commonwealth forces unable stem tide german onslaught 5th battalion began campaign april series necessary lightning advance german forces pushed way port evacuated couple weeks later april battalion lost men killed wounded prisoners war prisoners drivers captured having unable time majority battalion consisting personnel evacuated alexandria concentrated palestine men confusion evacuation landed crete formed composite battalion 17th brigade units personnel including personnel 6th battalion personnel assigned sector occupied position took following german invasion majority 5th personnel assigned composite battalion captured battalion casualties campaign amounted killed action died wounds wounded captured men battalion known evaded capture fighting greece crete later killed action fighting alongside yugoslav resistance forces taken prisoner eventually moved camps germany poland liberated end war june july australians deployed syria lebanon campaign french launched british order prevent french held colonies controlled germans majority australian forces drawn 7th division 17th brigade called provide reinforcements 3rd 5th battalions initial involvement campaign came mid june french counterattack companies went action battalion main involvement came early july took proved final battle campaign preliminary final assault 5th battalion concert 3rd advanced moving 21st brigade position cut road north forces advanced east days following capture 5th continued advance north coastal road commanders sought armistice bringing campaign end july 5th casualties brief campaign amounted men killed wounded aftermath battalion remained middle_east serving occupation force syria lebanon january following japan entry war australian government requested return battalion needed fighting new_guinea pacific battalion departed middle_east march aboard voyage australia 16th 17th brigades disembarked ceylon fears japanese attack nearly months stationed island initially fort later bay observation posts section defensive positions established april 5th battalion endured heavy rains undertook series exercises training early july battalion finally received orders return australia relieved fort 8th transported embark castle august battalion arrived melbourne having away years short period home leave followed battalion personnel concentrated royal park march melbourne draft reinforcements arrived time incorporating men new_south_wales states mid september battalion moved new south wales travelling rail newcastle brief period training undertaken battalion uniforms dyed green time battalion organised converted jungle establishment process authorised strength reduced personnel ranks situation pacific deteriorated dramatically australian forces holding japanese new_guinea hard pressed desperately need reinforcement early october months returning australia 5th moved brisbane queensland deployed recently held face japanese landing aboard dutch transport battalion fighting months later january took defence 17th brigade reinforce sailing port bay advance party companies battalion flown january hastily reinforce small force remainder totalling men arriving january secured airfield direct japanese fire companies arrived earlier pulled early february australians gained initiative battalion relieved holding airfield went offensive attacking alongside 7th battalion effort push japanese away positions bank south west fighting intense course days battalion lost killed wounded secured battalion undertook patrolling operations rest joining advance support view drawing japanese reinforcements away landing planned september japanese strong resistance battalion involved heavy fighting fighting mount july august actions secure companies deployed holding action attempt mount cut japanese line communication companies attacked casualties battalion april september amounted killed wounded arrived 3rd following capture link forces 5th battalion withdrawn line concentrating late august 17th brigade relieved 29th fortnight unloading ships bay battalion moved landing craft embarked liberty ship dutch transport september battalion arrived australia landing queensland fighting area resulted following losses 5th killed wounded concentrating north queensland extended period home leave time victorian south australian personnel took march melbourne spent year training rest 6th division large turn battalion personnel time severely depleted illness previous campaign brought strength april drafts reinforcements majority coming new_south_wales counter men late battalion occupied series sporting events leave new year series amphibious exercises undertaken time view preparing battalion future operations finally late war battalion received orders deploy overseas boarding november week later battalion arrived new_guinea 6th division took american garrison order free troops fighting philippines following 5th concentrated december australians began offensive operations japanese forces operating surrounding areas seven months war ended 5th undertook patrols prince alexander mountain ranges 17th brigade worked initially establish hold australian base moving inland pursue japanese forces withdrawn interior intended campaign costly period consisting primarily small unit actions resulted heavy casualties australians course campaign 5th suffered casualties including officers killed wounded disbandment legacy following end war 5th remained new_guinea personnel posted unit units disbanded september battalion withdrawn area flown battalion took divisional parade october later month declared redundant plans time soldiers undertook educational training prepare civilian life waited return australia november considerable turn battalion troops members posted units depending priority units included 1st 2nd 6th 7th 30th infantry battalions battalion left personnel possessed required points discharge finally december remaining personnel embarked transport bound brisbane brief stay camp brisbane suburbs followed battalion moved rail victoria personnel moved road victorian south australian western australian contingents marched discharge leaving small staff battalion subsequently disbanded early february involvement war total men served 5th battalion killed wounded members battalion received military crosses distinguished conduct medals military medals mentions despatches member battalion appointed officer order british empire appointed members order british empire alongside 3rd battalion 5th australian infantry battalion fight major axis powers war constituted victorian scottish regiment raised time members drawn 5th battalion territorial personnel links decided custody 5th battalion world war battle honours result reorganisation australian_army 1960s saw disbandment based single battalion regiments raising new multi battalion state based regiments battle honours inherited 5th 6th battalion battalion based melbourne battle honours received following battle honours service world war north_africa syria greece south west pacific mount liberation australian new_guinea battle honours entrusted link maintained commanding officers following officers commanded war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel patrick lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
2/5th Battalion (Australia)