infantry battalion australian_army initially raised service world war saw action gallipoli sent western spent half years taking fighting trenches france belgium following conclusion hostilities battalion disbanded early process battalion raised time unit based newcastle new_south_wales drawing lineage number previously existing infantry units remained existence measures great depression manpower shortages battalion amalgamated infantry battalions course number organisations formed undertook garrison duty australia second world war merged following end war raised reduced company level formation formed battalion remained australian order battle amalgamated 17th battalion form 2nd 17th battalion unit remains today history world war formation training raised new south wales august formed volunteers overseas service shortly outbreak world war drawing majority personnel newcastle regions state new_south_wales battalion formed 1st brigade 1st 3rd infantry units raised australia following entry war formation battalion established complement men organised headquarters machine gun section heavy maxim medium machine guns rifle companies consisting officers ranks battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel citizen soldier member parliament held seat physical standards contingent recruited strict end august men recruited infantry division 1st division light horse brigade 1st following brief period training australia force set sail middle_east assembling albany western australia early november leaving australian waters embarked initially planned australians sent united_kingdom undertake training prior sent western france belgium ottoman_empire entry war germany october meant strategically vital suez_canal threatened result training grounds united_kingdom convoy reaching end november plans use australian force changed disembarked egypt instead arrived egypt december following month undertook training rest 1st division battalion organised companies australian_army converted new battalion structure developed british_army battalion authorised strength remained companies merged consisting officers ranks february ottoman_empire forces attacked suez_canal units 1st division line required end attack turned mainly indian units later effort open shipping lanes russians knock turks war british high command decided land force gallipoli peninsula near dardanelles mainly british french indian troops australians new gallipoli landing april command came ashore second waves landing total officers ranks landing dispatched companies assist pushing inland high feature known baby overlooked 2nd battalion lieutenant advanced australian unit making slopes baby determined counter attack ottoman forces drove afternoon battalion companies held reserve early afternoon led steep terrain fire vital junction positions known walker ridge russell battalion proceeded hold position reinforcements arrived days later time 2nd battalion undertook bayonet charge cleared crest russell determined enemy counter attack forced junction remained april ordered reserve beach early battalion sent reinforce midnight night 2nd battalion commanding officer partially deaf accidentally killed attempted visit 1st brigade headquarters failing hear challenge shot believing enemy soldier following burial battalion second command promoted lieutenant colonel took commanding officer following initial establishment campaign moved second phase australians began work consolidate slowly expand position time fighting evolved largely static trench warfare mid turks decided launch attack began late heaviest artillery bombardment campaign point orderly room located hill hit assault began following day established position known attacked elements poured forward positions owen rose 2nd battalion position left risk having line split enduring heavy attack head 2nd called reinforcements came shape 8th battery pressed line limited machine guns bad light supporting artillery job turning turkish assault fell maintaining strict fire discipline great effect achieved attack decisively defeated brief truce called sides bury dead following ottoman forces adopted defensive posture time 2nd battalion soldiers later sergeant invented rifle early august order create diversion draw ottoman reserves away major attack hill conceived attempt break stalemate developed 1st brigade conducted attack lone pine chosen initial assault gaining possession main enemy line australians subjected series determined counter attacks days successfully repulsed proved costly australians suffered considerably having started action officers ranks lost officers ranks killed wounded killed commanding officer shot dead attempting counter attack august place battalion second command major second lieutenant months took temporary commander main offensive launched hill fresh landings taken place bay ultimately august offensive fighting lone pine failed deliver heights british empire forces allies break following stalemate returned peninsula september october small skirmishes continued australians mainly involved defensive actions result setback strategic goals basis campaign abandoned bitter winter set november debate british high command utility continuing campaign intervening months personnel shifted away gallipoli situation theatres relevant late november lord toured peninsula finally december order begin evacuation given evacuation described brilliantly conducted phase campaign took place stages maintenance secrecy key consideration series conceal withdrawal unit left drafts maintaining presence line end finally dawn december evacuation complete small element australian troops leave group men remaining possession black hand position final morning egypt following withdrawal gallipoli returned egypt underwent period organisation saw influx large numbers reinforcements expansion formed july dispatched gallipoli later stages campaign large increase volunteers australia meant plans expansion place raised australia new divisions 4th raised egypt reinforcements holding depots experienced personnel drawn infantry battalions 1st division regard 1st brigade helped raise 14th brigade personnel transferred split occurring battalion february quickly brought strength training began shortly earlier month stevens promoted lieutenant colonel placed substantive command battalion subsequently lead november time units 1st division larger early march corps embarked france 2nd battalion leaving alexandria fighting european battlefield western landed proceeded north railway staging areas near shortly april units assigned quiet sector line near gain experience trench warfare concerns german attack immediately australians set work improve defences position hoped high command initially australian presence secret order gain advantage april apparent germans aware arrival signal lamp message code trench opposite 2nd battalion position stating australians home australians despite orders responding replied matter june brief period away line battalion rest 1st brigade reviewed australian prime minister near following units took number raids german line late june early july involved apart experiencing enemy 2nd battalion significant action came july battalion entered line night july 1st sent forward relieve british brigade midnight 2nd battalion approach march endured gas attack arrived position opposite south western village july following intense artillery barrage attack began leaving form point near chalk pit allocated position left forward battalion assault right following moved man land midnight short time fired german lines followed sporadic rifle machine gun fire directed away battalion axis advance advanced broken ground suddenly called challenge entire battalion firing broke clear directed away right advancing open ground advancing beneath supporting barrage direction officers job ensure ahead artillery battalion forward trying locate enemy defences finally finding abandoned trench located group tree stumps striking railway began dig secure left flank 3rd passed advanced secure brigade line main road following maintained left position brigade line pits left flank folding 4th battalion position germans determined counter attack dawn battalion turned stiff fight night reinforcements brought 2nd brigade early morning july germans opened devastating artillery barrage july men 2nd battalion having suffered terribly open trenches relieved operations battalion lost officers men killed wounded sent rest organisation brought thirds strength 2nd battalion involvement fighting came farm briefly line august provide reinforcement quickly relieved days later early september transferred region belgium canadians rest taking position north canal battalions 1st division placed centre line 4th right south 2nd left north sector relatively quiet dangers constant mortar attacks need maintain patrols man land duties time focused mainly maintaining defensive presence line rebuilding defences addition number small scale raids undertaken effort draw attention away fighting occurring october concert parties 2nd carried minor raid german position north east position known bluff order gain intelligence encountering german patrol forced abandon attempt short time later patrols captured german soldier man land week october small party moved man land raid german position near bluff spotted subjected grenade attacks forcing retire covering force position number attacking force joined box barrage artillery cut wire german position entered killing seven germans overcame enemy resistance brought defenders prisoners way wounded lost men later recovered man officers later found died wounds total raid cost battalion killed seven wounded units returned relieve units managed push lines position heights september involved major actions time elements 1st brigade specifically support 3rd attack developed line north failed amid exceptionally muddy conditions winter began set point combat operations ceased time battalion endured considerable hardships amid snow rain sector described worst brief period december lieutenant colonel commanded battalion taking acting commander 1st brigade time battalion reorganised wider army resulted attempt increase firepower platoon earlier year battalion machine gun section deleted replaced single lewis gun held company end year increased lewis platoon began allies making fresh plans germans finding outnumbered needing lines began staged withdrawal beginning february ending april falling miles places took positions series heavily fortified purpose built strong points allies subsequently named reduced frontage enabled free divisions reserves following germans allies advanced line finding germans adopted earth policy moved result order establish lines allies undertake significant construction work shifting line 2nd battalion major engagement come april periphery offensive took attack outpost villages command lieutenant colonel taken march battalion departed previous evening marched form point plan attack battalion companies advancing north east attack german defences sweeping village like fan left company providing flank protection establishing series posts stop garrison escaping centre right companies took village time companies attack german main defensive position south west end australians detected waiting step illuminated taking fire german hastily launched attack overcoming left centre company having lost officers lost formation organised attack eastern village continue companies passed ruined buildings clearing outskirts village little resistance left company began task establishing outposts east time right right company advanced road begun fire overcoming wire obstacle began moving rear german main defence line point came fire low hill western outskirts village took flank pinned slope darkness location enemy machine gun initially australians remained fixed hour half members right centre company avoided german resistance able locate destroy rear dawn centre companies able enter village proper forcing large numbers garrison try escape north east taken prisoner large numbers left company establishing number posts open fields established minimal resistance platoon heavily engaged machine gun positioned near road small group men crossed road attempted provide covering fire platoon group private kenny heavy fire rushed enemy position destroyed grenades taking surviving germans prisoner actions later awarded victoria_cross minor continued village captured prisoners taken loss officers ranks killed wounded battalion played limited supporting role 1st division german counter attack mid april following battalion major action came early involved second battle day attack battalions 1st brigade despite rest attached subsequently employed provide work parties release reserves 2nd division units directly fighting having recovered losses fighting subjected artillery bombardment approach entered line officers ranks subsequently relieving 24th battalion germans attempted force australians moved number times shore line units came relieve 1st brigade battalion major action came mid september committed fighting road formed wider battle supporting role september battalions 1st brigade relieved 47th london division located kilometres east holding line relieved september 2nd 3rd brigades undertake assault 1st division sector line following assault 1st brigade including went forward september secured ground gained subsequently relieved shortly night september troops 14th brigade fresh divisions brought continue attack battalion casualties time amounted officers ranks killed wounded brief period rest returned line near october taking position near right position upcoming battle attack went october overcoming encounter german infantry regiment man land australians successfully managed capture objectives battle lost officers ranks killed wounded suffered intense german mortar barrage fallen troops form point prior attack killing wounding seventh assault force december battalion moved relatively quiet sector flanders australian divisions following involvement operations stevens resumed command having elevated general staff stevens subsequently lead september granted leave allowed personnel enlisted return australia extended period leave winter australian divisions remained formed time brigades rotated line taking turn man divisional sector spent christmas moving december stayed late january moved early collapse russian resistance eastern enabled germans transfer large number troops west result march launched offensive western opening day offensive 2nd battalion lines near raided infantry regiment attack beaten men battalion forcibly taken german lines prisoners initial attack coming mile successful germans making rapid gains australians transferred line blunt attack early april shortly battle rest 1st division sent arriving april took defensive positions await german advance april defending village battalion helped turn determined german attack following late april july period followed time australians undertook series small scale operations known peaceful relieving april battalions 1st brigade began patrols april capture german soldiers gain intelligence harass enemy generally met considerable success separate patrols undertaken resulted officer shot attempting enter german trench second resulted shot australian warned patrol gone later took position opposite remaining end month june july alternated time continued raiding operations advanced line yards significant loss august having gained initiative allies launched offensive commencing august battalions 1st brigade attached temporarily act reserve guarding river crossing following involved advance remaining reserve august period week offensive battalion suffered officers ranks killed wounded battalion continued operations august september night september 2nd battalion carried peaceful penetration raids german reserve positions finding village encountered german patrol infantry regiment attacked quickly overwhelmed noon following day launched larger attack artillery mortar support destroying german outposts south village killing germans capturing action september battalion suffered casualties september battalion relieved american forces time withdrawn line rest 1st division fighting early october rest severely depleted heavy casualties falling australia withdrawn request prime minister organise preparation operations november armistice came effect hostilities came end battalion personnel slowly repatriated australia discharge completed war lost men killed wounded members battalion received following decorations victoria_cross companion order michael military crosses distinguished conduct medals military medals bars mentioned despatches foreign awards inter war years second world war battalion raised newcastle new_south_wales organisation australian military took place time battalion time unit assigned 8th brigade 2nd military district formation battalion drew personnel previously existing units 2nd 5th battalions 2nd infantry regiment infantry regiment battle honours traditions associated battalion result organisation battalion adopted complex lineage 2nd infantry regiment trace history series organisations 1st regiment new south wales rifle volunteers raised territorial unit titles introduced australian_army battalion adopted title city newcastle regiment time battalion afforded motto following election government compulsory training scheme suspended altogether decided maintain time military force volunteer basis order reflect change renamed militia time end compulsory training fiscal followed economic great depression meant manpower available militia units time limited result frontage dropped authorised establishments decision eventually number units subsequently 2nd battalion amalgamated 41st forming 2nd 41st battalion later split time 2nd merged 35th 2nd 35th battalion units remained linked september command lieutenant colonel raised separate unit effort australian government hastily expand militia following outbreak second world war war assigned 1st brigade battalion active service overseas instead garrison force australia december merged forming 41st 2nd battalion remained linked december disbanded process post second world war australia time military force guise raised time divisions formed supporting units units established returning order battle april 2nd division national service scheme operated time numbers remained reasonably steady scheme suspended australian_army reorganised introduction divisional structure result greatly reduced infantry battalions disbanded altogether amalgamated battalions numbered multi battalion state based regiments result july 2nd battalion reduced company sized element forming company city newcastle company prior april battalion afforded freedom city newcastle entrusted battle honours awarded 2nd battalion raised served north_africa greece crete new_guinea honours retained rest existence australian_army abandoned divisional structure attempt restore regional ties state based regiments number regional companies state based regiments split form new battalions traditional numerical designations result july company raise right unit remained existence reforms led reduction number infantry units australia ceremony held newcastle december amalgamated 17th form 2nd 17th battalion 8th brigade amalgamation battalion regimental march confirmed alliances held following alliances united_kingdom queen west surrey united_kingdom queen royal surrey regiment canada 1st american regiment canada queen york rangers 1st american regiment battle honours received following battle honours world war road wood france flanders landing defence lone pine egypt second world war north_africa greece south west pacific crossing road liberation australian new_guinea ridge commanding officers following officers served commanding officer world war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lineage following represents 2nd battalion lineage northern battalion new south wales volunteer infantry 16th infantry raised disbanded 2nd battalion 2nd 41st battalion 2nd 35th battalion 2nd battalion 2nd battalion 2nd raised 41st 41st 2nd 2nd battalion 2nd disbanded company city present 2nd 17th battalion
2nd Battalion (Australia)