31st 51st battalion australia 31st 51st battalion infantry battalion australian_army served world war raised service militia amalgamation previously existing battalions 31st 51st battalion undertook garrison duties dutch new_guinea taking following end war battalion served pacific overseeing transfer japanese prisoners war establishing law order returned australia disbanded history formation 31st 51st battalion formed april near queensland amalgamation previously existing queensland based militia infantry battalions 31st 51st battalions establishment battalion adopted territorial title kennedy far north queensland regiment order designations predecessor units battalion officially adopted brown yellow rectangular unit colour patch 31st battalion members new battalion previously served 51st authorised wear brown light blue circular colour patch reinforcements unit allocated colour patch based territorial area recruited amalgamation came shortage manpower australian economy occurred result australia military forces early years war attempt situation australian government decision release militia personnel previously employed essential industries civilian workforce result 31st large numbers personnel drawn agricultural sector authorised establishments decided merged form complete battalion assigned newly formed battalion undertook amphibious training intensive physical activities route marches queensland preparation deployment overseas june july command lieutenant colonel battalion deployed dutch new_guinea departed board june arriving thursday island june transferred boarding van arriving july july august battalion undertook long range patrols surrounding area established outposts coast north west time patrols 31st 51st involved major actions japanese came december near small patrol men board small diesel surprised japanese patrol consisting foot barges fighting followed japanese killed loss australian killed wounded second action came january force japanese contacted engaged man detachment outpost near start miles yards outpost japanese engaged fire light machine guns small arms anti tank rifles initially taken surprise japanese lost men killed withdrawing yards sea engaging outpost heavy machine guns mortars australians slightly injured result contact receiving burns hands guns july battalion australian unit meaning sent outside bounds imposed militia units set defence act shortly received orders withdrawn australia preparation employment combat pacific theatre early august lieutenant colonel took command battalion relieving major acting role taken ill later died december august battalion embarked return australia arrival men given brief period leave battalion concentrated received reinforcements undertook training remained months departing december command lieutenant colonel 31st 51st battalion arrived days later rest began offensive campaign saw involved heavy combat japanese committed fighting periods december february saw battalion cross capture later march april undertook long range patrols central sector island vicinity final commitment came july battalion switched northern sector took fighting phase battalion fought undertook disastrous amphibious landing conceived company level effort significant japanese defences holding advance operation plagued poor planning inadequate resources intelligence failures strategic tactical errors levels landing wrong beach june finding caught tight box japanese defensive positions men companies captain unable advance inland landing craft ran aground supplies began effort link company company holding line attempted breakthrough japanese lines patrols able penetrate yards unable closer eventually order withdraw given headquarters subsequent evacuation landing craft ran aground managed float free remained stuck hard reef course couple days men landing craft subjected heavy japanese attack june rescue efforts completed battalion lost men killed missing presumed dead wounded operation following failure landing planned australian advance called australians focused main effort capture south effort north reduced holding action resources transferred sector 31st 51st battalion continued undertake patrols suffered casualties withdrawn combat operations june subsequently moved disbandment following cessation hostilities august battalion undertook garrison duties role helped maintain law order investigate war crimes oversaw transfer japanese prisoners war maintained military administration november civil control established short time later detachment withdrawn december battalion platoon withdrawn rejoin february platoon remained arrived process began 31st 51st stayed received orders return australia april lieutenant colonel took battalion commander personnel discharged transferred units service battalion numbers declined eventually july battalion disbanded course war 31st 51st battalion lost men killed wounded majority came fighting men killed action seven posted missing action presumed killed died wounds members battalion received following decorations distinguished service order distinguished conduct medal military crosses military medals british empire medal mentions despatches 31st later raised separate units australia time military raised guise later company level formations 2nd battalion royal queensland regiment organisation saw units split raised battalion level formations old numerical designations remained separate battle honours involvement world war 31st 51st battalion received following battle honours south west pacific liberation australian new_guinea commanding officers following officers served commanding officer 31st 51st battalion lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
31st/51st Battalion (Australia)