26th infantry battalion australian_army originally raised april service world war assigned 7th brigade consisted personnel recruited states queensland tasmania battalion fought gallipoli stages campaign withdrawn egypt late sent europe served trenches western france belgium rest war fighting battles australians took end war disbanded inter war years raised time unit known based queensland 26th merged queensland based infantry battalion 15th 26th battalion units subsequently new raised queensland australia war battalion assigned time garrison roles early world war detachment sent dutch_east_indies later war entire 26th battalion rest committed campaign saw action japanese late end hostilities august war guard japanese prisoners remaining march returning australia subsequently disbanded august history world war 26th battalion originally raised april volunteer drawing recruits tasmania queensland battalion concentrated queensland formed 7th brigade attached battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel authorised strength men short period basic training battalion draft consisting companies embarked overseas followed companies late june training undertaken egypt battalion sent gallipoli 2nd division peninsula reinforce troops fighting april 26th battalion landed september time campaign costly stalemate shortly arrival winter came conditions worsened decision evacuate peninsula result battalion major actions fulfilled defensive role defending positions steel post russell withdrawn peninsula december casualties campaign amounted killed wounded addition personnel evacuated sick half returning duty evacuation 26th battalion returned egypt reorganised expanded sent europe 26th arrived france march taking place trenches western following month early june alongside 28th battalion took raid undertaken australians france attacking german trenches major battle came july august battalion sent entire 2nd division sector belgium having suffered casualties november moved south month 26th participated attacks position known maze east attacks ultimately proved fruitless grinding halt muddy conditions resulting casualties end november lieutenant colonel took command battalion harsh winter spent occupying defensive positions training lines christmas spent trenches early january 26th battalion transferred later month german_army withdrew line 26th involved number actions march fighting captain led company village capturing positions helping hold german later awarded victoria_cross posthumously later joined second battle mainly support role initial attack held 2nd division reserve attack company 26th detached help bolster later thrust line help defend gains german counterattack fell 6th brigade left flank battalion moved belgium joined battles road ridge september october attack 26th support 28th battalion later led 7th brigade follow attack second line defences combined casualties battles killed wounded early fighting eastern ended following collapse russia germans transferred large number divisions western subsequently launched major offensive known spring offensive april allies pushed steadily 26th battalion transferred sector south committed fighting australian units 26th undertook defensive tasks april locations including time casualties suffered german offensive eventually halted june july battalion launched number peaceful penetration operations small amounts german line followed prior final allied offensive war came june undertaken near july raid lieutenant earned battalion second victoria cross war battalion credited capturing german tank taken allied forces similar operation days earlier months later august allies launched days offensive ultimately brought end war opening day offensive 26th led 7th brigade attack period reserve late august advanced brigade left attack saw allies push following month took attack experienced heavy machine gun fire crossed 26th joined attack october line final line line defences attack 26th followed initial gains 7th brigade sector attacked second line german defences suffering casualties including killed shortly 26th received batch reinforcements subsequently disbanded fighting line 26th battalion contribution war withdrawn rest shortly return line armistice declared november subsequently disbanded battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel took command battalion mid october remained command disbanded course 26th battalion involvement war lost men killed men wounded members battalion received following decorations victoria crosses member order british empire distinguished service orders including bar distinguished conduct medals military crosses including bars military medals including bars mentions despatches inter war years following completion process disbanded australia time military force responsible defence australia reorganised battle honours traditions renumbering units adopt numerical designations related units process partially commenced late introduction regimental system adjusted reorganised replicate divisional structure resulting formation single battalions regiment formation war units raised men drawn recruitment territory established units consequence units retained links units drew majority initial intake personnel result reorganisation raised time unit drawing personnel battalions traced history 9th logan formed territorial titles adopted units battalion adopted title logan albert regiment adopted motto non meaning unprepared initially maintained mixture voluntary compulsory service following election government compulsory training scheme abolished replaced volunteer force known militia decision suspend compulsory training coupled economic great depression meant manpower militia units dropped considerably decision number units initially affected merged 15th battalion form 15th 26th battalion battalions remained linked prior world war june split new 26th battalion raised queensland near 1st military district forming battalion placed command australian_army decorated soldiers lieutenant colonel world war victoria_cross recipient battalion second command victoria_cross recipient major world war following outbreak world war september 26th battalion undertook series training camps northern queensland began establish numbers september november based queensland moving february south following month time placed command 31st queensland based militia battalions battalion strength fluctuated compulsory service reintroduced drafts national servicemen marched short periods training volunteers released join 2nd services initial recruits came italian australian families north queensland battalion grew reinforcements australian states arrived early battalion undertook defensive duties locations queensland including charters towers august murray relinquished command replaced lieutenant colonel october 26th moved near reinforcements arrived began training prepare deployment overseas battalion moved embarked transport sailed company detached time dutch_east_indies militia unit serve outside australian territory dispatched islands august november defensive duties undertaken mainland battalion returned july withdrawn australia board transport leave began training operations unit meant deployed outside australian territory december battalion deployed australian troops relieved american forces australians subsequently launched drives island northern southern central areas initially 26th battalion committed fighting central sector island conducting patrolling operations withdrawn end january february year lieutenant colonel assumed command taking 26th deployed plantation area series amphibious landings clear area brief rest began clearing north taking 55th 53rd battalion determined japanese resistance resulted amphibious landing company 31st 51st battalion plantation effort following series company landed heavily engaged efforts evacuate 26th battalion rest 31st 51st battalion attempted break unable penetrate japanese lines came japanese defenders determined resist unable withdraw peninsula late june relieved 27th battalion sent rest hostilities ceased august following month 26th battalion sent garrison duty december lieutenant colonel took command battalion march 26th battalion returned australia battalion experienced high turn personnel men passing battalion time men discharged transferred units command battalion changed couple times lieutenant colonel taking march handed lieutenant colonel battalion finally disbanded august company remained existence holding company september member marched course battalion involvement war lost men killed action died active service wounded members battalion received following decorations british alliances 26th battalion held following alliances united_kingdom scottish rifles canada new_zealand south_africa rifles commanding officers following officers commanded 26th battalion world war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel world war lieutenant colonel harry murray lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel battle honours 26th battalion awarded following battle honours world war road france flanders gallipoli egypt world war liberation australian new_guinea battalion longer australian_army order battle entrusted battle honours awarded 26th battalion service 2nd world war honours inherited time malaya
26th Battalion (Australia)