infantry battalion australian_army originally raised world war disbanded year seeing active service later raised militia brisbane queensland outbreak second world war initially undertook garrison duties australia deployed new_guinea took japanese defeated time major land battle late 61st battalion withdrawn australia period organisation training deployed overseas late time deployed taken american garrison battalion joined drive japanese stronghold south island following end war disbanded process january history formation initially raised united_kingdom february world war effort raise 6th division following manpower shortages occurred result heavy losses western failure attempts introduce conscription australia decided division subordinate units september use personnel reinforce units result disbanded seeing active service 61st battalion raised militia response growing tensions europe time battalion formed area small detachment based main driving force convincing government establish battalion sir outset intended unit scottish battalion approval gained personnel equipped scottish style uniforms including caps funds equipment provided government cost battalion meet appeal donations public time battalion initial personnel men scottish birth ancestry later personnel included men diverse heritage battalion officially bestowed title queensland cameron alliance queen approved king training undertaken voluntary unpaid basis weekly undertaken field training took place july battalion strength officers ranks second world war home duties outset second world war provisions defence act prohibited sending militia fight outside australian territory decision raise volunteer force 2nd serve overseas initial operations conceived likely middle_east france later possibly england decided militia defend australian mainland possible attack improve australia overall level readiness compulsory military service extended periods continuous periods training ultimately number men joined units 2nd militia fact lower anticipated large number personnel left seek opportunity serve overseas time 61st battalion lost experienced senior officers non commissioned officers 25th 33rd battalions raised queensland royal_australian_air_force note loss battalion pipe drum band joined 25th 61st battalion officer major went serving initially second command later 25th commanding officer despite loss personnel battalion undertook number periods continuous training militia called progressively periods extended training consisting days time joined rest 7th brigade assigned battalion replaced scottish equipment regular service gear september strategic situation pacific worsened battalion called provide time service duration war result battalion brought strength personnel ranks december japanese attacks pearl harbor malaya undertook defensive duties moving defend possible invasion early situation pacific grew worse garrison singapore fell japanese began advance south australia march landed north coast new_guinea later july landed time australian government decided bring units 2nd middle_east defend possible japanese invasion australia process begun troops available respond immediately japanese landings units militia troops 30th brigade deployed course month july august 61st battalion rest 7th brigade moved situated eastern tip new_guinea 61st took defensive duties alongside 25th battalion night august japanese marines tank support carried amphibious landing north japanese advanced 7th brigade main defensive position 61st battalion bore initial assault temporarily halted japanese advance ambush launching counterattack following morning 10th battalion come attack japanese armour forced formed defensive line main japanese thrust came august strong artillery support 61st 25th battalions managed turn japanese attack inflicting heavy casualties process seizing initiative following elements 18th brigade advanced japanese subsequently captured september inflicting japanese defeat major battle land war involvement battle 61st battalion suffered killed wounded remained bay march withdrawn near port battalion undertook training exercises carried patrols villages scattered start track battalion brought establishment warned combat number occasions eventually decided withdraw 7th brigade australia november leadership battalion time 61st battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel awarded captain commanded company fighting bay received new_guinea period leave battalion began reform queensland february months undertook number exercises training periods prepared stage war time battalion authorised strength reduced men ranks converted jungle divisional establishment july 61st battalion embarked proceeded overseas arrived new_guinea days later considered isolated pockets japanese area battalion began patrolling operations soon landed remained undertaking garrison duties november 61st battalion transferred australian troops took responsibility island american garrison initial allied intelligence estimates placed size japanese forces men later determined number closer decided australians offensive pursue advance island main effort advance southern sector narrow coastal plain japanese stronghold initially 7th brigade battalion attached employed northern sector holding positions trail january took 29th brigade operating southern sector march 61st battalion took advance inland advancing bounds occupying company bases sending patrols battalion began south january rest month battalion involved number relatively minor engagements japanese carried patrolling ambush operations australian line advance start february reached receiving intelligence japanese force detected sent raid camp reaching patrol set fire japanese force withdrew later reconnaissance determined japanese died blaze february battalion married patrols 25th battalion moving later battalion continued company linked patrols february late february japanese forces withdrew pressure captain company action later awarded establishing headquarters continued advance alongside 25th battalion 25th battalion crossed patrol 61st clashed group japanese holding entrenched position establishing contact patrol artillery forward observation officer called indirect fire supporting artillery battery patrol assaulted position japanese defenders withdrew leaving dead position subsequently revealed consist main pits smaller ones engagement battalion withdrawn line brief period concerns morale rest 7th brigade continued advance road february march march japanese resistance steadily increased time number attacks australian rear areas line communications result committed advance company allocated defend 25th battalion rear road near feature named japanese launched designed check australian advance 61st battalion main engagement came march april took march battalion company attacked times japanese force men attack repulsed loss australians killed wounded dawn following morning company attempted clear japanese track led coming entrenched force japanese forced abandon attempt exchanging fire minutes course week japanese launched number attacks australians time suffered estimated men killed wounded main japanese attacks concentrated majority battle 61st took defensive operations periphery 25th position protect rear provide close infantry support tanks 4th armoured regiment time involved number minor contacts incidents disease casualties coupled combat fatigue poor leadership resulted poor state morale battalion period april 7th brigade commander relieved 61st battalion commanding officer lieutenant colonel suffering command major given task temporarily commanding battalion lieutenant colonel following month problems men refusing patrol performance duty continued early april 61st battalion remained role rear area security remainder 7th brigade involvement sector april following conclusion fighting 7th brigade relieved 29th returned remained end war course campaign 61st battalion lost men killed wounded disbandment following end hostilities 61st battalion took surrender ceremony took place later waiting australia battalion employed guarding japanese prisoners war november orders arrived battalion return australia embarking landed november moved brisbane train battalion strength result process men returned civilian life decision unit occurred january victoria barracks brisbane casualties war consisted killed died active service wounded members battalion received following decorations military crosses military medals mentioned despatches alliances 61st battalion held following alliances united_kingdom queen battle honours service second world war 61st battalion received battle honours south west pacific bay liberation australian new_guinea commanding officers 61st battalion commanding officers lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
61st Battalion (Australia)