9th battalion australia 9th battalion infantry battalion australian_army world war raised queensland 2nd shortly outbreak war formed 18th brigade course war attached 6th 9th organisations served united_kingdom forming small australian garrison sent help defend possible german invasion transferred north_africa took siege undertook garrison duties syria following syria lebanon campaign early 9th brought australia organised jungle warfare took new_guinea campaign battalion committed twice fighting japanese new_guinea 9th fought actions bay withdrawn australia rest prior returning new_guinea advance range battalion took battalion final involvement war came borneo campaign took landing disbanded shortly war early history formation formed november 9th battalion infantry battalions raised queensland volunteer 2nd initially assigned battalion formed 18th brigade 10th 11th 12th battalions commanding officer lieutenant colonel militia battalion based majority battalion officers drawn militia like 2nd units initially supplied regular officer serve role adjutant terms structure early months battalion existence period early 2nd infantry battalions established structure unique australian_army shortly formation decided adopt british_army battalion structure december 9th authorised strength personnel consisted rifle companies consisting sections battalion headquarters support company headquarters company consisting performing specialist roles including signals mortar anti tank rifle companies designated colours chosen battalion unit colour patch unit served world war raised militia formation colours black light blue horizontal rectangular shape border gray added distinguish battalion militia counterpart following training later new_south_wales 9th force australians sent united_kingdom early planned send force france serve alongside france fallen time australians arrived scotland june remained united_kingdom help defend possible german cross channel invasion feared following capture france loss equipment arrival united_kingdom battalion transported rail south england set camp corner wiltshire amidst backdrop battalion personnel integral vickers machine guns guns provide self defence air attack bolster anti aircraft defences local areas undertook training exercises formed mobile striking force tasked rapidly responding event invasion september 18th brigade transferred october battalion moved essex took responsibility defence sector british officer training battalion 9th remained november orders came 18th brigade hand 25th brigade 9th relieved 31st battalion threat invasion passing winter came decision australians north_africa actively employed combat operations following preparations began orders received battalion glasgow november boarded middle_east sailing longer safer southern route way middle_east convoy carrying australians port battalion marched city arms december embarking alexandria egypt december battalion went camp officers men february battalion transferred 18th brigade reassigned 7th division time brigade reduced infantry battalions army wide organization 11th battalion transferred 19th brigade 7th division battalion fought major engagement war march led 18th brigade assault italian fortress held italians advancing egypt battalion supported elements 10th 12th battalions attacked south cavalry 6th attack strongest point fortress amidst limited visibility heavy fighting ensued garrison surrendered italians killed taken prisoners war total australians killed wounded majority men 9th battalion battalion sent following month 9th transported road sea reinforce garrison german forces surrounded strategic port effort capture 9th remain months fell siege 9th battalion launched counter attack german forces order retake posts previously lost germans subjected heavy german artillery bombardment form point battalion attacked southern flank cover considerable counter battery fire british artillery capturing number positions inflicting heavy losses defenders australians eventually forced withdraw apparent able complete advance daylight having lost men killed missing wounded dawn 9th battalion returned blue line took defensive position south series small skirmishes ensued time battalion able extend lines miles rest battalion undertook defensive construction tasks raids land south west relieved 17th battalion night june following 18th brigade went reserve battalion saw little action month moved road junction july battalion returned spent period time brigade reserve sector later moved sector battalion personnel undertook aggressive patrols land penetrating number minefields moving traps july battalion launched major raid sector effort gauge german responses penetrating metres german lines finding objective raiders withdrew following battalion went reserve period briefly returning start august short lived later month decision withdraw 18th brigade 9th battalion subsequently sent palestine undertake training later battalion transferred syria employed occupation duties following defeat french forces country recently concluded syria lebanon campaign pacific february majority 2nd 9th withdrawn australia response threat posed japan entry war following attacks pearl harbor malaya returning 9th arrived australia landing south australia march proceeded camp near battalion remained april moved new_south_wales queensland carried training prior departure overseas time strategic situation pacific finely balanced july japanese landed northern new_guinea coast began advancing track port amidst heavy fighting august order deploy came battalion embarked brisbane rest 18th brigade bound bay new_guinea 9th arrived august help reinforce garrison concerns possible japanese landing secure adjacent airfields beginning august japanese bombing troops 7th brigade initially sent garrison area japanese invasion force expected battalions 18th brigade quickly placed positions effective 9th assigned task defending force headquarters known arrival 9th battalion construct roads lay steel unloading stores ships arrived carrying patrolling operations following japanese landing august battalion placed alert increased patrolling operations airfield days contact september battalion moved mission alongside 12th battalion launched north coast bay went battle japanese time course days japanese beaten eventually withdrawal ordered japanese commanders represented scale defeat japanese land war came cost 9th battalion losing men killed wounded action seven later died wounds disease took far greater toll men hospitalised illness tide new_guinea campaign began turn favour allies japanese having reached advance new_guinea forced withdraw fierce fighting subsequently followed australian troops fought reduce japanese taking defeating japanese bay 18th brigade transferred 9th arrived bay aboard december battalion brigade committed battle leading attack december support tanks 6th armoured regiment significant gains 18th brigade 9th continued fight attached 32nd division fall start january returned command time participate attack january japanese positions track holding australian advance battalion continued fighting area concluded allied victory january time strength fallen men effects tropical diseases heavy fighting combat losses recorded killed action died wounds missing wounded losses offset arrival reinforcements battle losses heavy particularly disease february 9th battalion transported returning australia month following battalion return undertook jungle training august embarking 9th returned port continued training areas surrounding port remained december battalion deployed range flown joining allied advance inland early january battalion took capturing green sniper january brigade level operation carry ridge following conclusion fighting february battalion occupied position western saddle relieved 57th 60th battalion 15th brigade relieved 18th continued advance australians linked forces coast prior capturing securing peninsula late april period battalion occupied defended locality kilometres downstream conducted patrols long range fighting patrols prevent japanese months followed training activities work parties conducted battalion brought australia broader plan return divisions australia training rehabilitation united_states military assumed primary responsibility combat operations pacific period operational uncertainty followed future combat role australian_army consequently long period training australia followed battalions period leave battalion personnel concentrated july august battalion moved establishing battalion conducted exercises included collective training brigade level amphibious training undertaken near aboard british working concert december battalion participated divisional exercise period unit introduced new weapons including flame throwers anti tank weapon undertook training infantry tank operation range training exercises competitions sporting events recreational activities continued early new year men busy combat possible feelings anti climax associated granting limited local leave delay expected deployment overseas final months war battalion committed borneo campaign embarking tank landing ships battalion concentrated july 9th took landing final australian amphibious operation war start attack battalion assigned role 18th brigade reserve mid morning opening day ordered forward relieve 10th battalion taking noon commencing house house concert troop tanks forced small japanese force hill tying positions digging night july 9th landed western bay small force armour artillery mortars supporting arms began clear inland course following month battalion sent detachments south coast north august posts established road detachment company reached 9th linked elements 1st pioneer battalion disbandment finally mid august fighting borneo came end following atomic bombings hiroshima nagasaki subsequent surrender japan 9th battalion carried garrison duties guarding prisoners war maintaining internal security process took place personnel repatriated australia transferred units service battalion strength dropped finally disbanded january course war total men served 9th battalion killed action died active service wounded members posthumously awarded victoria_cross actions fighting bay september decorations men 9th received distinguished service orders distinguished conduct medals nineteen military medals mentions despatches addition member battalion appointed commander order british empire appointed officer order british empire appointed member order british empire battle honours service world war 9th battalion received battle honours north_africa south west pacific road cape battle honours entrusted maintained royal queensland regiment commanding officers following officers commanded 9th war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
2/9th Battalion (Australia)