new guinea volunteer rifles new_guinea volunteer rifles infantry battalion australian_army initially raised unit militia white australian european new_guinea outbreak second world war activated time service following japanese landings early personnel helped rescue survivors february march march monitored japanese bases established region allied force area arrival battalion subsequently established observation posts overlooking main approaches reported japanese movements later inflicted significant casualties japanese series raids led believe faced larger opposing force june newly arrived 5th carried highly successful attack japanese garrison killing men focus shifted battles august september continued man posts overlooking japanese base areas japanese subsequently defeated january february relieving pressure battalion disbanded april attrition years immediately following war australian_army considered establishing military presence opposition white settlers raising native units interim measure establishment approved july unit reformed new guinea volunteer rifles march initially whites reserve unit march detachment assisted relief operations following eruption killed people left homeless elements established main centres addition responsibilities fostered raising regular new_guinea mid-1960s chinese personnel finally authorised unit evolving multi racial battalion fifth members europeans amid concerns ability fledgling nation finance large military capability need maintain type unit army independent questionable ultimately disbanded shortly independence leaving infantry unit new new guinea defence force history second world war formation eastern half island new_guinea divided territories south german colony new_guinea north administered australia provisions mandate german new_guinea entrusted australia following capture world war little way defensive preparations mandated territory global conflict likely following outbreak war europe raising militia battalion new_guinea known new guinea volunteer rifles authorised september early arrangements raising unit undertaken lieutenant colonel unit initial establishment limited officers ranks influence ensured close link police police stores organisation controlling issue arms equipment police guards manning store parade ground men white australian european drawn wide range civilian majority longtime residents included gold miners traders government officials lived territory years old men ages accepted familiar terrain local inhabitants poorly armed equipped concerns civilian administration native welfare providing indigenous population arms military training recruited serve june period years unpaid pound annual called active service uniforms consisted shirts trousers material sent australia felt hats leather belts boots brass shoulder worn weapons included rifles vickers lewis machine guns initial preparations december major officer director public works took command unit headquarters subsequently established sub units located event war dispersed strategic points mainland islands territory come operational command 8th process raised command unit tasks provide armed escort enemy aliens germans austrians deported australia ship interned contingents departed september november escort party consisting non commissioned officer private soldiers december compulsory evacuation european women children new_guinea ordered june establishment increased officers ranks proved difficult achieve demands recruitment overseas service resulted large turn men time plans defence new_guinea envisioned deployment australian forces port defence left atmosphere battalion early days enthusiasm older members taking leading role april june regular instructors sent order improve standard training unit july spread thin authorized strength men based total establishment war germany italy continued europe north_africa middle_east australian fears japanese intentions pacific grew bulk australian military naval forces middle_east defensive preparations remained limited brigades 8th division subsequently dispatched singapore malaya february militia battalion stationed battalion garrison 8th division brigade battalion dispersed july 1st deployed order protect airfield sections sent central new act observers early volcanic activity area forced government administration headquarters moved time 22nd battalion subsequently began arriving march april additional units added force directed garrison town tasks included protecting airfields seaplane base simpson harbour forming advanced observation line provide early warning japanese movements following arrival role secondary consequence men stationed detachment largely battalion instead occupying defensive positions simpson harbour australians widely dispersed companies airfield inland airfield elements covered coastal approaches near vulcan crater spent following months preparing defensive positions airfield lieutenant colonel subsequently took command october position increasingly viewed garrison reinforced bombers obsolete reconnaissance aircraft squadron raaf december grown men despite considered weak repel expected japanese attack plans withdrawal instead japanese fight island september administrator sir staff transferred japanese began aerial reconnaissance soon attack pearl harbor december compulsory evacuation remaining european women children relative safety australia ordered december scattered islands north men 1st lay large japanese base mainland formed independent detachments lost youngest dedicated members left join instead remained found difficulties making journey remote home locations training centres increasingly disappointed lack ammunition equipment training september headquarters transferred mainland field relinquished command replaced major later colonel enthusiastic early volunteers edwards unit new recruits came december war japan seemingly imminent strength officers ranks total men mainland december day war began pacific morris authorised place battalion time duty small number ultimately called time australian defences remained limited centred port consisting approximately partially trained militia inch coastal guns inch anti aircraft battery flying boats addition locally recruited forming japanese soon expected attempt seize port remainder 30th brigade brought forward 39th 53rd battalions arriving port january despite measures australian speed coming japanese advance meant destined provide armed resistance new_guinea middle air attacks began january days japanese succeeded destroying bulk defending aircraft attacks targeted shipping harbour shore installations considered need entire brigade defend invasion imminent limited force remaining aircraft withdrawn airfields japanese south seas force approximately men command landed early hours january attached force detachment positioned northern flank defensive line simpson harbour company 22nd battalion manning medium machine gun mortar positions defending metre section beach detachments subsequently engaged japanese force dawn came ashore barge inflicting number casualties forced withdraw outnumbered quickly overrun ensuing fighting japanese completing capture town hours australian losses heavy men killed defenders captured survivors withdrew interior moving south wide bay areas west eventual evacuation total servicemen civilians escaped soldiers fortunate wounded sick australian soldiers including number personnel captured subsequently murdered japanese plantation wide bay later japanese naval prison ship sunk west coast july hit torpedoes fired submarine uss resulting loss lives australian civilians prisoners war killed men battalion finally january day japanese aircraft simultaneously attacked realising japanese occupation north coast settlements gulf imminent declared state emergency handing control second command major japanese landing expected time duty civilians departed january days later returned australia effectively ending civil administration new_guinea raaf soldiers remained report japanese movements groups defended strategic points area mid february detachment joined platoon company concentrating captain ill equipped wearing assortment clothing uniforms world war vintage leather lacking helmets tools carried packs weighing excess pounds average age years men lived new_guinea considerable period time highly limited military training lacked formed unit brought native labour lines share burden men fight guerrilla war expected invasion preparing destroy key infrastructure deny japanese company formed captain purpose companies ordered commence demolition campaign event japanese landing airfield left intact time personnel helped rescue survivors february march march approximately japanese naval troops landed unopposed forcing detachment withdraw west battalion force landed south day observing landings detachment japanese attempted demolish airfield withdrawing destroying bridge river mouth went japanese subsequently occupied leaving section river detachment moved south panic followed morris initially ordered edwards prevent japanese crossing mountains failed recognise reality situation subsequently proved unrealistic unable lacking modern weapons equipment relatively men prospect reinforcement lacked strength block japanese movement inland morris concerned possible loss threatened unable reinforce japanese chose consolidate position instead ordered destroy airfield carry demolition campaign edwards authorised destruction power stations valley bridges despite indication japanese order completed nonetheless primary concern japanese airfield operational position company subsequently ordered maintain observation town block japanese movement number supply observation posts utilised task vickers machine guns subsequently set cover narrow approach valley company included number men possessed intimate knowledge difficult terrain area despite limited equipment supply deficiencies subsequently able provide intelligence australian high command fall company stationed west tasked observing japanese movements direction japanese slow inland party soldiers subsequently destroyed stores dump march returning japanese remained confined township following weeks focusing making airfield operational establishing workshops supply area march strength men monitored japanese bases established region allied force area arrival battalion established observation posts camps overlooking main approaches reported japanese movements shipping called planning offensive later inflicted significant casualties japanese series raids led believe faced larger opposing force following bombing port early february civil administration replaced military control australian new guinea administrative unit formed administer new_guinea unified military government following amalgamation regardless remained allied unit operating north coast period subsequently assisted evacuation european civilians war zone flown moved ship overland port sole representative government authority assumed responsibility thousand native labourers recruited outlying districts left support unable return homes subsequently established camps fed carriers labourers enlisted support allies fighting followed japanese took march occupied later month morris finally position begin reinforcing platoon reinforcements intended 1st independent company subsequently reached port late march following loss sent bulldog track support instead edwards sent scout section find japanese late march subsequently detected japanese failed find local inhabitants facing assisting australians withdrew avoid consequences similar posts subsequently established closer observe japanese movements subsequently captured japanese april minor occurred april japanese attempted challenge presence area continued role observing japanese instructing operations undertaken orders reinforcements soon sent area april japanese fighting patrol approximately men moved challenging control area japanese subsequently discovered stores ejected small group australians guarding village fighting continued day resulted japanese killed wounded village subsequently destroyed stores detachment forced withdraw japanese returned following capture japanese inland towns major centres new_guinea allied hands battle coral sea effectively removed threat japanese invasion port force consisting 5th major supporting units tasked undertaking limited guerrilla offensive harass destroy japanese personnel equipment area designated force command major elements flew port reinforce force consisted companies split platoon 1st independent company 5th force subsequently position days later force main problem logistics supplies flown depending aircraft availability shipped mouth small craft transported river bulldog carried bulldog track native early june force largely concentrated elements 1st 5th spread far elements watching sector whilst elements covering inland routes rivers attempted forces relieve exhausted detachments orders clarified work began planning number raids area considered japanese comparison men fit operations force small meet possible japanese threats threat overland advance required defend numerous tracks threat air invasion required defend likely landing zones meaning resources achieve mission assessed course action available maintain large force defend overland route conducting number raids area order inflict casualties japanese advance concentrated areas japanese force formed obstacle large scale movement area destroy aircraft installations located test defences view larger scale operations future area destroy wireless station initial raids subsequently undertaken heath plantation led major captain 5th targeting strong japanese garrison winning planned assault following careful reconnaissance scouts early morning june members 5th carried highly successful attack killing men destroying number installations including radio station supply loss men slightly wounded addition australians captured small enemy equipment number documents including marked maps sketches japanese orders simultaneous raid carried men mainly 5th successful surprise lost warned japanese approach subsequently killed men wounded japanese losses included killed following raids japanese sent patrols men foothills destroying camp reinforcements moved garrison village reconnaissance reports indicated japanese forced draw garrison reinforce perimeter early july attempt prevent raids retaliation japanese aircraft subsequently bombed july killing number australians destroying houses buildings driving native carriers bush japanese garrison continued reinforced scouts estimating soldiers arrived raid force growing men strong patrols subsequently observed searching tracks town australians morale remained high effect continuous operations harsh terrain limited medical support took toll falling ill fever tropical disease number fit men decreased steadily july restricted force activities patrolling observation finally japanese moved defended men 5th occupying high ground overlooking village lightly equipped force japanese marines 5th special naval landing party crossing morning july approaching japanese clashed australians scattered japanese trapped river valley australians opened fire vickers machine guns lewis guns inflicting casualties including killed loss japanese subsequently forced withdraw carrying dead wounded day japanese launched simultaneous thrust 5th movement blocked japanese attempted port overland july following landing near north coast new_guinea night july japanese forces attempted advance south overland mountains seize port strategy australia united_states resulting series battles track campaign point importance operations declined direct threat posed landings limited forces supplies available australians concentrated port lieutenant general took command morris august height fighting 6th arrived port august planned send forward reinforce japanese threat port growing increasingly held reserve instead required continue hold limited resources available food getting soldiers increasingly dependent local supplies japanese air raids supply intimidation local inhabitants large scale native carriers inherent difficulty getting supplies forward feed carriers remained combined threaten stop operations altogether japanese subsequently staged landing bay eastern tip new_guinea evening august reduce allied airfields established limited resources available preventing reinforcing despite success landing force subsequently destroyed australians survivors forced evacuate sea september time continued strong progress track outnumbered australian opposition increasingly effective september japanese reached sight port following heavy defeat ordered defensive japanese subsequently began withdraw september establish defensive position north coast closely followed australians recaptured november fighting continued november december australian united_states forces assaulted japanese later known captured december january japanese subsequently began abandon january following unsuccessful australian assault day operations completed january operating continued toll australians early august bulk men forward exhausted fighting remained small group 5th relieving scouts observation role september longer unit phase irregular warfare region came close end august japanese occupied positioned seize moved strength australians subsequently forced abandon preparing hold position head bulldog track focus campaign new_guinea shifted battles august september continued man posts overlooking japanese base areas patrolling extensively allies remained concerned defence important air installation keen secure crest area consequently 7th independent company flown october reinforce anticipating attack japanese general ordered 17th brigade bay reinforce relieve january japanese launched offensive known disbandment japanese subsequently defeated january february relieving pressure following problems supply sickness reduced effectiveness broken april individual units left begin campaign drive japanese expanded activities restoring military administration organisation supply supervision native carriers supporting allied forces time believed contain men suffering ill health following months guerrilla fighting experiencing ill affects age having suffered heavy attrition reinforcements available new_guinea unit finally disbanded april time volunteer unit unique history military training knowledge new_guinea people experiences early days war surviving members remained capacities attached divisions special units continuing serve end hostilities allies moved offensive new_guinea planned bypass japanese base advance campaign small number australians assigned led force reconnaissance force japanese held island february march actions unit awarded distinguished unit citation united_states nature early campaign new_guinea fought formed unit sub units scattered forced fight independently instead men come walks life old join medically unfit employed restricted acquitted harsh terrain limited equipment support developing tactics battalion played important role period late maintaining contact japanese demonstrating native population region australians forced area provided early warning japanese troop aircraft movements succeeded preventing japanese bulldog track avenue approach port aided deployment later supported forces denied japanese vital airfields brought port effective range japanese bombers initiated organisation new labour provide vital contribution success allied campaign new_guinea records incomplete approximately men believed served unit roll honour square brisbane lists names men killed died serving unit war post war establishment years immediately following war australian_army considered establishing military presence opposition colonial administration white settlers raising native units echoing previous concerns interim measure establishment approved july forming whites reserve unit volunteers called september initial arrangements new unit begun lieutenant colonel later non commissioned officers arrived october forming small regular support administration unit assist training february small group australian officers non commissioned officers arrived assist raising unit raising unit subsequently raised new guinea volunteer rifles march recruits beginning port soon intended maintain sub units capable providing advice topography native customs personalities provision guides assistance organisation training irregular native forces unit form basis future expansion forces required limited assistance civic action projects provide detachments protect vulnerable points counter small scale raids capable border type counter operations support regular forces following training initial recruits australians served officers non commissioned officers war resident commanding officer lieutenant colonel conditions service units australia members paid counterparts recruits required complete days home training camp days year undertake additional training periods wished peace time service march small detachment assisted relief operations following eruption killed people left homeless end detachments raised port initially battalion included headquarters company strength rifle companies company based company raising locally recruited regular battalion manned indigenous personnel trained commanded australian officers non commissioned officers authorised november march reformed initial strength battalion addition responsibilities fostered raising new_guinea augment wartime units later regularly train terms territory entrusted australia decided outset unit serve outside live initial expectations remained significantly strength numbered officers ranks chief general staff decided disbanding battalion nucleus unit assessing unit achievements cent population brisbane belonged time succeeded recruiting percent white population territories problem raising unit largely scale small number eligible men recruit absence swell numbers lack suitable accommodation training facilities role initially envisioned proved overly ambitious subsequently provision officers non commissioned officers expanded wartime elements established main centres platoon subsequently formed december detachments later established rifle company later raised formed time second world war soldiers unit participated joint exercises track area exercises subsequently regular activity units detachments regularly marched queen birthday celebrations annual training program soldiers unit undertook weeks concentrated exercises training year initially arms equipment issued unit progressively improved unlike rest reorganised lines remained relatively unchanged unit expanded early 1960s additional resources available increased recruitment added establishment based port small european population rapid turnover staff local industries continued limit manpower available army preferred recruit permanent residents traders represented smaller minority order increase number personnel available arrangements allow members started training australia transferred civilian employment continue serve completed time similarly able complete training return australia battle honours won second world war awarded history unit fighting indonesia dutch reached height concerns security border grew january unit grown men white chinese personnel finally authorised unit evolving multi racial battalion large number subsequently applied join unit strength unit increased rapidly result additional platoon subsequently raised year camp subsequently built near mount integrated camp held november cost flying men proved annual camps held initially wartime facility later barracks formed ending link brisbane time officers australia began visiting gain experience operating tropical conditions group arriving october cold war growing australian concern indonesian intentions indonesia malaysia confrontation saw increasing defence resources allocated 1960s including raising second battalion process march announced reorganised battalion strength expanded men ranks receive range new weapons equipment including new heavy machine guns mortars subsequently raised port replace infantry company included mortar platoon anti tank platoon signals platoon assault pioneer platoon detachment redesignated took control platoon construction new barracks completed headquarters subsequently moved port fifth members europeans presented queen regimental colours barracks administrator sir platoon later raised april july second lieutenant detachment subsequently new commissioned disbandment relations indonesia improved vietnam war came end changing strategic circumstances saw unit establishment reduced ranks early 1970s lead independence consideration given disbanding unit unknown unit time held annual training camp august soldiers detachments country participating amid concerns ability economy fledgling nation finance large military capability need maintain type unit army independent questionable ultimately disbanded december leaving infantry unit new new guinea defence force decision unit debated army time strongly resisted felt training volunteer force considerable assistance previously available impossible independence possible effect locally recruited unit concern regional bases provided source power areas central government port queen regimental colours subsequently laid australian war memorial day battle honours awarded following battle honours second world war south west pacific commanding officers following officers commanded second world war lieutenant colonel field lieutenant colonel post war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel major lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
New Guinea Volunteer Rifles