6th battalion australia 6th battalion infantry battalion australian_army served second world war raised october volunteer battalion formed troops raised australia war departing australia early 6th deployed middle_east january took action war australian ground forces followed actions later 6th dispatched involvement campaign short evacuated members battalion subsequently fought crete composite 17th brigade battalion battalion formed palestine sent syria formed allied occupation force established aftermath syria lebanon campaign battalion withdrawn middle_east help face threat posed japanese pacific period garrison duty undertaken ceylon march july arrived australia august following 6th deployed new_guinea january fighting advancing campaign withdrawn rest september subsequently action later war committed campaign late 6th remained new_guinea end war disbanded february returning previous december history formation training 6th battalion raised royal melbourne october volunteer raised overseas service start war battalion motto adopted popular advertising slogan time words colours chosen battalion unit colour patch unit served world war raised militia formation colours purple red horizontal rectangular shape border gray added distinguish battalion militia counterpart early november started concentration battalion consisting stage small force officers non commissioned officers drawn mainly militia units including 14th 23rd 21st 29th 46th battalions moved received number drafts recruits brought strength authorised strength personnel like australian infantry battalions time battalion formed nucleus rifle companies designated consisting short period rudimentary training followed members completed april month battalion command lieutenant colonel world war veteran previously commanded 23rd 21st battalion embarked middle_east transport ship departing sailing suez_canal time attached 17th brigade assigned 6th division recruited victoria times battalion composition boosted recruits states 17th consisted 5th 7th 8th battalions middle_east greece crete arrival mid battalion established completed training locations palestine egypt early january 6th division committed fighting libya 6th took action war australian ground forces fought italian forces battalion involvement battle meant limited creating diversion main attack end proved costly resulting killed wounded followed actions later month attacking road harbour 6th division assault 6th transported miles west continued advance late january advancing company clashed briefly italians regiment capturing february 6th detached personnel garrison towns moving received new equipment late march casualties period dead wounded early april 6th division dispatched greece fought brief campaign following german invasion country middle month overwhelmed allied forces forced course weeks 6th took desperate rearguard actions battalion lost men killed wounded finally evacuated sea end month amidst confusion large battalion personnel personnel ranks captured landed crete instead alexandria egypt ship sailing costa_rica sunk crete officers ranks 6th organised 17th brigade composite battalion men brigade battalions 7th subsequently fought unsuccessfully german invasion came prisoners war battalion losses greece crete heavy totaling dead wounded captured result 6th formed palestine brought strength reinforcements dispatched syria december join allied garrison established occupation force conclusion syria lebanon campaign french early australian government decided bring australia help bolster defences following japan entry war consequently march battalion embarked transport bound australia ceylon new_guinea way home battalion 16th brigade rest 17th brigade landed ceylon perceived threat japanese invasion battalion remained months constructing defences conducting jungle training locations including threat invasion passed battalion eventually returned melbourne transport arriving early august height fighting track period reorganisation training followed battalion prepared jungle warfare battalion concentrated road camp central victoria initially late september moved new south wales october period intense training 6th moved brisbane october embarked dutch merchant ship bound bay campaigns japanese arriving bay 17th brigade held reserve october remained january battalion embarked smaller coastal vessels moved january battalion time bay suffered heavily malaria men hospital time battalion deployed consequently severely time went battle late january battalion heavily involved battle took advance fought key actions including fighting late june supporting landing july taking fighting august fighting battalion sustained casualties dead wounded late september 6th withdrawn australia rest sailing dutch transport landing spent year training queensland prior final campaign war campaign arriving december 6th spent remainder war period months carrying campaign clear japanese surrounding areas conducting series patrols advances advancing early stages campaign helping capture town miles west clearing series jungle ridges process continuing drive inland effort pin japanese forces 7th battalion conducted wide sweep losses campaign numbered dead wounded war came end mid august following japan surrender wake atomic bombings hiroshima nagasaki conclusion fighting 6th remained new_guinea concentrating area battalion strength slowly reduced personnel repatriated australia individually based formal points system december battalion remaining personnel sailed australia eventually returning battalion personnel slowly transferred units strength decreased rapidly finally disbanded february personnel discharged transferred units service war total men served battalion killed wounded members battalion received following decorations distinguished service orders military crosses distinguished conduct medals military medals mentions despatches battle honours 6th received following battle honours north_africa greece south west pacific liberation australian new_guinea honours subsequently entrusted link maintained commanding officers following officers commanded 6th war lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel lieutenant colonel
2/6th Battalion (Australia)