2/43rd Battalion (Australia)

For other uses, see 43rd Battalion (Australia).

2/43rd Battalion
Soldiers from the 2/43rd Battalion patrolling on Labuan, June 1945
Active	1940–46
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~ 800–900 personnel
Part of	24th Brigade, 9th Division
Engagements	World War II Siege of Tobruk Second Battle of El Alamein
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch	100px 100px

The 2/43rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in July 1940 in South Australia as part of the 24th Brigade, the unit saw service in the Middle East in 1941–42, taking part in the fighting at Tobruk and El Alamein before returning to Australia early in 1943. In 1943–44, they fought in New Guinea against the Japanese. Their final campaign was in Borneo in June 1945. Following the end of the war, the battalion was disbanded in February 1946. One member of the battalion, Private Tom Starcevich, received the Victoria Cross.

Battle honours

The 2/43rd received the following battle honours:

• Beaufort, Borneo, Busu River, Defence of Alamein Line, Defence of Scarlet Beach, Defence of Tobruk, El Alamein, Finschhafen, Labuan, Pabu and Tell el Makh Khad.

These honours were subsequently entrusted to the 43rd Battalion in 1961, and through this link are maintained by the Royal South Australia Regiment.

Commanding officers

The following officers commanded the 2/43rd during the war:

• Lieutenant Colonel William Crellin;
• Lieutenant Colonel Mervyn Jeanes;
• Lieutenant Colonel Robert Joshua;
• Lieutenant Colonel Noel Simpson;
• Lieutenant Colonel William Wain.

Notes

Footnotes

Citations