2/15th Battalion (Australia)

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For other uses, see 15th Battalion (Australia).
2/15th Battalion
250px
Signallers from the 2/15th Battalion prior to embarkation on the Queen Mary in Sydney, December 1940
Active 1940–46
Country Australia
Branch Australian Army
Type Infantry
Size ~800–900 personnel[Note 1]
Part of 20th Brigade, 7th Division
20th Brigade, 9th Division
Engagements World War II
Insignia
Unit Colour Patches 100px 100px

The 2/15th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during World War II. Formed in May 1940 from primarily Queensland volunteers, the battalion served in North Africa in 1941–42 as part of the 20th Brigade, which was assigned to the 7th Division, before being reassigned to the 9th Division. After completing training in Palestine, in early 1941, the 2/15th took up positions along the front line in the Western Desert, before being pushed back to Tobruk. Between April and October 1941, along with a garrison of Australian and British personnel, the battalion helped to hold the strategically important port, which had become surrounded following the landing of German troops at Tripoli. It was withdrawn by sea in late October 1941 as the 9th Division was relieved by the British 70th Division. Following its withdrawal from Tobruk, the battalion re-formed at Gaza before undertaking garrison duties in Syria. In mid-1942, the 2/15th returned to North Africa to fight in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. In early 1943, the 2/15th returned to Australia and after being re-organised and re-trained for jungle warfare, it took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–44 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946.

History

Formation

The 2/15th Battalion[Note 2] was raised at Victoria Barracks in Brisbane on 26 April 1940 from Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) volunteers. It was one of three infantry battalions assigned to the 20th Brigade, which was initially assigned to the 7th Division.[3] The battalion had an authorised strength of around 900 personnel like other Australian infantry battalions of the time,[4] and was organised into four rifle companies – designated 'A' through to 'D' – each consisting of three platoons; these were supported by a battalion headquarters and a headquarters company with six specialist platoons: signals, pioneer, anti-aircraft, transport, administrative and mortars.[5]

Upon formation, the 2/15th was placed under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Marlan, an Australian Staff Corps officer who arrived on promotion, having previously served in the First World War with the 20th Battalion.[6][7] The colours initially chosen for the battalion's Unit Colour Patch (UCP) were the same as those of the 15th Battalion, a unit which had served during the First World War before being raised as a Militia formation in 1921. These colours were brown over dark blue, in a rectangle shape, inside a gray diamond border which was added to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart; this was later changed, though, following the unit's involvement in the fighting at Tobruk, when it adopted a 'T'-shaped UCP consisting of blue and green.[8]

After the first groups of personnel began arriving at Redbank, in south-east Queensland, in the middle of May, the battalion's headquarters moved to the camp and basic training commenced in June under instructors from the Australian Instructional Corps.[7] In early July, the majority of the battalion was transported by train to Pinkenba, and from there transported to Darwin, in Australia's north, aboard the troopship HMAT Zealandia.[9] In their absence, the battalion's rear details shifted from Redbank to Grovely in September – October, returning to Redbank at the end of the month. The main body of the battalion remained in Darwin, forming part of the town's defensive garrison there, until late October 1940, when they embarked again on the Zealandia, reaching Hamilton, in Brisbane, in early November to marry up with the rear details at Redbank.[10] Further training was undertaken at Redbank at this time before the whole battalion entrained for Brisbane on Christmas Day, embarking aboard the Queen Mary bound for Sydney. There, the ship joined up with a larger convoy that was bound for the Middle East.[11]

Middle East

Sailing via Colombo, the battalion disembarked in Bombay, transferring to the Rohna for the remainder of the journey through the Suez Canal, disembarking at El Kantara, in Egypt, in February 1941. On their way to the Middle East, the 20th Brigade was reassigned to the 9th Division;[3] as part of a reorganisation of the Australian divisions in the Middle East prior to I Corps' deployment to Greece.[12] Upon their arrival in Egypt, the battalion moved to a base in Gaza dubbed Kilo 89 where they concentrated with the other two battalions of the brigade – the 2/13th and 2/17th Battalions which had arrived before them[13] – in Palestine as the 9th Division attempted to make good its equipment and training deficiencies.[14]

File:Alexander inspects the Australian 2-13th and 2-15th Battalions (AWM image 024882).jpg
Troops from the 2/13th and 2/15th Battalions on parade, August 1942

In early March 1941, the battalion entrained and moved by rail to Mersa Matruh,[13] as the 9th Division began to relieve the 6th Division along the front line in the Western Desert so that the latter could be transferred to Greece where a German invasion was expected. A few days were spent there before the battalion was moved to Tobruk. From there they were moved by road in captured Italian vehicles to Derna and on to Tochra, Benghazi, and then eventually Barce.[3] Throughout early April, the 2/15th became involved in the large-scale withdrawal that followed the landing of German forces around Tripoli as part of Axis efforts to reinforce the Italians in North Africa. The battalion subsequent fell back east along the coast towards Tobruk, during which time about 180 men, including the battalion's commanding officer, Marlan, were taken prisoner when the battalion's headquarters was surrounded by a force of 18 tanks and unsuccessfully attempted to fight their way out.[15] Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ogle later took over command of the battalion.[16] They subsequently joined the defence of Tobruk, as part of the defensive garrison that held the strategically important port after it was placed under siege by the advancing German and Italian armies. They remained there for over six months conducting patrols and raids, and holding positions around the perimeter until late October 1941 when the bulk of the 9th Division, less the 2/13th Battalion and two companies from the 2/15th, were withdrawn by sea, to be replaced by British troops from the 70th Division.[17]

The 2/15th was subsequently withdrawn back to Gaza where they stayed into the new year, before moving to Syria where they formed part of the Allied occupation force established there at the end of the Syria–Lebanon campaign. In July 1942, in the face of a heavy German onslaught that threatened to breakthrough to the Suez, the 9th Division was hurriedly moved back to North Africa. Throughout August the 2/15th subsequently held a position on the line from Hill 33 to the coast. On 1 September the 2/15th participated in the 9th Division's diversionary attack, codenamed Operation Bulimba. In heavy fighting the battalion lost about half of its fighting strength, sustaining 183 casualties.[3] During the operation Ogle's carrier struck a mine, seriously wounding him.[18] The 2/15th subsequently took part in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein, suffering heavy casualties in September during the lead up to the final assault in late October and early November 1942.[3] Among the casualties at El Alamein was the 2/15th's recently appointed replacement commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Keith Magno, who was mortally wounded by artillery fire after the battalion was heavily shelled while forming up during an attack around Trig 29 on 28 October.[19]

After this the 9th Division received orders to return to Australia, to join the other two 2nd AIF divisions, the 6th and 7th, which had returned from the Middle East earlier in 1942. A divisional parade was held in Gaza, after which the 2/15th embarked upon the transport Acquitania and sailed as part of a large convoy established as part of Operation Pamphlet as part of the final stage in the withdrawal of the 2nd AIF divisions from the Middle East, as the Australian Army's focus had shifted to operations in the Pacific theatre against the Japanese. After a journey of just over a month, the Acquitania berthed at Sydney in late February 1943.[3] During this time the battalion was under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Barham.[20]

Pacific

After disembarking, the troops received three weeks of leave during which time they were allowed to return to their home locations. The 9th Division then carried out welcome home marches across Australia, with the 2/15th taking part in the march through Brisbane. After this, the division was transported to the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland where it was converted to the jungle establishment and began training to prepare for operations against the Japanese.[21] The reorganisation saw the battalion establishment drop to around 800 men, and the loss of many vehicles and heavy equipment.[22] Lieutenant Colonel Colin Henry Grace was appointed to command the battalion in May 1943 and would do so for the rest of the war.[23]

Following training, the battalion was deployed to New Guinea, arriving in Milne Bay in early August 1943. From there, they were committed to the final stages of the Salamaua–Lae campaign in September 1943 and then the Huon Peninsula campaign from late September 1943 until March 1944. During this time, the 2/15 took part in the Landing at Lae and the subsequent advance towards the town, before undertaking an opposed amphibious landing at Scarlet Beach, the first conducted by Australians since the failed Gallipoli Campaign. This was followed by the advance on Finschhafen and then the advance to Wareo as the Australians gained control of the peninsula, forcing the Japanese north towards Sio.[3][24]

File:Australian 2-15th Infantry Bn at Limbang Borneo August 1945 (AWM image 114550).jpg
A platoon from the 2/15th lands at Limbang, Borneo, August 1945

A long period of training followed the battalion's return to Australia in early 1944, as there was a degree of uncertainty about the Australian Army's role in future operations in the Pacific after the US military assumed primary responsibility for combat operations in the theatre.[25] Nevertheless, in the final months of the war the 2/15th took part in efforts to recapture North Borneo as part of Operation Oboe Six. Staging out of Morotai Island, a detachment of the battalion landed on Muara Island on 10 June 1945 while other elements from the 2/15th were put ashore on the peninsula north of Brooketon. They subsequently advanced towards Kuching and the oil fields around Seria, before undertaking patrolling operations until the end of hostilities in August. Casualties for the 20th Brigade were light, with the 2/15th suffering just five battle casualties during their last campaign.[26][27]

After the war, the 2/15th remained on Brunei until November when it moved to Mempakul as personnel were returned to Australia in drafts based on priority of discharge. In early December, the battalion's vehicles were returned and after the appropriate clearances were received, the remaining cadre was transported to Labuan. From there, they sailed back to Australia aboard the Pachaug Victory, arriving at Brett's Wharf, in Brisbane on 19 December. The cadre moved into a camp at Chermside, where they completed unloading of stores and equipment before a short Christmas leave. Early in the new year, the final administrative tasks were completed and the last group of personnel were posted for demobilisation and discharge. Finally, the 2/15th was officially disbanded on 21 January 1946.[28]

During its service a total of 2,758 men served with the 2/15th Battalion, of whom 191 were killed or died of wounds, another 25 died on active service, 501 were wounded, and 212 were captured.[29] Members of the 2/15th received three Distinguished Service Orders, 10 Military Crosses, seven Distinguished Conduct Medals, 18 Military Medals, one British Empire Medal, 47 Mentions in Despatches and nine Commander-In-Chief Commendation Cards. In addition, four were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire.[30]

Battle honours

The 2/15th Battalion received the following battle honours:[3]

  • North Africa 1941–42, El Adem Road, Alam el Halfa, West Point 23, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Bumi River, Defence of Scarlet Beach, Nongora, Borneo, Brunei, Miri, Defence of Tobruk, The Salient 1941, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943–45, Lae-Nadzab, Liberation of Australian New Guinea and Sio.

These honours were subsequently entrusted to the 15th Battalion in 1961, a Queensland-based part-time unit that was the successor to the unit of the same designation that had been raised during World War I.[31]

Commanding officers

The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/15th:[3][32][20]

  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert Francis Marlan (1940–41);
  • Lieutenant Colonel Robert William George Ogle (1941–42);
  • Lieutenant Colonel Charles Keith Massy Magno (1942);
  • Lieutenant Colonel Raymond James Barham (1942–43);
  • Lieutenant Colonel Colin Henry Grace (1943–45).

Notes

Footnotes
  1. ↑ By the start of World War II, the authorised strength of an Australian infantry battalion was 910 men all ranks, however, later in the war it fell to 803.[1]
  2. ↑ The numerical designation of 2nd AIF units was prefixed by "2/", which was used to set them apart from Militia units with corresponding numerical designations which had no prefix.[2]
Citations
  1. ↑ Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
  2. ↑ Long 1952, p. 51.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Long 1952, p. 52.
  5. ↑ Kuring 2004, p. 494.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Wilmot 1993, p. 68.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Thompson 2010, p. 112.
  15. ↑ Wilmot 1993, p. 78.
  16. ↑ Maughan 1966, p. 88.
  17. ↑ Wilmot 1993, pp. 281–289.
  18. ↑ Maughan 1966, p. 231.
  19. ↑ Maughan 1966, p. 701.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Maughan 1966, p. 64.
  21. ↑ Coates 1999, p. 44.
  22. ↑ Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Keogh 1965, pp. 310–343.
  25. ↑ Johnston 2005, p. 14.
  26. ↑ Long 1963, p. 501.
  27. ↑ Coulthard-Clark 1998, p. 252.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Johnston 2002, p. 247.
  30. ↑ Johnston 2002, p. 253.
  31. ↑ Festberg 1972, p. 76.
  32. ↑ Johnston 2002, p. xv.

References

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Further reading

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