2/7th Battalion (Australia)

For other uses, see 7th Battalion (Australia) and 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

2/7th Battalion
250px Members of the 2/7th Battalion with a Bren Carrier in October 1940
Active	25 October 1939–? February 1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 officers and men
Part of	17th Brigade, 6th Division
Colours	Brown over Red
Engagements	World War II North African campaign Greece Crete Syrian campaign New Guinea campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch	90px

The 2/7th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised on 25 October 1939 at Puckapunyal, Victoria, it was raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during the Second World War. Attached to the 17th Brigade, 6th Division the 2/7th fought in Egypt, Libya, Greece and Crete during 1940–41 before returning to Australia to fight the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–45. The troops of the 2/7th gave themselves the nickname "Mud over Blood", after the brown over red of their insignia. After the end of the war, the battalion embarked to return to Australia on 18 December 1945 and disbanded at Puckapunyal in February 1946. For most of the war, the battalion's commanding officer was Colonel Henry Guinn, who led the 2/7th from its escape from Greece to the Pacific theatre. During the war the battalion suffered 699 casualties, of which 226 were killed.

Battle honours

• North Africa, Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, Greece 1941, Middle East 1941–1944, Crete, Canea, 42nd Street, Withdrawal to Sphakia, South-West Pacific 1942–1945, Wau, Mubo I, Bobdubi II, Komiatum, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Maprik, Yamil–Ulupu, Kaboibus–Kiarivu.

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