11th Australian Infantry Battalion (City of Perth Regiment)

Battalion HQ at Jacquinot Bay, New Britain December 1944

Brief History

A Militia unit that was raised in 1921, it was in camp when the Pacific War broke out. Concentrated at Maida Vale, as part of the 13th Infantry Brigade, their role was to counter attack any enemy landing. In April 1942 they moved to Chidlows and then in May to Moora before a brief rest and then returning to Moora in early July. In late July they moved to between Dandaragan and the ocean, manning coast watch positions until August and then again between November 1942 and January 1943 when they returned to Perth preparatory to moving to Darwin in February.

The 11th Battalion was located on the second of three rings of defence, some 52 miles (85 km) south of Darwin. In December 1943 they carried out amphibious landing training at Mindil Beach, Darwin. With the reduced threat to Darwin, troops were released to serve in New Guinea, and the 11th Battalion as part of the 13th Brigade was brought up to full strength and left Darwin for Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, in November 1944. On arrival they established their base at the Wunung Plantation. With the arrival of the 4th Infantry Brigade in January 1945, the 13th Brigade moved to the Palmalmal Plantation and then in April to the Tol Plantation where teh 11th Battalion was in reserve. They continued to patrol towards Rabaul until the Japanese surrender, and were then a part of the force that occupied Rabaul.

Battalion Personnel

• James Butler Boyd 6 Feb 1943 - 15 Apr 1945
• Leslie James Barr Donald 31 Dec 1942 - 11 Oct 1944
• John Bennett Prentice
• Herber Archibald Walton 6 Mar 1941 - 7 Dec 1945

Battle Honours

• South West Pacific 1944-45
• Liberation of Australian New Guinea

Individual Honours

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945 - pages 2.203 & 2.204 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018