Difference between revisions of "2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion"
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==Brief History== | ==Brief History== | ||
| + | Formed at Northam, WA in October 1940 to replace the 2/3rd Aust Machine Gun Battalion that had transferred from the 8th Division to the 9th Division. In Joly 1941 they moved to Woodside in South Australia, before moving again to Darwin in October where they joined the 23rd Infantry brigade Group. In Darwin they took over all the machine gun posts in forward areas. | ||
| + | In December 1941 they left Darwin for Singapore by sea, travelling via Port Moresby, Sydney and Fremantle before arriving in January 1942. There they joined the 8th Australian Infantry Division in defending the Western Area. 'D' Company was attached to the 22nd Infantry Brigade Group in the north west sector, which was to feel the brunt of the Japanese attack on 8/9 February. They inflicted heavy casualties before being forced back with the infantry units. 'B' Company was attached to the 27th Infantry Brigade Group in the Causeway Sector and was heavily engaged in the Kranji area before withdrawing. 'C' Company was with the 44th Infantry Brigade Group in the south west sector, and although not attacked initially they were forced to withdraw as the north west sector was overrun. 'A' Company was initially held back in reserve, but by 9 February were committed to the north west sector before withdrawing with the remnants of the 22nd Infantry Brigade group. 'E' Company (the unit's reinforcements) were included in a cobbled Special Reserve Battalion and they reinforced the 22nd Infantry Brigade Group after the initial Japanese breakthrough. The companies continued to be dispersed until the AIF Units withdrew to a final perimeter around Taglin Barracks before the surrender on 15 February 1942. | ||
| + | As POWs, men from the battalion were sent to camps in Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra, and Japan before the survivors were liberated in August 1945. 391 men lost their life while posted to the 2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion. | ||
===Battalion Personnel=== | ===Battalion Personnel=== | ||
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* [[William Rice Gregory]] | * [[William Rice Gregory]] | ||
* [[Edgar Joseph Howard]] | * [[Edgar Joseph Howard]] | ||
| − | * [[Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter]] | + | * † [[Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter]] |
| − | * [[Herbert Michael (Bert) Rubery]] | + | * † [[Herbert Michael (Bert) Rubery]] |
* [[Harold Edward (Tony) Saw]] | * [[Harold Edward (Tony) Saw]] | ||
* [[David Stevenson]] | * [[David Stevenson]] | ||
===Battle Honours=== | ===Battle Honours=== | ||
| − | + | * Malaya 1941-42 | |
| + | * Singapore Island | ||
===Individual Honours=== | ===Individual Honours=== | ||
| − | + | * 1 x Member of the Order of the British Empire | |
| + | * 1 x Military Cross | ||
| + | * 1 x Distinguished Conduct Medal | ||
| + | * 2 x British Empire Medals | ||
| + | * 1 x Military Medal | ||
| + | * 9 x Mentioned in Despatches | ||
====Notes==== | ====Notes==== | ||
Revision as of 20:32, 13 September 2020
 Troops from the Australian 2/4th Machine Gun Battalion travel on a truck from Alice Springs and Birdum, October 1941. |
Contents
Brief History
Formed at Northam, WA in October 1940 to replace the 2/3rd Aust Machine Gun Battalion that had transferred from the 8th Division to the 9th Division. In Joly 1941 they moved to Woodside in South Australia, before moving again to Darwin in October where they joined the 23rd Infantry brigade Group. In Darwin they took over all the machine gun posts in forward areas.
In December 1941 they left Darwin for Singapore by sea, travelling via Port Moresby, Sydney and Fremantle before arriving in January 1942. There they joined the 8th Australian Infantry Division in defending the Western Area. 'D' Company was attached to the 22nd Infantry Brigade Group in the north west sector, which was to feel the brunt of the Japanese attack on 8/9 February. They inflicted heavy casualties before being forced back with the infantry units. 'B' Company was attached to the 27th Infantry Brigade Group in the Causeway Sector and was heavily engaged in the Kranji area before withdrawing. 'C' Company was with the 44th Infantry Brigade Group in the south west sector, and although not attacked initially they were forced to withdraw as the north west sector was overrun. 'A' Company was initially held back in reserve, but by 9 February were committed to the north west sector before withdrawing with the remnants of the 22nd Infantry Brigade group. 'E' Company (the unit's reinforcements) were included in a cobbled Special Reserve Battalion and they reinforced the 22nd Infantry Brigade Group after the initial Japanese breakthrough. The companies continued to be dispersed until the AIF Units withdrew to a final perimeter around Taglin Barracks before the surrender on 15 February 1942.
As POWs, men from the battalion were sent to camps in Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra, and Japan before the survivors were liberated in August 1945. 391 men lost their life while posted to the 2/4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion.
Battalion Personnel
- James William Basell
- Ronald Hamilton Cornish
- Norman Lenard (Bob) Dunnell
- Basil Fitzgerald
- Charles William (Tiny) Gray
- William Rice Gregory
- Edgar Joseph Howard
- † Edward Johnathon (Ted) Leadbitter
- † Herbert Michael (Bert) Rubery
- Harold Edward (Tony) Saw
- David Stevenson
Battle Honours
- Malaya 1941-42
- Singapore Island
Individual Honours
- 1 x Member of the Order of the British Empire
- 1 x Military Cross
- 1 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
- 2 x British Empire Medals
- 1 x Military Medal
- 9 x Mentioned in Despatches
Notes