7th Australian Infantry Division Ammunition Company
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Brief History
7th Infantry Division Ammunition Company was formed in May 1940 at Brighton in Tasmania. In October it embarked for the Middle East and in November were established at Barbara in Palestine. They moved to Qastina in February 1942 and Hill 95 in March. Although they were preparing for a move to Greece, the German advance on Egypt instead saw them reformed to make a composite company with supply and petrol elements as well before moving to Haifa to prepare for the invasion of Syria. At this time the unit was re-designated 21st Infantry Brigade Composite Company AASC. Over the next few months they moved to Tyre in Syria and then Adloun, followed by Hassaniya in July and then Beirut and Khalde where they again changed their name, this time to 4th AASC Company, 7th Infantry Division. In September they moved to Tripoli where they reverted to their original designation of 7th Infantry Division Ammunition Column the following month. In December 1941 they were in Aleppo, and in Tripoli in January 1942 where they were renamed 2/5th Company AASC before they moved to Kilo 89 in Palestine to prepare for their return to Australia, landing at Adelaide in March 1942.
Initially camped at Woodside, they moved to Casino in April, then Caboolture in May, and then D'Aguilar in June before returning to Caboolture in July. With the 7th Division being rushed to New Guinea to face the advancing Japanese, the 25th Infantry Brigade Group and the 2/5th Company AASC, comprising 352 men and 38 vehicles moved to Port Moresby and the unit then spent the next three months working along the Kokoda Trail supplying the fighting troops, with a rear party at Port Moresby. In January 1943 the HQ element was at Soputa with detachments at Ilolo, Jumbora and Papondetta. In February 1943 they returned to Port Moresby, and then Ravenshoe in Queensland.
In May 1943 a reorganisation of AASC units resulted in composite platoons joining the 2/5th Australian Company AASC which was then re-organised to form the 2/5th, 2/6th, 2/7th, 2/8th, 2/9th and 2/10th Supply Depot Platoons.
Unit Personnel
Notes
Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 5.064 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018