Dalgite Force
From Our Contribution
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Brief History
In February 1942 the AIF training camp at Northam sent a special force of about battalion strength (Dalgite Force) to reinforce the Fremantle defences. They camped at Hamilton Hill and worked under the supervision of the HQ 5th Garrison Brigade constructing defences from Naval Base north to Swanbourne. Separately a unit known as Karrinup Force (or 'K' Force) was formed at Northam in March and worked on northern beach defences. In late March the two, Karrinup and Dalgite combined to form the AIF Reinforcement Battalion, which was renamed to No. 1 Special Battalion AIF
With the return of 1st Australian Corps from the Middle East, the 4th Australian Infantry Division was released from Melbourne and moved to Western Australia, allowing the groups at Hamilton Hill and Karrinup to be reduced, such that they became the Recruit Training Battalion (No 1 Detachment) from March, before being withdrawn to Northam where it was disbanded in July.
Unit Personnel
- James Gordon (Jock) Wheeler 22 Feb - 24 Jun 1942
- Patrick William Bryant 23 Feb - 19 Jun 1942
- Frederick Joseph Powell 18 Mar - 20 Jul 1942
- Arthur Gordon Hubbard 30 Apr - 11 Dec 1942
Notes