38:
168:
326:
345:
and a large number of the battalion's personnel were killed or captured. As a result of the casualties suffered in Greece and Crete, the battalion was virtually destroyed and the 2/11th had to be rebuilt in
Palestine at the end of 1941, before joining the Allied garrison that had been established in
230:
during which the 2/11th suffered heavy losses. After being re-formed, in late 1941 the battalion was deployed to Syria to undertake garrison duties there. In early 1942, it was brought back to
Australia to help bolster the country's defences following Japanese advances in the Pacific, and it
373:
throughout April and May and into July 1945. At the conclusion of hostilities in August 1945, the battalion's personnel were sent back to
Australia for demobilisation in small groups until mid-November when the cadre received passage home. The remaining personnel of the 2/11th subsequently
259:, which was raised for service overseas at the start of the war. The majority of its personnel were recruited from Western Australia, and the battalion was the only infantry battalion of the 6th Division raised outside of New South Wales or Victoria. The colours chosen for the battalion's
350:. It was brought back to Australia in early 1942, after the Australian government decided to transfer the bulk of Australia's ground forces from the Middle East to the Pacific to meet the threat posed by Japanese forces which were advancing rapidly through the Pacific.
365:. A mopping up operation, the campaign was one of a series of patrols and advances: at the start of the campaign in January 1945, the 2/11th were assigned to an area on the eastern bank of the Danmap River and as the campaign progressed advanced south of
425:
North Africa, Bardia 1941, Capture of Tobruk, Derna, Greece 1941, Brallos Pass, Middle East 1941–1944, Crete, Retimo, Matapau, Abau–Malin, Wewak, Wirui
Mission, South-West Pacific 1942–1945, Liberation of Australian New
329:
The
Australian 2/11th Infantry Battalion regroups on the escarpment at the south side of Tobruk harbour, after penetrating the Italian outer defences and attacking anti-aircraft positions, 22 January 1941.
271:
formation in 1921. These colours were brown over light blue, in a horizontal rectangular shape, although a border of gray was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its
Militia counterpart.
381:
During the war a total of 2,939 men served with the 2/11th
Battalion which suffered 489 casualties, of whom 182 were killed. Its members received the following decorations: two
1386:
357:, a formation made up largely of soldiers from the Militia, carrying out defensive duties in Western Australia. The battalion was transferred back to the 19th Brigade in
885:
1381:
275:
With an authorised strength of around 900 personnel, like other
Australian infantry battalions of the time, the battalion was formed around a nucleus of four rifle
231:
subsequently undertook defensive duties in
Western Australia. The 2/11th did not see combat again until the final year of the war when it was committed to the
871:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. I (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
291:, which formed part of the 6th Division. The 2/11th remained in New South Wales until March when it returned to the west and subsequently departed from
310:
after the
Australian brigades were reorganised into "triangular" three battalion formations. In early January 1941, the 2/11th saw action during the
1391:
1376:
402:
1396:
406:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
904:
958:
898:
813:
791:
769:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
539:
939:
852:
435:
256:
199:
975:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1269:
1264:
1259:
1247:
1242:
1237:
1212:
1207:
1202:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1133:
1128:
1123:
1111:
1106:
1101:
1089:
1084:
292:
1079:
1049:
1044:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1010:
1005:
1000:
390:
382:
431:
370:
347:
264:
244:
20:
801:
362:
232:
37:
306:
further training was undertaken there and in Palestine. The battalion was later re-allocated to the
1276:
1254:
1232:
1224:
1197:
1175:
1153:
1145:
1118:
1096:
1074:
1066:
1039:
1017:
995:
987:
307:
288:
252:
207:
99:
95:
884:
Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey (eds.).
398:
354:
315:
276:
268:
464:
319:
314:, fighting against Italian forces in Libya. Further actions followed later in the month around
284:
137:
122:
147:
709:
823:
8:
142:
932:
Battalion into Battle: The History of the 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion 1939–1945
342:
283:. After completing rudimentary training at Northam in November, the battalion moved to
964:
954:
935:
894:
872:
848:
831:
809:
787:
765:
341:
the following month. On Crete, the battalion was heavily engaged while attempting to
260:
248:
203:
161:
454:
334:
311:
223:
222:
in early January 1941, and this was followed by further actions in Libya, and then
219:
127:
866:
338:
227:
211:
191:
132:
67:
980:
394:
386:
198:. Raised shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, the 2/11th was formed from
167:
893:. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–102.
806:
The Proud 6th: An Illustrated History of the 6th Australian Division 1939–1945
731:
683:
657:
1370:
968:
531:
418:
42:
Members of the 2/11th Battalion resting near the Danmap River in January 1945
876:
835:
779:
195:
117:
375:
333:
In April 1941, the battalion fought a brief and unsuccessful campaign in
296:
215:
862:
358:
786:(3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
279: – designated 'A' through to 'D' – each consisting of three
267:, a unit which had served during World War I before being raised as a
847:. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications.
325:
187:
353:
After landing in Adelaide in March, the 2/11th was attached to the
287:, where it was concentrated with the other three battalions of the
184:
77:
280:
401:. In addition, one member of the battalion was appointed as an
251:, on 13 October 1939, the 2/11th Battalion formed part of the
366:
303:
210:, the 2/11th completed its training in Western Australia and
16:
Infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II
845:
Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001
981:
Infantry formations of the Second Australian Imperial Force
626:
808:. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
602:
499:
497:
446:
The following officers commanded the 2/11th Battalion:
202:
volunteers who were recruited mainly from the state of
732:"NX121 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Hercules Green, DSO"
638:
614:
578:
378:
where the battalion was disbanded on 7 December 1945.
887:
The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944
434:
in 1961, and through this link are maintained by the
1387:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
566:
494:
361:
in July 1943, and in late 1944 was committed to the
482:
554:
1382:Military units and formations established in 1939
590:
430:These honours were subsequently entrusted to the
1368:
953:. Carlton North, Victoria: Scribe Publications.
322:, and then around Benghazi the following month.
934:. Welshpool, Western Australia: Quality Press.
830:. Melbourne, Victoria: Grayflower Productions.
235:. It was disbanded after the war in late 1945.
951:Forgotten Anzacs: The Campaign in Greece, 1941
460:Lieutenant Colonel Hector Binks (1943–1945);
450:Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Louch (1939–1941);
764:. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing.
684:"WX5 Colonel Raymond Ladais Sandover, DSO"
407:Members of the Order of the British Empire
403:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
36:
800:
759:
644:
632:
620:
572:
324:
883:
503:
1369:
842:
488:
441:
346:Syria following the conclusion of the
218:in 1940. Its first action came around
51:13 October 1939 – 7 December 1945
979:
929:
822:
608:
526:
524:
522:
520:
518:
516:
514:
512:
948:
861:
778:
596:
584:
560:
542:from the original on 1 December 2008
263:(UCP) were the same as those of the
1392:1945 disestablishments in Australia
13:
1377:Australian World War II battalions
923:
762:The Lineage of the Australian Army
509:
417:The 2/11th received the following
14:
1408:
536:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
412:
1397:1939 establishments in Australia
436:Royal Western Australia Regiment
421:for its involvement in the war:
257:Second Australian Imperial Force
200:Second Australian Imperial Force
166:
784:A Military History of Australia
753:
724:
702:
676:
650:
828:The South West Pacific 1941–45
1:
658:"WX2 Thomas Steane Louch, MC"
471:
405:, and three were invested as
476:
391:Distinguished Conduct Medals
383:Distinguished Service Orders
7:
538:. Australian War Memorial.
10:
1413:
371:Prince Alexander Mountains
238:
21:11th Battalion (Australia)
18:
1333:
1302:
1223:
1144:
1065:
986:
760:Festberg, Alfred (1972).
738:. Australian War Memorial
690:. Australian War Memorial
664:. Australian War Memorial
194:which saw service during
160:
155:
113:
105:
91:
87:~800–900 officers and men
83:
73:
63:
55:
47:
35:
30:
214:before deploying to the
1303:Machine Gun Battalions
399:Mentions in Despatches
348:Syria–Lebanon Campaign
343:defend Retimo airfield
330:
285:Greta, New South Wales
123:North African campaign
363:Aitape–Wewak campaign
328:
255:of the all volunteer
233:Aitape–Wewak campaign
148:Aitape–Wewak campaign
109:Brown over light blue
1325:2/4th Machine Gun Bn
1320:2/3rd Machine Gun Bn
1315:2/2nd Machine Gun Bn
1310:2/1st Machine Gun Bn
949:Ewer, Peter (2008).
843:Kuring, Ian (2004).
19:For other uses, see
930:Olson, Wes (2011).
611:, pp. 400–408.
587:, pp. 321–323.
463:Lieutenant Colonel
453:Lieutenant Colonel
442:Commanding officers
143:New Guinea campaign
1334:Pioneer Battalions
712:. Orders of Battle
532:"2/11th Battalion"
369:, moving into the
331:
302:After arriving in
206:. Assigned to the
1364:
1363:
960:978-1-921215-29-2
900:978-0-646-43590-9
815:978-0-521-51411-8
793:978-0-521-69791-0
771:978-0-85887-024-6
635:, pp. 70–71.
261:unit colour patch
249:Western Australia
204:Western Australia
174:
173:
162:Unit colour patch
1404:
1356:2/4th Pioneer Bn
1351:2/3rd Pioneer Bn
1346:2/2nd Pioneer Bn
1341:2/1st Pioneer Bn
977:
976:
972:
945:
919:
917:
915:
910:on 14 April 2018
909:
903:. Archived from
892:
880:
858:
839:
819:
797:
775:
748:
747:
745:
743:
728:
722:
721:
719:
717:
706:
700:
699:
697:
695:
680:
674:
673:
671:
669:
654:
648:
642:
636:
630:
624:
618:
612:
606:
600:
594:
588:
582:
576:
570:
564:
558:
552:
551:
549:
547:
528:
507:
501:
492:
486:
455:Raymond Sandover
387:Military Crosses
374:concentrated at
312:Battle of Bardia
295:, bound for the
181:2/11th Battalion
170:
40:
31:2/11th Battalion
28:
27:
1412:
1411:
1407:
1406:
1405:
1403:
1402:
1401:
1367:
1366:
1365:
1360:
1329:
1298:
1219:
1140:
1061:
982:
961:
942:
926:
924:Further reading
913:
911:
907:
901:
890:
855:
816:
794:
772:
756:
751:
741:
739:
730:
729:
725:
715:
713:
708:
707:
703:
693:
691:
682:
681:
677:
667:
665:
656:
655:
651:
643:
639:
631:
627:
619:
615:
607:
603:
595:
591:
583:
579:
571:
567:
559:
555:
545:
543:
530:
529:
510:
502:
495:
487:
483:
479:
474:
444:
415:
395:Military Medals
241:
212:New South Wales
192:Australian Army
177:
138:Syrian campaign
43:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1410:
1400:
1399:
1394:
1389:
1384:
1379:
1362:
1361:
1359:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1343:
1337:
1335:
1331:
1330:
1328:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1306:
1304:
1300:
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1297:
1296:
1295:
1294:
1289:
1284:
1274:
1273:
1272:
1267:
1262:
1252:
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1139:
1138:
1137:
1136:
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1126:
1116:
1115:
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1104:
1094:
1093:
1092:
1087:
1082:
1071:
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1063:
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1059:
1058:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1037:
1036:
1035:
1030:
1025:
1015:
1014:
1013:
1008:
1003:
992:
990:
984:
983:
974:
973:
959:
946:
940:
925:
922:
921:
920:
899:
881:
859:
853:
840:
824:Keogh, Eustace
820:
814:
802:Johnston, Mark
798:
792:
776:
770:
755:
752:
750:
749:
723:
701:
675:
649:
637:
625:
623:, p. 242.
613:
601:
589:
577:
565:
563:, p. 146.
553:
508:
493:
480:
478:
475:
473:
470:
469:
468:
461:
458:
451:
443:
440:
432:11th Battalion
428:
427:
419:battle honours
414:
413:Battle honours
411:
337:, and then on
265:11th Battalion
240:
237:
175:
172:
171:
164:
158:
157:
153:
152:
151:
150:
145:
140:
135:
130:
125:
115:
111:
110:
107:
103:
102:
93:
89:
88:
85:
81:
80:
75:
71:
70:
65:
61:
60:
57:
53:
52:
49:
45:
44:
41:
33:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1409:
1398:
1395:
1393:
1390:
1388:
1385:
1383:
1380:
1378:
1375:
1374:
1372:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1342:
1339:
1338:
1336:
1332:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1305:
1301:
1293:
1290:
1288:
1285:
1283:
1280:
1279:
1278:
1275:
1271:
1268:
1266:
1263:
1261:
1258:
1257:
1256:
1253:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1235:
1234:
1231:
1230:
1228:
1226:
1222:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1199:
1196:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1178:
1177:
1174:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1160:
1157:
1156:
1155:
1152:
1151:
1149:
1147:
1143:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1099:
1098:
1095:
1091:
1088:
1086:
1083:
1081:
1078:
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1076:
1073:
1072:
1070:
1068:
1064:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1031:
1029:
1026:
1024:
1021:
1020:
1019:
1016:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
998:
997:
994:
993:
991:
989:
985:
978:
970:
966:
962:
956:
952:
947:
943:
941:9780646563633
937:
933:
928:
927:
906:
902:
896:
889:
888:
882:
878:
874:
870:
869:
864:
860:
856:
854:1-876439-99-8
850:
846:
841:
837:
833:
829:
825:
821:
817:
811:
807:
803:
799:
795:
789:
785:
781:
780:Grey, Jeffrey
777:
773:
767:
763:
758:
757:
737:
733:
727:
711:
705:
689:
685:
679:
663:
659:
653:
647:, p. 32.
646:
645:Festberg 1972
641:
634:
633:Festberg 1972
629:
622:
621:Johnston 2008
617:
610:
605:
599:, p. 52.
598:
593:
586:
581:
574:
573:Johnston 2008
569:
562:
557:
541:
537:
533:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
506:, p. 94.
505:
500:
498:
491:, p. 47.
490:
485:
481:
466:
465:Charles Green
462:
459:
456:
452:
449:
448:
447:
439:
437:
433:
424:
423:
422:
420:
410:
408:
404:
400:
396:
392:
388:
384:
379:
377:
372:
368:
364:
360:
356:
351:
349:
344:
340:
336:
327:
323:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
300:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
278:
273:
270:
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
236:
234:
229:
225:
221:
217:
213:
209:
205:
201:
197:
193:
189:
186:
182:
176:Military unit
169:
165:
163:
159:
154:
149:
146:
144:
141:
139:
136:
134:
131:
129:
126:
124:
121:
120:
119:
116:
112:
108:
104:
101:
97:
94:
90:
86:
82:
79:
76:
72:
69:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
1225:9th Division
1146:8th Division
1067:7th Division
1054:
988:6th Division
950:
931:
912:. Retrieved
905:the original
886:
867:
844:
827:
805:
783:
761:
754:Bibliography
740:. Retrieved
735:
726:
714:. Retrieved
704:
692:. Retrieved
687:
678:
666:. Retrieved
661:
652:
640:
628:
616:
604:
592:
580:
575:, p. 9.
568:
556:
544:. Retrieved
535:
504:Palazzo 2004
484:
457:(1941–1943);
445:
429:
416:
380:
352:
332:
308:19th Brigade
301:
289:18th Brigade
274:
253:6th Division
242:
208:6th Division
196:World War II
180:
178:
118:World War II
100:6th Division
96:19th Brigade
92:Part of
25:
868:To Benghazi
863:Long, Gavin
489:Kuring 2004
376:Puckapunyal
355:2nd Brigade
297:Middle East
216:Middle East
114:Engagements
1371:Categories
710:"HM Binks"
609:Keogh 1965
472:References
359:Queensland
243:Raised at
1292:2/48th Bn
1287:2/24th Bn
1282:2/23rd Bn
1270:2/43rd Bn
1265:2/32nd Bn
1260:2/28th Bn
1248:2/17th Bn
1243:2/15th Bn
1238:2/13th Bn
1213:2/30th Bn
1208:2/29th Bn
1203:2/26th Bn
1191:2/40th Bn
1186:2/22nd Bn
1181:2/21st Bn
1169:2/20th Bn
1164:2/19th Bn
1159:2/18th Bn
1134:2/33rd Bn
1129:2/31st Bn
1124:2/25th Bn
1112:2/27th Bn
1107:2/16th Bn
1102:2/14th Bn
1090:2/12th Bn
1085:2/10th Bn
1055:2/11th Bn
969:457093199
742:7 October
716:7 October
694:7 October
668:7 October
597:Long 1952
585:Long 1952
561:Grey 2008
546:16 August
477:Citations
293:Fremantle
277:companies
188:battalion
59:Australia
1277:26th Bde
1255:24th Bde
1233:20th Bde
1198:27th Bde
1176:23rd Bde
1154:22nd Bde
1119:25th Bde
1097:21st Bde
1080:2/9th Bn
1075:18th Bde
1050:2/8th Bn
1045:2/4th Bn
1040:19th Bde
1033:2/7th Bn
1028:2/6th Bn
1023:2/5th Bn
1018:17th Bde
1011:2/3rd Bn
1006:2/2nd Bn
1001:2/1st Bn
996:16th Bde
877:18400892
865:(1952).
826:(1965).
804:(2008).
782:(2008).
540:Archived
281:platoons
185:infantry
156:Insignia
78:Infantry
914:20 July
836:7185705
467:(1945).
426:Guinea.
397:and 66
389:, four
269:Militia
245:Northam
239:History
226:and on
190:of the
183:was an
106:Colours
56:Country
967:
957:
938:
897:
875:
851:
834:
812:
790:
768:
736:People
688:People
662:People
385:, six
335:Greece
316:Tobruk
224:Greece
220:Bardia
128:Greece
64:Branch
48:Active
908:(PDF)
891:(PDF)
393:, 20
367:Wewak
339:Crete
320:Derna
304:Egypt
228:Crete
133:Crete
965:OCLC
955:ISBN
936:ISBN
916:2017
895:ISBN
873:OCLC
849:ISBN
832:OCLC
810:ISBN
788:ISBN
766:ISBN
744:2014
718:2014
696:2014
670:2014
548:2009
318:and
179:The
84:Size
74:Type
68:Army
1373::
963:.
734:.
686:.
660:.
534:.
511:^
496:^
438:.
409:.
299:.
247:,
98:,
971:.
944:.
918:.
879:.
857:.
838:.
818:.
796:.
774:.
746:.
720:.
698:.
672:.
550:.
23:.
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