2/5th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Borneo campaign 1945 and disbandment
Other Military Medal recipients were Sergeant Walter Hulcup, and Privates Charles Beitz and Thomas Robertson, while Lieutenant (later Captain) William Chaffey received the American Bronze Star Medal, and Sergeants Richard Osborne McLaughlin and William O'Neill the Distinguished Conduct Medal. The squadron's Medical Officer, Captain Raymond Allsopp, was awarded a Mention in Despatches for providing life saving medical attention during an ambush at Balikpapan in July 1945. This award was upgraded to a Star of Gallantry in 2017, following a review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal.


2/5th Field Regiment
The 2/5th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed in May 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during World War II. Assigned to the 7th Division, the regiment undertook defensive duties in Egypt during the North African campaign in early 1941, before taking part in the Syria–Lebanon campaign. Occupation duties followed before the regiment was brought back to Australia in early 1942, in response to Japan's entry into the war.


2/5th Field Regiment
The regiment subsequently fought two significant battles in New Guinea in 1942–1943 at Milne Bay and Buna before undertaking garrison duties around Port Moresby until early 1944. Withdrawn to Australia, the regiment's final campaign came late in the war when it was committed to the Borneo campaign, taking part landing at Balikpapan. The regiment was disbanded in early 1946.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
The  2/5th Field Regiment was formed in May 1940, as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force. The regiment's numerical designation had previously been used to form the "2/5th Army Field Regiment" in November 1939, but this unit had subsequently been redesignated as the "2/5th Anti-Tank Regiment", and then the "2/1st Anti -Tank Regiment" in January and February 1940. The newly raised regiment came into being at Ingleburn, New South Wales, and at the outset consisted of two batteries: the 9th and 10th. Most of the regiment's personnel came from Queensland, although one battery was recruited from Tasmania.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
The regiment's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Horace Strutt. Assigned to the 7th Division, the regiment's personnel completed training at Bathurst, New South Wales, before departing for the Middle East in October 1940. Concentrating in Palestine, the regiment was only partially equipped. It continued its training throughout early 1941 while it waited for the remainder of its equipment and in early 1941 received orders to deploy to Greece; however, they were diverted to Ikingi Maryut, in Egypt, before moving into defensive positions around Mersa Matruh.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
In June 1941, the regiment was committed to the Syria–Lebanon campaign, fighting against Vichy French forces. Equipped with sixteen 25-pounder field guns, the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel  John O'Brien, who was one of the youngest commanders in the 2nd AIF at the time. Initially, the regiment was placed into reserve, located around Er Rama, although the 9th Battery was detached to support the 5th Indian Brigade, seeing action around El Kuneitra. Following this, the regiment supported the capture of Merdjayoun, along with the 2/6th Field Regiment.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
After this, the 10th Battery remained around Merdjayoun, while the rest of the regiment was assigned to support the 25th Brigade as it attacked Jezzine. After a French counter-attack recaptured Merdjayoun, the 2/5th supported Berryforce, the ad hoc force established to retake it. Later, they supported the British 23rd Infantry Brigade, until July when the regiment moved to the coastal sector and supported the advance on Damour and Beirut, assigned to the 17th Brigade, which had been detached from the 6th Division. For his actions during the fighting around Merdjayoun and Damour, one member of the regiment, Lieutenant Roden Cutler, received the Victoria Cross.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
The campaign concluded in mid-July with an armistice, after which the regiment undertook occupation duties for the remainder of 1941. During this time, the 2/5th detached one battery to Latakia, to provide support to forces guarding the Turkish border, while the remainder of the regiment occupied the Tripoli fortress. A third battery was raised within the regiment during this time, designated as the 55th Battery. With Japan's entry into the war in late 1941, the Australian government sought to bring troops from the 6th and 7th Divisions back to Australia to meet the threat in early 1942.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
Consequently, the 2/5th Field Regiment moved to Palestine in January prior to embarking the following month. Landing in Adelaide in March, the regiment moved overland to Queensland, reaching Kilcoy in May. There, the regiment concentrated with the 18th Brigade, which was tasked with defensive duties in the event of a Japanese invasion north of Brisbane.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
In August 1942, the regiment's first battery, the 9th, deployed to Milne Bay in support of the 18th Brigade, as Japanese forces advanced along the Kokoda Track towards Port Moresby. They subsequently took part in the Battle of Milne Bay, while the rest of the regiment was preparing for deployment around Woodford, arriving in October. The 55th Battery subsequently took part in the capture of Buna, being moved by sea from Oro Bay aboard several luggers. During the move, the vessels were attacked and two guns were lost, as well as several personnel killed.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
They subsequently supported the 18th Brigade and US 32nd Infantry Division. Meanwhile, the 10th Battery undertook defensive duties around Porlock Harbour and on Goodenough Island. The regiment's batteries were progressively relieved between February and April 1943, after which it concentrated around Port Moresby, remaining there until January 1944, when they returned to Brisbane having spent the remainder of its time in New Guinea carrying out garrison duties.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
A period of leave followed for the regiment's personnel, after which they rejoined the unit at Warwick, Queensland, before moving to Strathpine, where they joined the rest of the 7th Division's artillery. By this stage in the war there were limited combat opportunities for Australian forces around this time, as US forces had  taken over as the main combat force in the Pacific. As a result, a long period of training followed, while Australian troops waited for a new operation. In August, the regiment moved to the Atherton Tablelands, where further training was carried out.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
Finally, late in the war, the 7th Division was assigned a role in the recapture of  Borneo, specifically the landing at Balikpapan. Within this effort, the 2/5th was allocated to support the 21st Brigade. Arriving at Morotai Island in June 1945, the 9th Battery led the regiment ashore in the first wave on 1 July, along with regimental headquarters, which temporarily commanded the divisional fire support assets until the divisional headquarters could land. After the remainder of the regiment arrived, they provided support to the 21st Brigade as advanced to capture the Manggar airstrip. Major combat operations were concluded by 22 July. After this, the regiment sent out patrols, assisting the infantry with local security operations.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
Following the war, the regiment's personnel were demobilised and returned to Australia in drafts based on priority. Most of these personnel arrived in Australia before Christmas 1945; while they waited they were kept occupied with vocational education and training, as well as sport and recreational activities. In January 1946, the regiment's remaining cadre, amounting to 48 men, embarked from Balikpapan after transferring their guns to Dutch East Indies forces, and returned to Australia for disbandment. These personnel reached Brisbane in early February when the regiment ceased to exist.


2/5th Field Regiment, History
Casualties amongst the regiment's personnel totalled 21 dead from all causes: 15 killed in action, five died of wounds, and one accidentally killed. In addition, 23 members were wounded in action. Members of the regiment received the following awards: one Victoria Cross, four Distinguished Service Orders, one Military Cross, seven Military Medals, one British Empire Medal and 25 Mentions in Despatches.


2/5th Field Regiment, Commanders
The following officers commanded the 2/5th Field Regiment during the war:


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia)
The 2/6th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Raised in 1941 the Regiment took part in the Battle of Buna–Gona in 1942–43, however, it did not see further action during the war and was disbanded in September 1945.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
The 2/6th Armoured Regiment was formed in August 1941 as part of the 1st Armoured Brigade of the 1st Armoured Division. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C.R Hodgson, the regiment recruited mainly from the state of New South Wales. It was initially located at Greta, New South Wales, and was equipped with Universal Carriers for training purposes, due to the shortage of other armoured vehicles. Following the outbreak of the Pacific War in December 1941, the regiment was deployed to defend Coffs Harbour against a feared Japanese attack.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
In May 1942 the 2/6th Armoured Regiment was moved to Singleton, New South Wales, and was equipped with M3 Stuart light tanks. Later they moved to Narrabri, New South Wales, where they took part in large-scale divisional exercises with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
In September 1942, the regiment's 'A' Squadron was deployed to Port Moresby in New Guinea, making the 2/6th the first Australian armoured regiment to be deployed to an operational area in the Pacific theatre. Subsequently, the regimental headquarters and 'C' Squadron were also deployed to Port Moresby, while 'B' Squadron was deployed to Milne Bay in November 1942. During December 1942, 'B' and 'C' Squadrons were shipped to Buna on the north coast of Papua to help break the deadlock in the Battle of Buna–Gona.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
Although the lightly armoured Stuart tanks proved to be unsuited to jungle warfare and suffered heavy casualties, the regiment played an important role in the eventual Australian victory at Buna. In December, seven tanks were dispatched to take part in the fighting around Cape Endaiadere. Three Stuarts were lost on 18 December, while the other four were knocked out on 24 December when they were engaged by Japanese anti-aircraft artillery from point blank range. Reinforcements were brought up, though, and an attack was put in at Giropa Point on 29 December, although difficult terrain prevented a link up with the infantry. Further attacks occurred in January 1943 around the Sananada Track.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
In April 1943 the regiment was relieved and returned to Australia. Upon its return to Australia the 2/6th Armoured Regiment was incorporated into the 4th Armoured Brigade, which was the Australian Army's specialist jungle armoured formation. The regiment was transferred to the 1st Armoured Brigade Group in Western Australia in early 1943, however, and did not see further combat. After the 1st Armoured Brigade Group was disbanded in September 1944 due to manpower shortages and the decreasing strategic need for armour, the regiment operated as an independent formation until it rejoined the 4th Armoured Brigade in July 1945.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
Following the end of hostilities, the 2/6th Armoured Regiment was disbanded in February 1946. During the course of its service it lost 15 men killed in action or died on active service, while members of the regiment received the following awards: one Military Cross, one Military Medal and seven Mention in Despatches.


2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia), Battle honours
For its service during World War II the 2/6th Armoured Regiment received three battle honours, these were:


2/6th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/6th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. Raised in October 1939 as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the battalion formed part of the 6th Division and was among the first troops raised by Australia during the war. Departing Australia in early 1940, the 2/6th were deployed to the Middle East where in January 1941, it took part in the first action of the war by Australian ground forces, the Battle of Bardia, which was followed by further actions around Tobruk.


2/6th Battalion (Australia)
Later, the 2/6th were dispatched to take part in the Battle of Greece, although their involvement in the campaign was short before they were evacuated. Some members of the battalion also subsequently fought on Crete with a composite 17th Brigade battalion, and afterwards the battalion had to be re-formed in Palestine before being sent to Syria in 1941–42, where they formed part of the Allied occupation force that was established there in the aftermath of the Syria–Lebanon campaign.


2/6th Battalion (Australia)
In mid-1942, the battalion was withdrawn from the Middle East to help face the threat posed by the Japanese in the Pacific. A period of garrison duty was undertaken in Ceylon between March and July 1942, before they arrived back in Australia in August 1942. Following this, the 2/6th deployed to New Guinea in January 1943, fighting around Wau and then advancing towards Salamaua during the Salamaua–Lae campaign.


2/6th Battalion (Australia)
They were withdrawn to the Atherton Tablelands for rest in September 1943 and subsequently did not see action again until later in the war, when they were committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign in late 1944. The 2/6th remained in New Guinea until the end of the war, and was disbanded in February 1946, after returning to Puckapunyal the previous December.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
The 2/6th Battalion was raised at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on 25 October 1939, as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, which was raised for overseas service at the start of the war. The battalion's motto was "Nothing over us", which it adopted due to a popular Coles advertising slogan of the time which used the words "Nothing over 2/6". The colours chosen for the battalion's unit colour patch (UCP) were the same as those of the 6th Battalion, a unit which had served during World War I before being raised as a Militia formation in 1921. These colours were purple over red, in a horizontal rectangular shape, although a border of gray was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
In early November, after it had started concentration, the battalion – consisting at that stage of just a small cadre force of officers and non-commissioned officers drawn mainly from several Militia units including the 14th, the 23rd/21st, the 29th, and the 46th Battalions – was moved to Puckapunyal, Victoria. While there, it received a number of drafts of recruits and was brought up to strength. 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 companies – designated 'A' through to 'D' – each consisting of three platoons.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
A short period of rudimentary training followed under the tutelage of members of the Australian Instructional Corps. This was completed by April 1940, and that month the battalion – under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Godfrey, a First World War veteran who had previously commanded the 23rd/21st Battalion – embarked for the Middle East on the transport ship Neuralia, departing from Port Melbourne and sailing via Fremantle, Colombo, Aden and the Suez Canal. At this time it was attached to the 17th Brigade, which was assigned to the 6th Division. Recruited from Victoria – although at various times the battalion's composition was boosted by recruits from other states – the 17th also consisted of the 2/5th, 2/7th and 2/8th Battalions.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Middle East, Greece and Crete
Upon their arrival in mid-May, the battalion established itself around Beit Jirja, and completed its training at various locations in Palestine and Egypt. In early January 1941, the 6th Division was committed to the fighting in Libya, and the 2/6th took part in the first action of the war by Australian ground forces, the Battle of Bardia, during which they fought against Italian forces. The battalion's involvement in the battle was meant to be limited to creating a diversion for the main attack, but in the end proved to be its most costly, resulting in 22 killed and 51 wounded.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Middle East, Greece and Crete
This was followed by further actions around Tobruk later in the month, attacking across the Bardia–Tobruk road towards the harbour through Wadi ed Delia during the 6th Division's assault. Afterwards, the 2/6th was transported to El Gazala, 45 miles (72 km) west of Torbuk, where they continued the advance to Derna and beyond in late January, advancing on a two-company front during which they clashed briefly with Italians from the 86th Regiment, capturing over 400. In February, the 2/6th detached personnel to garrison the towns of Barce and Benghazi before moving to Mersa Matruh, where they received new equipment, in late March 1941. Casualties during this period were 24 dead and 75 wounded.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Middle East, Greece and Crete
In early April 1941, the 6th Division was dispatched to Greece, where they fought a very brief campaign following the German invasion of that country in the middle of the month. Overwhelmed, the Allied forces were forced back over the course of several weeks during which the 2/6th took part in several desperate rearguard actions and withdrawals during which the battalion lost 28 men killed and 43 wounded.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Middle East, Greece and Crete
Finally, they were evacuated by sea at the end of the month, but amidst the confusion a large of the battalion's personnel – 217 personnel from all ranks – were captured, while others were landed on Crete, instead of Alexandria in Egypt, after the ship on which they were sailing, the Costa Rica, was sunk. On Crete, 13 officers and 202 other ranks from the 2/6th were organised into a 17th Brigade composite battalion along with men from the brigade's other battalions less the 2/7th. They subsequently fought unsuccessfully to repulse the German invasion that came in May, after which many more became prisoners of war.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Middle East, Greece and Crete
The battalion's losses in Greece and Crete were heavy, totaling 30 dead, 54 wounded and 353 captured. As a result, the 2/6th had to be re-formed in Palestine and brought back up to strength with reinforcements before it was dispatched Syria in December 1941, to join the Allied garrison that had been established there as occupation force at the conclusion of the Syria–Lebanon campaign against the Vichy French. In early 1942, the Australian government decided to bring the 6th Division back to Australia to help bolster its defences following Japan's entry into the war. Consequently, in March the battalion embarked from Suez on the transport HMT Otranto, bound for Australia.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
On its way home, the battalion – along with the 16th Brigade and the rest of the 17th Brigade – was landed on Ceylon due to the perceived threat of a Japanese invasion there. The battalion remained there for five months, constructing defences and conducting jungle training at various locations including Lake Koggala, Weligama, Matara, Tangalle and Hambantota. After the threat of invasion passed, the battalion eventually returned to Melbourne on the transport HMT Athlone Castle, arriving in early August 1942, at the height of the fighting along the Kokoda Track in Papua.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
A period of reorganisation and training followed as the battalion was prepared for the rigours of jungle warfare. The battalion concentrated at the Nagambie Road Camp in central Victoria initially, but in late September moved to Greta in New South Wales. In October, after a period of intense training, the 2/6th was moved to Brisbane from where, on 13 October 1942, they embarked on the Dutch merchant ship Bontekoe, bound for Milne Bay for the first of their two campaigns there against the Japanese.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
After arriving at Milne Bay, where the 17th Brigade was held in reserve, on 19 October they remained there until January 1943, when the battalion embarked upon the MV Pulganbar and several smaller coastal vessels and moved to Port Moresby. From Moresby, they were airlifted to Wau on 14 January. During the battalion's time around Milne Bay, they had suffered heavily from malaria and over 300 men were in hospital at the time the battalion deployed to Wau; consequently, it was severely understrength by the time it went into battle.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
Nevertheless, throughout late January 1943, the battalion was heavily involved in the Battle of Wau, then afterwards took part in the advance on Salamaua, during which it fought several key actions, including the fighting around Lababia Ridge in late June, before supporting the landing at Nassau Bay and the Battle of Mubo in July and then taking part in the fighting around Mount Tambu and Komiatum Ridge in August. During the fighting the battalion sustained casualties of 59 dead and 133 wounded.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
In late September 1943, the 2/6th were withdrawn to Australia for rest, sailing from Milne Bay on a Dutch transport, the Bosch Fontein, landing in Cairns. They spent the next year training at Wondecla on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland prior to their final campaign of the war: the Aitape–Wewak campaign.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
Arriving at Aitape in December 1944, the 2/6th spent the remainder of the war – a period of eight months – carrying out a "mopping up campaign" to clear the Japanese from the surrounding areas, conducting a series of patrols and advances through the Torricelli and Prince Alexander Ranges, advancing to Maprik in the early stages of the campaign, and then helping to capture the town of Yamil 6 miles (9.7 km) to the west, clearing a series of jungle ridges in the process before continuing the drive inland towards Ulunkohoitu in an effort to pin Japanese forces down while the 2/7th Battalion conducted a wide sweep towards Kiarivu. Losses during this campaign numbered 37 dead and 85 wounded.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
The war came to an end in mid-August 1945 following Japan's surrender in the wake of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. At the conclusion of the fighting, the 2/6th remained in New Guinea, concentrating in the area around Wewak. The battalion's strength was slowly reduced as personnel were repatriated back to Australia individually for demobilisation based upon a formal points system. On 13 December 1945, the battalion's remaining personnel sailed for Australia, eventually returning to Puckapunyal. As the battalion's personnel were slowly demobilised or transferred out to other units its strength decreased rapidly until it was finally disbanded on 18 February 1946. Those personnel who were not discharged were transferred to other units for further service.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), History, Ceylon and New Guinea
During the war, a total of 2,965 men served with the battalion, of whom 179 were killed and 335 wounded. Members of the battalion received the following decorations: four Distinguished Service Orders, 15 Military Crosses, five Distinguished Conduct Medals, 35 Military Medals, and 63 Mentions in Despatches.


2/6th Battalion (Australia), Battle honours
These honours were subsequently entrusted to the 6th Battalion in 1961, and through this link are maintained by the Royal Victoria Regiment.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was a cavalry regiment of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War and was later converted into a commando unit. Formed at Ingleburn, New South Wales, in November 1939, it was originally raised as an armoured reconnaissance regiment attached to the 6th Division. In that role, the 2/6th saw action in the North Africa campaign and in the Middle East during 1940–41, where the regiment distinguished itself at Bardia, Tobruk and in Syria.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
Later, following Japan's entry into the war, the 6th Division was brought back to Australia and following a re-organisation, the regiment was converted into a cavalry commando regiment, incorporating the independent companies that had been formed at the start of the war. In late 1944, the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was deployed to New Guinea, where it participated in one of the final Australian campaigns of the war in the Aitape–Wewak area.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
The regiment was raised at Ingleburn, New South Wales, on 3 November 1939, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF), which was raised from volunteers for overseas service. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Fergusson, a First World War veteran who had previously commanded the 8th Light Horse Regiment while serving in the Militia during the inter war years, the regiment was assigned to the 6th Division and was named the "6th Division Reconnaissance Regiment".


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
The cadre of commissioned and senior non-commissioned officers (NCOs) upon which the regiment was raised was drawn largely from the Militia and were selected by Fergusson or his adjutant, Captain Charles Finlay, a regular Army officer who would later go on to command the 2/24th Infantry Battalion and eventually reach the rank of major general and serve as commandant of the Royal Military College, Duntroon. The regiment's first regimental sergeant major was Eric Hennessy, who eventually rose to command the regiment.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
Upon establishment, the regiment's personnel were drawn from all Australian states. It consisted of three fighting squadrons, 'A', 'B' and 'C'. ' A' Squadron was recruited from men from Queensland and New South Wales, while Victorians formed 'B' Squadron and 'C' Squadron consisted of troops from South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Later, a headquarters squadron was formed, as was a regimental aid post. It took some time for the regiment to concentrate at Ingleburn and it was not until mid-December that the regiment's interstate recruits had arrived and training began.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
From the outset, the regiment was set apart from others by way of its distinctive headdress as it was issued with the black armoured corps beret, upon which members of the regiment wore the large Rising Sun hat badge. Its unit colour patch consisted of the same colours of the Royal Tank Corps – brown, red and green – which it wore in that order, in contrast to other armoured units which displayed the green followed by red and brown.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
It took some time for the regiment to form and by the end of the first week of the regiment's existence there were only a total of 107 men on its books at Ingleburn. Initial training was only very rudimentary in nature, consisting mainly of drill and basic signals. Lacking vehicles, at the outset only limited driver training could be undertaken using private vehicles. Finally, on 13 November a quantity of weapons arrived for individual training and two days later a number of utility vehicles and lorries arrived. More involved signals and driver training followed and on 23 November, the regiment was inspected by the divisional commander, Lieutenant General Thomas Blamey.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
Over the course of the next fortnight, personnel arrived from South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, however, it was not until mid-December that the regiment was fully concentrated at Ingleburn when the last troops arrived from Victoria. By this time, the decision had been made that the troops of the 2nd AIF would be sent to the Middle East to train while they waited for transportation to Europe, and on 15 December an advanced party of eight officers and NCOs from the regiment departed.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
Throughout December, the regiment received more advanced instruction in navigation and signals and two Vickers light tanks were received for training. Shortages prevented hands-on training on the new Bren light machine-gun and Boys anti-tank rifle, although demonstrations were provided, and live-firing was undertaken on the Vickers machine-gun before a period of leave was granted over the Christmas and New Year period.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Formation
After reforming, the regiment's dispatch to the Middle East was confirmed and it subsequently took part in a divisional march through Martin Place, Sydney, in full dress uniform on 4 January 1940, watched by over 500,000 spectators. Later that week, 10,000 civilians farewelled the regiment at a parade at Ingleburn.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
The regiment had only been in existence for two months when it deployed overseas. Departing Sydney on the transport Strathnaver on 10 January, the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment would not make it to Europe. Instead, they would spend the best part of the next two years in the Middle East and would see action in Syria, Libya, Egypt and Lebanon against Vichy French, Italian and German forces. Arriving in Egypt on 12 February, they were initially sent to Palestine where they joined the rest of the 6th Division and began training on Bren carriers and six old Vickers light tanks.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
This training continued for most of the year, until December 1940 when the 6th Division moved into the Western Desert where they concentrated along with a large number of British troops in preparation for an offensive. Two days later, on 11 December 1940, the regiment – having been renamed the "6th Australian Division Cavalry Regiment" on 8 June 1940 – became the first unit of the 2nd AIF to see action in the war, when elements from 'B' Squadron fought a brief but sharp encounter with the Italian garrisons at Garn el Grein and Fort Maddalina on 11/12 December.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
In January 1941, 'A' Squadron took part in the fighting around Bardia and then assisted the 19th Brigade in capturing Tobruk, during which time they used their Bren carriers and a number of captured Italian Italian M11 tanks, which were adorned with kangaroo symbols to distinguish them from Italian tanks. The regiment's use of tanks in this fighting was significant, representing the first time that Australian forces had operated tanks in action. After this, further actions were undertaken around Derna and Benghazi, before supporting the 18th Brigade's attack on Giarabub in March.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
In April, the regiment received a number of Vickers light tanks and more Bren carriers from the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment, and the unit was re-organised at Helwan, near Cairo. At this time, the squadrons were organised into six troops, of which two would operate tanks and four would operate carriers. Further training was undertaken before the regiment moved to Mersa Matruh in the middle of the month. In mid-May, the regiment operated around Sollum in support of British troops during Operation Brevity before being moved to Palestine in May to join the 7th Division in the Syria–Lebanon campaign against the Vichy French.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
After the start of the campaign in early June, the regiment took part in two main drives. The first of these was undertaken by the carrier troops from 'A' Squadron were attached to the 21st Brigade and took part in the coastal advance until being relieved by a squadron from the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment in mid-June. The squadron later received four French R35 Renault light tanks, which had been captured from the Vichy French, and on 20 June, 'A' Squadron was recommitted to the fighting, sending patrols towards Damour and to the north of Sidon.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
The second drive came in the centre, where 'C' Squadron was attached to 25th Brigade. Initially, 'B' Squadron was held back in reserve, but after 'C' Squadron's light tanks and carriers had taken part in sharp fighting around Fort Khirbe, it was committed to the advance up the Rosh Pinna Road, fending off assaults by Vichy French tanks before the fighting eventually ended in an armistice on 14 July.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Middle East 1940–1942
During the campaign, the regiment was responsible for making a unique contribution to Australia's involvement to the war. Due to the rugged terrain along the Merdjayoun–Banis Road, which was unsuited to armoured vehicles, a small force of about 70 men drawn mainly from 'C' Squadron – later dubbed the "Kelly Gang" – were used to form a horse troop. Conducting patrols through the hills using horses that they had captured from the French, they were active until the armistice, and gathered important intelligence information and harassed the French by calling down artillery strikes.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
Following the completion of the Syrian campaign in July, the regiment returned to Palestine in August, where a period of leave followed before the 6th Division Cavalry Regiment returned to Syria to undertake occupation duties around Aleppo and mount patrols along the Turkish border and the Euphrates. In November, the regiment was moved to Labboue, 15 miles (24 km) north of Baalbek where they endured harsh winter conditions while working to dig defensive positions as part of the Djedeide line. They remained there until March 1942, when the regiment was ordered to move to Palestine to return to Australia, following the outbreak of the Pacific War with Japan.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
The regiment embarked on the United States Navy troop transport USS West Point at Suez and landed at Port Adelaide on 30 March, with a strength of just over 500 men of all ranks. After entraining, the regiment was moved to Tanunda in the Barossa Valley where it was billeted with the local population before concentrating at Warradale in mid-April. From there, a short period of inter-state leave followed. The following month, the regiment reformed at Ingleburn where the regiment undertook exercises using its Bren carriers. The 2/6th remained in New South Wales until June 1942, when the regiment was transported by train up the east coast of Australia to Townsville and then west to Mount Isa. From there, the regiment's vehicles were transferred to trucks for the remainder of the journey to the Northern Territory.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
Upon arrival in the Northern Territory, the regiment was sent to the Adelaide River, as part of "Northern Territory Force" where it was stationed in anticipation of a possible Japanese advance on mainland Australia. During this time, the regiment undertook further training. They also manned defensive positions and undertook long-range patrols from the Daly River to its confluence with Anson Bay, and undertook search and rescue operations for downed pilots. The regiment was re-designated the "2/6th Australian Cavalry Regiment" in early 1943, at which point the regiment's link to the 6th Division was broken. In July 1943, the regiment was relieved of its duties in the Northern Territory by the 8th Cavalry Regiment, and after being transported to Adelaide, a month of inter-state leave was granted.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
The regiment reassembled in Murgon, Queensland, north of Brisbane, where they occupied the lines previously vacated by the 8th Cavalry Regiment. The change of location failed to provide the men with further opportunities for combat, though, and the lack of action resulted in poor morale amongst the regiment's personnel. Steadily the unit's strength fell as men sought transfer to units that were taking part in the fighting elsewhere; by November 1943 the regiment consisted of 26 officers and 254 other ranks.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
On 2 December 1943, the unit's name was changed to the "2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment". This was part of an Army-wide re-organisation as the focus of Australian land operations moved away from the Middle East towards the jungles of the Pacific and fighting the Japanese. As a result of this, it was decided to convert three 2nd AIF divisions – the 6th, 7th and 9th – into light infantry Jungle Divisions, equipped and trained especially for combat in the South-West Pacific.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
It was found that the armoured reconnaissance units of these divisions were not suited to serving in the Pacific and as such it was decided to disband these units and use their headquarters units to amalgamate the independent companies of commandos that had been raised at the start of the war.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, Re-organisation 1942–1944
At this time, the regiment's armoured vehicles were handed back to the Army and it was used as the administrative headquarters for three commando squadrons, the 2/7th, 2/9th and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. Shortly after this, the regiment moved to the Atherton Tablelands, taking up residence in a camp near Ravenshoe, where they began training for their new role.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
After undertaking infantry and specialised jungle training for more than a year, the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment finally received orders for overseas in October 1944. Once again the regiment was attached to the 6th Division.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
Initially it had been believed that the division would take part in the fighting in the Philippines, however, inter-Allied politics prevented this and the division was sent to New Guinea instead, where the individual squadrons, some of them having earlier distinguished themselves during previous campaigns in the South West Pacific as independent units, fought against the Japanese until the end of the war in the Aitape–Wewak campaign.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
Embarking in Brisbane on the transport Katoomba, the regiment arrived at Aitape on 22 October 1944. Almost immediately the regiment began patrolling operations in the surrounding area and began the task of relieving the Americans as they awaited for the rest of the 6th Division to arrive. Once the 6th Division had concentrated in the area and completed the task of taking over from the American garrison, the regiment began reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering operations in the Torricelli Mountains throughout November in preparation for the coming offensive. During this time the regiment had a number of contacts with the enemy, the most notable of which occurred on 30 November 1944 when, for the loss of just one Australian, 73 Japanese were killed and seven were captured.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
While the Americans that had previously held the area had undertaken a defensive campaign maintaining a series of standing patrols, the Australians decided to employ more aggressive tactics. The offensive began in mid-December and as the Australians advanced eastwards over the course of the following months, elements from the 2/6th found themselves involved in a number of roles, patrolling ahead of the rest of the 6th Division.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
Where necessary they were also used in a traditional infantry role to seize and hold ground, such as during the landings around Dove Bay in May, when the regiment was tasked with capturing the village of Sauri. This was achieved by the 2/7th Commando Squadron on 11 May when an attack was put in by two troops with artillery support, which resulted in two Australians and 16 Japanese killed and five Australians wounded.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
In June and July, the fighting began to draw to a close, and the regiment was used mainly in "mopping up" operations in the Boiken area, where Japanese raiding parties continued to cause havoc amongst the Australian forces right up until the end of the war. The danger continued after the war had officially come to an end. The regiment's final fatality came on 18 August when a trooper triggered a booby trap while on a patrol.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
The regiment's casualties in this final campaign were high. There were 29 killed in action, nine died of wounds, four died in accidents, and 99 wounded in action. This is a total of 141 casualties. When this is compared with the overall total of 204 for the regiment for the entire war, it can be seen that the final campaign was the most costly. Against this, 778 Japanese were killed and 23 were captured by the 2/6th.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
Following the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific, the regiment undertook guard duties at Boiken where a Japanese prisoner of war centre was established. While the men awaited transfer, educational programs were instituted to prepare the soldiers to return to civilian employment.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History, South West Pacific 1944–1945
The regiment was disbanded in September 1945, and the individual squadrons were slowly depleted of their manpower, as they were deemed surplus to requirements, their personnel either repatriated back to Australia for discharge, or used to fill gaps in other units that would be used later for occupation and garrison duties in Japan and elsewhere, before they were finally disbanded in early 1946.


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), Commanding officers
The following officers served as the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment's commanding officer:


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), Casualties
Throughout the entire war, out of a total of 2,051 personnel the 2/6th suffered a total of 204 casualties. These were:


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), Battle honours
The regiment received the following battle honours for their service during the Second World War:


2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), Battle honours
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment was chosen by the past members of the 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment to hold and preserve these battle honours and on 9 October 1971 at a ceremonial parade the regiment was presented with a scroll and bronze plaque affiliating the two regiments.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia)
The 2/6th Commando Squadron was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in May 1942 as the 2/6th Independent Company, the 2/6th's main role was to conduct irregular type warfare including small scale raiding, sabotage, long-range patrolling and reconnaissance operations rather than the traditional commando type direct action operations. As such, for the most part the unit conducted operations in small groups operating inside enemy territory, or out in front of larger friendly forces.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia)
Between 1942 and 1945, the 2/6th undertook four major campaigns during the war—Kokoda, Buna, Markham–Ramu and Borneo—and was involved in arguably one of the most spectacular small unit actions of the war during the Battle of Kaiapit. The unit was disbanded in January 1946, following the cessation of hostilities in the Pacific.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
The 2/6th Independent Company was formed in May 1942 at the Guerrilla Warfare School at No. 7 Infantry Training Centre at Tidal River, on Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, in response to recommendations made by the British Military Mission in Australia, headed by Lieutenant Colonel J.C Mawhood.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
The company was formed from volunteers from all branches of the Army, and like all of the Independent Companies, it was organised under the philosophy that it had to be a self-sufficient force. As such, it was to be a complete and powerful organisation with its own organic signals, engineering, transport, quartermaster and medical support.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
The company had a strength of 20 officers and 275 men (larger than a typical infantry company) and was divided into a headquarters and three platoons, with each platoon consisting of 75 men, commanded by a captain, with three sections below that, each commanded by a lieutenant.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
As firepower was deemed to be an essential element of the company's ability to conduct successful operations within the context as a raiding force, there was an abundance of automatic and section support weapons, including 0.303 Lee–Enfield sniper rifles (SMLEs), Bren light machine guns (LMGs), 2-inch mortars and Thompson and Owen submachine guns, to the extent that in battle each platoon could provide a level of firepower equivalent to that of an infantry company.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
The terrain surrounding the training area at Wilsons Promontory consisted of a number of high, rugged and heavily wooded mountains, swift streams and swamps. It was considered ideal for the six-week training course that the first members of the 2/6th had to endure before they were deployed operationally. Initially training stores were scarce, particularly signalling and engineering stores, and as such there was at first a large focus upon physical training. Training was conducted six days and five nights a week and it was a long, gruelling course. As a result, after the first week, 32 men from the initial intake of 300 were removed from training as being unsuitable.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
On 6 June 1942, Major Harry Harcourt assumed command of the company. An Englishman by birth, but a naturalised Australian, he had had considerable experience serving with the British Army in the First World War, in the Russian Civil War and in India before he had settled in Tasmania. Although 47 years old, he was also an accomplished boxer, having been a champion in the Services competition while serving in the British Army, and was, according to author Syd Trigellis-Smith, renowned for his "...physical fitness, boundless energy and love of front-line service".


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
Harcourt set upon the task of preparing the company, although initially he too was frustrated in his efforts by the problem with insufficient training supplies and equipment. Nevertheless, through the rest of June and into July, the training was intensified and all ranks received basic infantry training (as some were not yet infantry trained), and they became proficient in fieldcraft, signalling and demolitions and a number of field exercises were carried out to test their skills.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation and training, 1942
In July, the company moved north by train to Townsville in Queensland under tight security, bringing all their stores and equipment with them. During this time the company was camped at the Cluden Racecourse. Finally, the order for the company to deploy to New Guinea was received, and despite a refusal by dock workers to load their stores, by 10:30 hours on 2 August 1942, they had embarked on the MS Tasman after the company's engineer section took over the operation of the ship's loading equipment.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Papua New Guinea, 1942–1943
In early August 1942, the 2/6th arrived in Port Moresby to take part in the New Guinea campaign. Originally it was intended that they would be been flown from there to Wau, to reinforce the 2/5th Independent Company; however, due to the deteriorating situation in the Owen Stanley Ranges, they were sent to the Kokoda Track instead. Placed under the command of the 7th Division's headquarters, on 28 August 1942, the company moved up to Mount Eirama where they were employed as the divisional reserve. As the situation along the track continued to worsen for the Australians, the 2/6th moved to cover the Goldie River Valley in order to block any Japanese outflanking manoeuvres.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Papua New Guinea, 1942–1943
Long distance patrols were undertaken between 6 September and 12 October 1942 to cover wider lines of possible Japanese approach through the Yodda Valley, the jungle tracks around Esau Creek and the Brown River, and along Engineer Road in support of Honner Force. The purpose of these patrols was to obtain topographical information regarding the tracks in the area which might be used by Australian forces to outflank Japanese positions, as well as to provide early warning of any infiltration attempts. To this end, the patrols varied in size and duration, ranging from four or five men to 150 and from five to six days up to months. In some cases they acted as independent, long-range patrols, while others were in close contact with regular formations.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Papua New Guinea, 1942–1943
On 14 October 1942, elements of the 2/6th were flown from 14-Mile Drome across the mountains to Wanigela Airfield, Wangiela. From Wanigela the company moved to Pongani. With the offensive started in the Battle of Buna–Gona, the 2/6th patrolled in front of the United States Army's 1st Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment, along the coast from Pongani to Buna. Arriving at the front line at Buna on 20 November 1942, the 2/6th was engaged in the heavy fighting around the New Strip airfield until the early December 1942 during which time they were employed mainly in a traditional infantry role. In mid-December, the 2/6th was withdrawn to Soputa and then Port Moresby, where they spent Christmas prior to returning to Australia for re-organisation and refurbishment.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Re-organisation, 1943
The 2/6th returned to Australia in March 1943 and after some leave, re-assembled at the Army's Jungle Warfare Centre at Canungra, Queensland. As part of a re-organisation that was being undertaken to refocus the Army on jungle warfare, the independent companies were amalgamated together to place them into a regimental structure. In line with this, the 2/6th, along with the 2/3rd and 2/5th Independent Companies, were brought together to form the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, which had been formed from the 7th Divisional Cavalry Regiment that had served in the Middle East and New Guinea in 1941 and 1942. This was an administrative re-organisation only, as the regiment itself had no operational role; however, following this the 2/6th Independent Company became known as the "2/6th Commando Squadron".


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Re-organisation, 1943
One of the main changes that occurred as a result of this re-organisation was that the engineer section was deleted from the establishment of the commando squadrons, having previously been an important part of the independent company structure. During this time, while the majority of the squadron was training in Australia, a small group of 2/6th men were sent to Bena Bena plateau in New Guinea in January 1943 to watch for enemy activity in the Ramu Valley and to secure Lutheran missionaries who were believed to have been providing information to the Japanese. This group operated in one or two man teams and were deployed for almost six months.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Markham–Ramu Campaign, 1943–1944
The 2/6th sailed from Townsville for Port Moresby in August 1943, and then, in the middle of September it was flown to an area just west of the Leron River, in the Markham Valley for the upcoming Markham–Ramu campaign. Attached to the 7th Division, the squadron provided flank protection during the campaign, mainly carrying out reconnaissance and long range patrols, although they were also used to capture and hold ground in advance of the main formation at times.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Markham–Ramu Campaign, 1943–1944
Now made up of a cadre of experienced and fully trained soldiers, the squadron performed with considerable distinction in this campaign, and was involved in arguably one of the most significant small unit actions of the campaign at the Battle of Kaiapit where, on 19–20 September 1943, it captured the village and then repelled a determined enemy counterattack by a force much larger than its own, until relieved. After the action, 214 Japanese bodies were counted, and it was estimated that another 50 or more lay dead in the tall grass. Abandoned equipment that was recovered included 19 machine guns, 150 rifles, six grenade throwers and 12 Japanese swords. Against this, the Australians lost 11 killed and 23 wounded. For his leadership during this action, Gordon King was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Markham–Ramu Campaign, 1943–1944
After almost seven months of service in New Guinea, the 2/6th returned to Australia in April 1944, disembarking in Sydney on 12 May 1944. From then until late in the war there was a lull in Australian offensive operations in the Pacific and during this time, the company was based in the Mapee–Kairi area on the Atherton Tablelands, in Queensland, where it trained and conducted exercises with the rest of the 7th Division in preparation for renewed hostilities in 1945.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Markham–Ramu Campaign, 1943–1944
This was a period of considerable boredom for many members of the squadron, and there was a rise in disciplinary problems during this time as the only outlet for the men's physical energy was sport, training and mounting ceremonial duties. Finally, in May 1945, after almost a year sitting on the sidelines, the 2/6th received orders for overseas service. On 25 May, they travelled to Redlynch staging camp outside Cairns and embarked five days later on 30 May, on a 14-day voyage to Morotai Island, from where they embarked on Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) for their final campaign of the war on late in June.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Borneo, 1945
One of the final Australian operations of the war occurred on the island of Borneo in mid-1945, just weeks before the Japanese capitulation. Although the necessity of the campaign has since been called into question, at the time it was felt that Borneo was strategically important due to its vast oil deposits, and numerous airfields and harbours which made it ideal as a springboard for operations in Malaya and Java which were planned for 1946 but which did not in the end eventuate.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Borneo, 1945
With that goal, between May and July, the 7th and 9th Divisions made a series of landings on the island. These operations came to be known by the codename "Oboe". The first landing was made at Tarakan on 1 May by a single brigade, the 26th, from the 9th Division with the task of securing the airfield, while the rest of the division landed at Brunei Bay and Labuan Island later in June. The 7th Division landed at Balikpapan on 1 July 1945, having been given the tasks of securing the port, oil installations and airfields, and then destroying the Japanese forces there.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Borneo, 1945
At Balikpapan, that the 2/6th Commando Squadron played its final part in the conflict. For the landing, it was attached to the 25th Brigade and went ashore on the second day of the battle. Over the course of the following three weeks the squadron supported the 25th Brigade in its advance along the Milford Highway. Among its other tasks, which included its normal role of conducting reconnaissance patrols, it also conducted a number of aggressive fighting patrols and successful ambushes along Pope's Track and provided humanitarian assistance to the local inhabitants.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Disbandment, 1946
Following the end of hostilities in the Pacific against the Japanese, there was to be no triumphant return to Australia for the 2/6th as a formed unit. Once the fighting on Borneo had stopped, the company was moved to a camp at Manggar Beach. Here they carried out various garrison duties and settled down to await further orders. On 6 October 1945 the unit was declared surplus to the Army's requirements and slowly its numbers began to dwindle as members marched out. Some 2/6th men were destined for service with the British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan or garrison duties elsewhere as there were still many Japanese troops at large, while others, who had earned enough points to do so were to be demobilised and returned to Australia.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Disbandment, 1946
General (later Field Marshal Sir) Thomas Blamey, the Commander-in-Chief of Australian Military Forces, inspected the 25th Brigade on 17 October, and then two days later they paraded before the Commander-in-Chief of South East Asia Command (SEAC), Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten who praised them for their turn out and thanked them for their service.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Disbandment, 1946
On 20 November, the "low priority" men (those who had served the least amount of time) marched out of the 2/6th to join the 2/27th Battalion, while the higher priority men (those who were eligible for discharge before the others) were sent to the 2/12th Battalion two days later. This left the squadron with just two officers and 19 men. Together they returned to Australia, arriving in Brisbane on 31 December 1945, and marching to Chermside camp where they conducted the final formalities of disbandment. The unit's last day of service on the Australian order of battle was 15 January 1946, when the final three members, including the acting CO, Captain Gordon Blainey, were dispersed and returned to their states of enlistment for demobilisation.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Disbandment, 1946
Throughout the course of the war, the 2/6th lost 58 men killed in action or died of wounds, while a further 80 were wounded in action. Members of the squadron received the following decorations: one Distinguished Service Order, two Military Crosses, one Distinguished Conduct Medal, two Military Medals, 23 Mentions in Despatches and one US Silver Star. No battle honours were awarded to the squadron, as these were awarded to its parent formation, the 2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment.


2/6th Commando Squadron (Australia), Commanding officers
The following is a list of the 2/6th's commanding officers during the war:


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia)
The 2/6th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed as part of the 7th Division in May 1940 for operations during World War II. The regiment served in Egypt and Syria in 1941–1942 before returning to Australia after Japan's entry in the war. Throughout 1943 and 1944, the regiment served against the Japanese in New Guinea. The regiment's involvement in the fighting in New Guinea saw it committed to several campaigns, including those around Salamaua and on the Huon Peninsula. Its final campaign of the war was fought on Borneo in mid-1945. Shortly after the conclusion of hostilities, the regiment was disbanded in late 1945.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
The 2/6th Field Regiment was raised in May 1940, as part of the 7th Division, which formed part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force that was raised for overseas service during the war. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Daly. The regiment consisted of three numbered batteries: 11th, 12th, and 56th, although upon formation only the first two were raised; the 56th was created in September 1941. The regiment was raised at Ingleburn, New South Wales, but moved to Bathurst in September 1940. The following month they embarked for the Middle East.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
By November, the regiment was located at Deir Suneid, in Palestine. In March 1941, the regiment was planned to move to Amiriya, in Egypt, where they were to receive the remaining equipment required to bring them up to establishment, after which they would deploy to Greece; these plans were changed following German advances in both North Africa and Greece. Instead, the regiment moved to Ikingi Maryut for equipping and then undertook defensive duties around Mersa Matruh.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
The regiment remained in Egypt until May 1941, when it was moved to Palestine in preparation for its involvement in the Syria–Lebanon campaign. During the fighting against the Vichy French forces, the 2/6th Field Regiment was assigned to support the 25th Infantry Brigade, which advanced along the central route. In mid-June, the regiment supported efforts to capture Merdjayoun, with the 11th and 12th Batteries supporting actions around Khirbe and Khiam, and then supporting the attack on Jezzine. In response to a Vichy French counter-attack, the regiment returned to support further fighting around Merdjayoun, and then supported the 25th Infantry Brigade's continued advance towards Badarane and Rharife as part of the drive towards Beirut. The campaign ended with an armistice that was signed in mid-July.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
The regiment remained in Syria after the armistice, forming part of the Allied occupation force, based around Tripoli. During this time, the regiment's third battery was raised. In response to Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the Australian government requested the return of the 6th and 7th Divisions from the Middle East. As a result, in January 1942, the 2/6th was moved to Palestine, as part of preparations to embark for Australia. Departing in February, they arrived in Adelaide, South Australia, the following month. A short period of time was spent at Woodside Camp, before the regiment moved to Casino, New South Wales, and then Caboolture, Queensland in April and May, to occupy defensive positions to respond along the east coast in case of a Japanese invasion.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
In September 1942, as fighting on the Kokoda Track intensified, the regiment deployed to New Guinea along with the 25th Infantry Brigade. It was initially deployed to defend against an advance on Port Moresby until February 1943, when they moved to Dobodura; with batteries deployed to Simeni, Soputa and the Kumusi River, the regiment's main role was to support troops mopping up isolated pockets of Japanese troops left in the area following the Allied counter-offensive along the Kokoda Track, and in the aftermath of the Battle of Buna–Gona.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
Throughout April to September, the regiment detached several elements to support US troops as part of the Salamaua–Lae campaign, landing at Tambu Bay during the Battle of Roosevelt Ridge; during this time several troops operated 155 mm guns. The 12th Battery and part of the 56th also deployed in support of the 9th Division during the landing at Lae.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
After November, the regiment concentrated around Finschaffen as part of the 9th Division to support operations during the Huon Peninsula campaign; when the 4th Infantry Brigade began the advance on Sio, the 2/6th Field Regiment was switched to support them until January 1944, when the regiment handed over its equipment to the 2/14th Field Regiment and embarked for Australia.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
Upon arrival in Australia, the regiment established a camp at Warwick, Queensland. The Australian Army's adoption of the jungle division establishment reduced the allocation of field artillery regiments to each division to one, and as a result the 2/6th was deemed surplus to the 7th Division's requirements and was reassigned to a line of communications headquarters. Without a clear role or plan for future employment, the regiment was nearly disbanded, but eventually returned to the 7th Division at Kairi, Queensland, in October 1944.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
Further training took place on the Atherton Tablelands until the 7th Division was tasked with taking part in recapturing Borneo. Within this plan, the 2/6th was tasked with supporting the landing at Balikpapan. A preliminary move to Morotai Island took place in June 1945. For the initial landing on 1 July, the regiment was in reserve, but as the Australians advanced inland the regiment came ashore to support the 25th Infantry Brigade as they carried out final mopping up operations before the end of the war in August. The regiment's losses in its final campaign amounted to four killed.


2/6th Field Regiment (Australia), History
The regiment was disbanded in late 1945. Throughout its involvement in the war, a total of 1,923 men served with the 2/6th Field Regiment of whom 19 were killed, and 61 wounded. The Australian War Memorial lists 25 members of the regiment who received decorations as a result of their service.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia)
The 2/7th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army. Raised for service during World War II in October 1941, it was initially intended to serve in the Middle East, however due to the changing nature of the war and manpower shortages, the regiment never saw service outside of Australia before being disbanded in January 1944.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
The 2/7th Armoured Regiment was formed as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force on 9 October 1941 at Greta, New South Wales. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel P.G.H Cardale, the regiment was assigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade. Upon formation, the regiment was established with a regimental headquarters and three squadrons, designated 'A', 'B' and 'C'.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
At this time it was believed that the regiment would be deployed to the Middle East where they would be employed against the armoured formations of the German and Italian forces, however, initially there were not enough tanks in Australia with which to equip the newly formed units of the 1st Armoured Division and as a result in December the regiment was equipped with Universal Carriers and wheeled vehicles while it undertook training. It was transferred to Singleton, New South Wales, at this time.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
The delay in equipping the units of the 1st Armoured Division meant that their deployment was set back. Initially it had been planned to deploy the 2/7th Armoured Regiment, along with the rest of the 1st Armoured Brigade, in December 1941, however, this was not possible. Shortly thereafter, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and invasion Malaya meant that the decision was made not to send the 1st Armoured Division to the Middle East as the situation in the Pacific had the potential to directly threaten the Australian mainland. In June 1942 the regiment was re-equipped with M3 Grant tanks and following this, in August, the 2/7th Regiment moved to Edgeroi, New South Wales, where they participated in large-scale armoured exercises. In October and November 'A' Squadron was re-equipped with M3 Stuart light tanks.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia), History
During January to March 1943 the 2/7th Armoured Regiment moved to Mingenew, Western Australia, with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division to undertake garrison duties. The changing strategic outlook that following the Allied victories around Buna and on Guadalcanal, coupled with the manpower shortages in the Australian Army and the wider economy at this time led to the disbandment of 1st Armoured Division in September. After this, the 2/7th Armoured Regiment remained in Western Australia and was reassigned to the 1st Armoured Brigade Group. Nevertheless, on 7 January 1944, the 2/7th was also disbanded, having never seen action.


2/7th Armoured Regiment (Australia), Commanding officers
The following is a list of officers that commanded the 2/7th Armoured Regiment:


2/7th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/7th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army raised for service during World War II. Formed as part of the 6th Division shortly after the outbreak of the war as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the 2/7th Battalion's initial personnel were recruited primarily from the state of Victoria, although later reinforcements were drawn from most other Australian states. Basic training was completed in Australia, after which the battalion embarked for the Middle East as part of the first batch of Australian troops to deploy overseas.


2/7th Battalion (Australia)
Further training was undertaken in Palestine before the battalion went into action against the Italians in January 1941. After participating in the successful capture of Bardia and Tobruk, it was committed to the disastrous Battles of Greece and Crete, where the battalion was essentially destroyed after the majority of its personnel were captured.


2/7th Battalion (Australia)
Rebuilt in Palestine, the 2/7th undertook garrison duties in Syria and then Ceylon before being transported back to Australia in August 1942. In January 1943, the battalion was deployed to New Guinea, taking part in the fighting against the Japanese in the Salamaua–Lae campaign until October 1943. Following a period of over a year training in northern Queensland, the battalion's final campaign began in the Aitape–Wewak area of New Guinea in 1944–1945 during which it was used mainly in a mopping-up role. The battalion was disbanded in Australia in early 1946 after the conclusion of hostilities.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
The 2/7th Battalion was established on 25 October 1939 at Puckapunyal, Victoria, as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force that was raised for service during World War II. The battalion consisted of four rifle companies – designated 'A' to 'D' – under a headquarters company and a battalion headquarters, and had an authorised strength of around 900 personnel. Within the headquarters company there were six specialist platoons (signals, pioneer, anti-aircraft, transport, administrative and mortars) to provide organic combat and service support to the four rifle companies.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
The colours chosen for the battalion's unit colour patch (UCP) were the same as those of the 7th Battalion, which had been raised for service during World War I as part of the First Australian Imperial Force, and had later been re-raised as a Militia battalion. These colours were brown over red, in a horizontal rectangular shape, although a border of grey was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
The troops of the 2/7th gave themselves the nickname "Mud over Blood", in reference to the brown over red of their insignia, and to the original 7th Battalion. Attached to the 17th Brigade, the second brigade of the 6th Division, recruits were drawn from several areas in Victoria including rural areas around Mildura, Robinvale, Sale, and Maffra, and metropolitan Melbourne. These included a mix of former Militia soldiers and those who had no previous military experience.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Formation and training
After its personnel had reported for duty, the battalion undertook training at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds and Puckapunyal before departing for the Middle East in mid-April 1940, aboard the troopship Strathallan. The battalion's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Walker, a former Militia officer who had previously commanded the 24th/39th Battalion.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
Reaching their destination in May 1940, the battalion joined the 17th Brigade's two other infantry battalions – the 2/5th and 2/6th – at Beit Jirja, in the Julius–Gaza area. From there, the battalion engaged in further training in Palestine and Egypt until the Australians went into battle for the first time in early January 1941 as the British went on the offensive against the Italians in North Africa.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
The 2/7th later saw action at Bardia, where it formed the divisional reserve in the initial phase before attacking south through the gap established by the 2/5th towards the railway switchline, and Tobruk, where the 2/7th attacked the eastern sector. Later, the battalion undertook garrison duties in Libya, establishing itself around Marsa Brega. The fighting in Libya cost the battalion 20 dead, including 15 killed in action, 75 wounded and one captured.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
Following this, the battalion was committed to the fighting in Greece in early April. Landing at Athens, and moving to Larissa by train, the battalion established themselves around Thessaly, but their involvement in the fighting was short-lived as the Germans advanced quickly against the hastily established Allied defensive positions, forcing the British and Commonwealth troops to withdraw. Embarking from Kalamata upon the transport Costa Rica on 26 April, the battalion endured heavy air attack as the Germans attacked the ship,  forcing it to be abandoned.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
The men from the 2/7th were taken off the stricken ship and transferred to several Royal Navy destroyers, and landed on the island of Crete, where an Axis invasion was expected imminently. Missing most of their equipment, which had been lost on the Costa Rica, the battalion was re-armed with weapons re-allocated from two Australian artillery regiments.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
Following the German airborne assault on 20 May, the 2/7th became heavily engaged fighting German parachute troops around Canea. It then undertook a local counter-attack at 42nd Street during which the 2/7th launched a ferocious bayonet charge in concert with the New Zealand Maori Battalion that resulted in heavy German casualties. The 2/7th later covered the withdrawal to Sphakia where the Royal Navy attempted to evacuate the garrison by the sea, undertaking a three-day stand in the hills, before they were ordered down to the evacuation beaches.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
As Allied naval losses mounted the operation was called off before the 2/7th could embark. As a result, most of the battalion – over 400 personnel – was taken prisoner. Several 2/7th soldiers later escaped captivity; one of them, John Peck, became part of a Special Operations Executive team responsible for helping Allied prisoners of war escape. The battalion's commanding officer, Walker, was one of those captured, giving up his position on one of the last evacuation ships when it became apparent that the rest of the battalion would not have time to get clear. Walker remained in captivity until the end of the war, along with many others of the battalion who went to prisoner of war camps in Greece, Germany, Austria and Poland.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
The battalion's casualties in Greece and Crete were heavy and by the end of the campaign it had essentially been destroyed. The fighting in Greece resulted in eight dead and seven wounded, as well as 65 captured, while a further 27 were killed in action on Crete, and one was killed in an accident. A further 70 were wounded and 433 were taken prisoner.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Service in the Middle East, Greece and Crete
Instead of being disbanded, the unit was rebuilt from a small cadre of personnel who had not been sent to Crete (about 50 men) along with a large number of reinforcements, and the 16 personnel who had escaped Crete. This was undertaken in Palestine under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Guinn, before the 2/7th was sent to Syria to perform occupation duties as part of the garrison that had been established there following the conclusion of the Syria–Lebanon campaign.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
In early 1942, following Japan's entry into the war, the Australian government requested the return of the 6th Division from the Middle East. On 10 March, the battalion embarked for Australia aboard the troopship HMT Westernland. En route the 2/7th was diverted to Ceylon where it undertook defensive duties as part of an Australian force made up of the 16th and 17th Brigades to defend against the threat of a Japanese invasion. Returning to Australia in August 1942 on board MV Athlone Castle, the 2/7th spent a short period of time preparing to fight the Japanese in New Guinea.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
Concentrating around Seymour, Victoria, a welcome home parade was held in Melbourne, after which the battalion moved by rail to Greta, New South Wales, in September. A short time later, there was a further move north to Ascot, Queensland, from where the battalion embarked on the HMAT Tasman in mid-October, bound for Gili-Gili airstrip, near Milne Bay. In November, a detachment of the battalion's Bren carrier crews were sent to support the Australian and US units fighting around Buna–Gona.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
A makeshift and hasty measure to make up for the lack of tank support, the lightly armoured carriers proved ineffective, and the 2/7th's detachment suffered heavy casualties with six killed and four wounded and most of the carriers destroyed. Meanwhile, around Milne Bay, the rest of the battalion undertook further training before being committed to the fighting around Wau in January 1943 as the Australians began limited offensive operations in New Guinea following the Japanese defeat in the Kokoda Track campaign and around Buna–Gona.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
After being flown into Wau, where they landed under fire, the 2/7th took part in a series of battles as the Australians advanced on Salamaua, with significant actions being fought around Mubo and Bobdubi. During the campaign, Guinn was hospitalised due to illness and Major Keith Picken temporarily led the battalion between July and December 1943. The 2/7th's casualties during its first jungle campaign amounted to 99 dead from all causes, including 70 killed in action, and 225 wounded.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
The 2/7th returned to Australia in early October 1943. After a period of leave, the battalion concentrated around Wondecla, on the Atherton Tablelands. During this time the units of the 6th Division were converted to the jungle divisional establishment. This saw a reduction in the battalion's vehicle allocation and a reorganisation of its specialist platoons, with its Bren carriers and heavy vehicles being replaced by jeeps and the anti-aircraft platoon being disbanded. A medium machine gun platoon was added and new anti-tank weapons were also received.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
The battalion's authorised strength was also reduced to around 800 personnel; however, throughout late 1943 and into early 1944 the 2/7th was well below this due to illnesses and recurring diseases, such as malaria, amongst personnel who had returned from New Guinea. Nevertheless, a long period of training followed and the battalion was rebuilt over time and did not see further action until late in the war when the 6th Division was committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign, in order to release US troops for operations in the Philippines. At the start of the new campaign, Guinn was relieved of his command and appointed commandant of the Land Headquarters Tactical School. In his place, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Parbury took command of the battalion, which deployed aboard the US transport ship Mexico.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
Essentially a mopping up operation by the time the Australians arrived, the Aitape–Wewak campaign saw the Australians establish themselves around Tadji airfield at Aitape in late 1944 before conducting a limited offensive through the Torricelli and Prince Alexander Ranges throughout 1944 and 1945. During these operations, after the 17th Brigade had been relieved from defensive duties around Tadji, the 2/7th engaged in a series of small unit actions against the Japanese and was involved in capturing Maprik.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Fighting in New Guinea
Later, the battalion continued the advance east towards Yamil before being withdrawn back to Aitape in early June 1945 following an attack around a position dubbed "Lone Tree Hill". In mid-July, the battalion resumed operations, advancing towards the airfield at Kairivu. Further small-scale actions were fought, and by the end of the campaign in mid-August, the battalion's casualties totalled 129. These included 22 killed in action, 11 who died of wounds, five accidentally killed and 95 wounded.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Disbandment
After the war, the battalion remained in the Kairivu area throughout September and into early October, when the majority of the battalion moved back to Wewak. Patrols were sent out into the surrounding areas as Japanese soldiers were brought in for surrender and repatriation. Meanwhile, the demobilisation process began with high priority long service troops being repatriated to Australia in drafts as shipping became available. At this time, some of the battalion's personnel volunteered for service in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Disbandment
The majority of these were transferred to the 67th Infantry Battalion, although some also served in the 66th Infantry Battalion. By November, the battalion was down to a posted strength of just 375 personnel. On 18 December 1945, the remaining cadre of the battalion embarked for Australia. As personnel marched out of the unit – either for demobilisation or for subsequent service – and equipment was handed back, the unit was disbanded at Puckapunyal in February 1946.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), History, Disbandment
During the war, a total of 3,155 personnel served in the 2/7th Battalion. Of these, 143 were killed in action, 36 died of wounds, and 14 died of other causes. A further 472 were wounded in action and 499 were taken prisoner. Members of the battalion received the following decorations: 6 Distinguished Service Orders, 11 Military Crosses, 5 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 26 Military Medals, and 60 Mentions in Despatches. In addition, two personnel were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire.


2/7th Battalion (Australia), Battle honours
In 1961–62, these battle honours were entrusted to the 7th Battalion, and through this link are maintained by the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
The 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment was one of three commando regiments raised by the Australian Army for service during World War II. It was originally raised as the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment in 1940 and in this guise it served in North Africa and the Middle East at the beginning of the war, before it was brought back to Australia and sent to New Guinea in late 1942 to serve against the Japanese.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)
In mid-1943 the Australian high command decided to disband the divisional cavalry regiments and use their headquarters elements to administer the independent companies that had been raised earlier in the war. In the process the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment disbanded its squadrons, gave up their vehicles and changed its name to the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, as it became the administrative headquarters for the 2/3rd, 2/5th and 2/6th Commando Squadrons.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
The 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment was formed in April 1940 as the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Hopkins. Consisting of a headquarters squadron and three sabre squadrons designated 'A' through 'C', the regiment drew personnel from New South Wales for its headquarters squadron, while its sabre squadrons came from Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. In May, the regiment provided two squadrons – 'A' and 'B' – for the newly formed 8th Divisional Cavalry Regiment, and as a result raised new squadrons from personnel recruited in New South Wales and Queensland.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
Part of the Second Australian Imperial Force that was raised for overseas service, originally the regiment was conceived as an armoured reconnaissance regiment attached to the 7th Division and, after undertaking initial training around Cowra, New South Wales, it was sent to the Middle East theatre in December 1940.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
After arriving in Egypt in early 1941, the regiment conducted further training was used mainly in a defensive role. Equipped with Vickers light tanks and Bren carriers, it carried out garrison duties around the Suez Canal, before being moved to Cyprus following the fall of Greece. In August 1941, the regiment was moved to Syria where it formed part of the Allied occupation forces.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
In March 1942, the regiment returned to Australia, following the entry of Japan into the war. After a period of training and defensive duties in Queensland, in September 1942 the regiment was sent to New Guinea to help defend Port Moresby as the Japanese continued their advance along the Kokoda Track. Upon the 2/7th's arrival, the decision was made for the regiment to leave its Bren carriers in Port Moresby and as the campaign began to turn in the favour of the Australians the 2/7th were flown to Popondetta to reinforce the units there in December. For over a month they took part in the fighting around Huggins Roadblock along the Sananada Track serving in the dismounted role as infantry.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
Finally on 21 January 1943 the Australians linked up with US forces and the Sanananda village fell. Shortly afterwards the regiment was withdrawn back to Dobodura airstrip from where they were transported back to Australia. The casualties that the regiment had suffered during the fighting were very high with 54 men killed and 67 wounded. On top of this over 200 men had contracted malaria and three had died from scrub typhus. Among those that were killed was the regiment's commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Logan. During its time in the Middle East and in New Guinea, the regiment lost 59 men killed or died on active service and 67 wounded. Four members of the regiment were decorated with the Military Medal.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
Following its return to Australia, the regiment began reorganising on the Atherton Tablelands in Queensland. At this time the Australian Army was undergoing a period of restructuring as its strategic focus shifted towards concentrating upon fighting the war against the Japanese in the Pacific. As a part of this restructuring it was decided that there was no need for divisional cavalry regiments, however, it was decided that the independent companies should be grouped together under a regimental structure, and in response the divisional cavalry regiments were broken up and their headquarters elements were used to administer the commando squadrons.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
Three such units were formed at this time, with the 7th Division Cavalry Regiment adopting the title of the 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment in April 1943. The regiment's subordinate squadrons were: the 2/3rd, 2/5th and 2/6th Commando Squadrons, however, in terms of tactics and training the individual squadrons retained their independence.


2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia), History
Although the 2/6th Commando Squadron was deployed to New Guinea in late 1943 and into early 1944, the regiment as a whole did not see action again until late in the war when they landed along with the rest of the 7th Division Balikpapan, Borneo, in July 1945 in one of the final campaigns of the war. Landing on Green Beach on 1 July 1945, the regiment's three squadrons participated in the advance along the Vasey Highway, undertaking the flank protection and reconnaissance roles before contributing to the mopping up effort as the war came to a close. Following the end of hostilities, the regiment was disbanded.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia)
The 2/7th Commando Company was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War. Raised in May 1942, as the 2/7th Independent Company, the 2/7th served in New Guinea in 1943 during the Salamaua–Lae campaign before being redesignated as the 2/7th Commando Squadron when it was amalgamated with two other commando squadrons to become part of the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. Later at the end of 1944, it was sent to New Guinea again, where it took part in the Aitape–Wewak campaign. Following the end of the war, the squadron was returned to Australia and disbanded early in 1946.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Formation
In late 1940 the Australian Army began considering the issue of raising independent companies or commando units for the conduct of irregular warfare. Based upon proposals and advice from the British Military Mission in Australia, in March 1941 the Army began training company-sized units that would act independently of higher command to carry out tasks such as raiding, sabotage, and subversion. As the war progressed the role that these independent companies would fulfill evolved towards guerrilla operations such as stay-behind, long range penetration and reconnaissance. In this regard between 1941 and 1942 eight independent companies were raised. The 2/7th Independent Company was one of these units, and was formed in May 1942, undertaking training at the Guerrilla Warfare School at Wilsons Promontory, Victoria.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
Following the completion of its training, the company was deployed to New Guinea in late 1942, landing at Port Moresby. From there it was flown to Wau in January 1943, where it was used to reinforce elements of the 6th Division and units Kanga Force during the Salamaua–Lae campaign. Between January and April, the company operated in conjunction with 2/3rd and 2/5th Independent Companies, performing mainly a traditional infantry role.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
During this time they conducted a number of patrols and were involved in a very successful ambush on a large force of Japanese, resulting in a high number of enemy casualties. Later, they were directly involved with the defence of Wau, before helping to push the Japanese back to Mubo, where they conducted small scale harassment raids. The 2/7th's commanding officer, Major Thomas MacAdie, was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry and leadership during this phase of the campaign.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
In April, they were relieved by the 2/7th Battalion. They had served in the Wau area for seven months and were in need of rest, however, as there were no other troops available, on 29 May 1943 the 2/7th Independent Company was flown to Bena Bena where they became part of Bena Force.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
Bena Force had originally been dispatched to the isolated airfield in January consisting of only a handful of men from the 2/7th Battalion, with the task of defending it against the advancing Japanese, harassing the enemy in the area and denying them freedom of movement, however, in May as Japanese air attacks on Bena increased it became necessary to reinforce the small garrison. As such the depleted 2/7th Independent Company was sent to Bena, under the command of Major MacAdie, bringing the garrison up to roughly four hundred men.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
During June and July, observation posts were established in the region, patrols were sent out and infrastructure was built with the help of labour supplied by the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU). Later, during August and September, as attacks increased on the garrison and the 2/2nd Independent Company arrived to reinforce Bena Force, patrols were sent out through the Ramu Valley in order to observe the main approaches to Bena Bena.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, New Guinea 1942–1943
In October, following a re-organisation of Australian forces in New Guinea in preparation for the coming offensive around Lae, the 2/7th was temporarily placed under the command of the 7th Division. Following this, the company began patrolling operations along the Faria, Iogi and Evapia rivers, until they were finally relieved by the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Squadron in the second week of November. The 2/7th then returned to Dumpu, before embarking at Port Moresby for the return to Australia, having been deployed on active service for the best part of a year.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Reorganisation 1943–1945
While the 2/7th Independent Company had been involved in the campaign in New Guinea, there had been a significant re-organisation of the way in which the Independent Companies were administered and organised. This was due to an army-wide reorganisation as the Australian Army shifted its strategic focus away from the Middle East and began to concentrate on the Pacific. As a result of this reorganisation, the 2/7th Independent Company was renamed the 2/7th Cavalry Commando Squadron (later just commando squadron) and was absorbed into the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, along with the newly formed 2/9th and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. Together, these units were attached to the 6th Division, to conduct long range patrol and reconnaissance operations.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Reorganisation 1943–1945
Following their return from New Guinea, the newly formed 2/7th Commando Squadron concentrated on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, with the rest of the 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment. Throughout the rest of 1943 and most of 1944, the 2/7th carried out garrison duties and participated in exercises and training with the rest of the 6th Division. The squadron's last contribution to the Second World War came during the Aitape–Wewak campaign.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Aitape–Wewak 1945
Early in 1945, the 6th Division relieved the American garrison at Aitape, with a view to renewing offensive operations in the area. The 2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was the first Australian fighting unit to arrive at Aitape, and as it waited for the rest of the division to arrive, having left Brisbane on 22 October 1944, the regiment relieved the American outpost at Babiang and began to assist the ANGAU patrols in the area.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Aitape–Wewak 1945
Once they had concentrated fully by November, the 6th Division began its advance eastwards towards the Japanese base at Wewak, in order to destroy the remnants of the Japanese 18th Army. Prior to this, however, the 2/7th Commando Squadron conducted preliminary patrols in order to gather information on topography and enemy dispositions in the region.


2/7th Commando Squadron (Australia), History, Aitape–Wewak 1945
The Australian advance began in December and by this time, the 2/7th had been moved to Tong, where it had been given the tasks of maintaining a base, control the surrounding area and conduct patrols to the south. Now under the command of Major Goode, the squadron operated in support of the 17th Brigade, and had men stationed at Yourang and Kumbun. During this time there were a number of clashes with the enemy, most notably on 11th and 13 December, as the squadron established its control over the area, resulting in a number of Japanese killed in action.