310:
354:
851:
40:
160:
252:
322:, and captured it. By capturing the knoll, the 2/3rd threatened the Japanese supply lines to Mubo and Salamaua and because of this it forced them to launch a number of fierce counterattacks in an attempt to retake it. These counterattacks occurred over the course of the following three days and four nights, however, the platoon from the 2/3rd, consisting of only fifty-two men, managed to hold the knoll.
211:. Throughout the course of the war, the 2/3rd lost 69 members killed in action. No battle honours were awarded to the unit, although it participated in a number of notable engagements in these campaigns and its members received numerous decorations for their service. Following the end of hostilities in the Pacific, the unit was disbanded in early 1946, upon their return to Australia.
325:
During its time in New Guinea, the 2/3rd suffered heavy casualties and as a result after the fall of
Salamaua in September, they were withdrawn and brought back to Australia. They had performed quite well in the circumstances, however, and were credited with having killed 969 Japanese. Against this,
243:
and
British forces in Malaya, it was decided to use the independent companies in the islands to the north of Australia, where it was necessary to establish outposts that could warn of the approach of the Japanese. With this in mind, the 2/3rd Independent Company was sent to New Caledonia in December
349:
Independent
Companies. In October, the 2/3rd Independent Company was renamed the 2/3rd Cavalry Commando Squadron, although later this name was simplified to just 2/3rd Commando Squadron. To a large extent, however, despite being placed under a regimental structure, the squadron continued to remain
317:
As a part of this campaign, the 2/3rd patrolled deep into
Japanese held territory, setting ambushes and gathering intelligence. They also made a number of attacks against Japanese positions, in order to harass them to keep them off balance and as such defend the 3rd Division's flanks. The most
382:
Following the end of hostilities in the
Pacific, the 2/3rd was slowly reduced in strength as members were posted out to other units for occupation duties, before the remainder of the unit returned to Australia at the end of December. In early 1946, at Chermside camp, in
235:, where it carried out various garrison duties. During this time there was considerable debate within the high command of the Australian Army about the role that the 2/3rd and the other independent companies would fill. However, following
374:. The following day, however, they came under heavy mortar fire from the Japanese on Lady Schofield Knoll which prevented them from capturing the airfield until 3 July. After that, on 4 July, a number of troops were transferred to the
805:
370:. Landing on Green Beach on 1 July 1945 along with the rest of 2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment, the squadron moved off along Vasey Highway with the objective of capturing Seppinggang airfield, acting in support of the
387:, Queensland, the 2/3rd Commando Squadron was finally disbanded. A total of 69 members of the squadron were killed or died on active service during the war, and its members received the following decorations: four
361:
For the remainder of 1943 until early 1945 there was a lull
Australia's involvement in the war in the Pacific, and the 2/3rd remained on the Atherton Tablelands, where it trained and conducted exercises with the
981:
378:
in order to patrol the area around
Penadjam, with the rest of the 2/3rd continuing on to Seppinggang. Offensive operations ceased on 27 July, and with Japan's surrender in August, the war came to a close.
798:
996:
986:
255:
View over Foster training camp, Guerrilla
Warfare School, towards Mount Oberon. Mount Oberon was used by members of the independent companies as part of their physical training course. (AWM photo)
991:
791:
309:
971:
275:
at the time, the company was withdrawn in early August 1942, although their commanding officer, Major George
Matheson, stayed on to provide assistance and was promoted to
1001:
840:
835:
830:
353:
89:
267:
to reinforce the island, arriving in March 1942. Impressed with the 2/3rd and the training methods that they utilised, permission was sought by the
453:
449:
337:
was undertaken as part of a wider reorganisation of the Army as a whole and as a part of this reorganisation the 2/3rd was integrated into the
945:
468:(155 mm), 70th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA, Mobile) less Band, 3 Bn & 3 Platoon of Bty G of 244th Coast Artillery Regiment (155 mm) and
346:
342:
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notable of these attacks came in May 1943 when a strengthened platoon launched an attack against Ambush Knoll, a feature which controlled
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298:. Following this, the 2/3rd moved to Missim, from where they began a guerilla campaign along the Komiatum Track, in support of the
616:
282:
After its return to
Australia, the company spent the next six months training and undertaking garrison duties before sailing for
271:
commander to retain the 2/3rd on the island in order to retrain his division. However, due to the requirements of the defence of
338:
200:
465:
366:. The squadron's final campaign of the war came in 1945, when attached to the 7th Division, the 2/3rd participated in the
228:
482:
392:
367:
219:
Formed in October 1941 as the 2/3rd Independent Company, the unit undertook training at the Guerrilla Warfare Camp at
461:
303:
363:
299:
404:
850:
751:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. V. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
469:
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814:
457:
400:
313:
Members of the 2/3rd Independent Company during an attack on the Timbered Knoll position in July 1943
224:
176:
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264:
330:
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in 1943. After this, the squadron did not see action again until 1945, when it participated in the
112:
276:
232:
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752:
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709:
319:
259:
The deployment of the 2/3rd to New Caledonia was only a temporary measure, however, until the
674:
563:
220:
159:
334:
326:
the 2/3rd had suffered 65 killed, 119 wounded, and 226 men evacuated for medical reasons.
208:
180:
117:
55:
950:
940:
624:
396:
388:
295:
236:
251:
965:
333:, Queensland. During this time, a reorganisation of the independent companies by the
268:
192:
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in mid-February 1943. Under the command of Major George Warfe, the 2/3rd arrived in
723:
423:
287:
240:
184:
143:
107:
746:
481:
Warfe later achieved the rank of colonel and after the war went on to command the
245:
283:
196:
272:
45:
756:
728:
SAS: Phantoms of the Jungle—A History of the Australian Special Air Service
290:, although they did not stay there very long as they were quickly flown to
357:
Members of the 2/3rd Commando Squadron departing on a patrol at Balikpapan
384:
260:
294:. From there they were used to harass and pursue the Japanese towards
352:
308:
250:
227:. After completing training, the 2/3rd was transported north to
787:
329:
Upon its return to Australia, the 2/3rd was reformed on the
248:
and in order to defend against a possible Japanese attack.
982:
Military units and formations of Australia in World War II
748:
South–West Pacific Area – First Year: Kokoda to Wau
766:
The Purple Devils: The 2/6 Australian Commando Squadron
350:
largely independent in terms of tactics and training.
997:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
987:
Military units and formations of the Australian Army
592:
590:
416:
Lieutenant Colonel Donald George Melbourne Matheson.
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154:
149:
138:
130:
125:
103:
95:
85:
77:
69:
61:
51:
33:
25:
20:
992:Military units and formations established in 1941
815:Australian Commando units of the Second World War
768:. Melbourne, Victoria: 2/6 Commando Association.
708:. Malabar Heights, New South Wales: Ron Garland.
706:Nothing is Forever: The History of 2/3 Commandos
177:independent or commando companies and squadrons
730:. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
464:(155 mm) less 2nd Battalion, 2nd Battalion of
799:
8:
239:entry into World War II after the attack on
972:Company sized units of the Australian Army
806:
792:
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681:. Vol. 16. Melbourne University Press
562:. Australian War Memorial. Archived from
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441:
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946:Royal Australian Navy Beach Commandos
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520:
518:
516:
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244:1941 as a gesture of goodwill to the
7:
675:"Winning, Robert Emmett (1906–1971)"
1002:1946 disestablishments in Australia
679:Australian Dictionary of Biography
199:before being amalgamated into the
134:Lieutenant Colonel Donald Matheson
14:
560:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
448:This taskforce consisted of: the
90:2/7th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment
849:
187:. Raised in October 1941 as the
158:
38:
841:2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
836:2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment
831:2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment
339:2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment
201:2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment
466:123rd Field Artillery Regiment
462:180th Field Artillery Regiment
1:
764:Trigellis-Smith, Syd (1992).
663:Trigellis-Smith 1992, p. 213.
654:Trigellis-Smith 1992, p. 145.
419:Major Peter Lumsden Tancred.
393:Distinguished Conduct Medals
977:Special forces of Australia
556:"2/3rd Independent Company"
483:Victorian Scottish Regiment
73:Recon and long range patrol
1018:
847:
745:McCarthy, Dudley (1959).
189:2/3rd Independent Company
923:2/12th Commando Squadron
918:2/11th Commando Squadron
913:2/10th Commando Squadron
704:Garland, Ronald (1997).
376:2/9th Infantry Battalion
908:2/9th Commando Squadron
903:2/8th Commando Squadron
898:2/7th Commando Squadron
893:2/6th Commando Squadron
888:2/5th Commando Squadron
883:2/4th Commando Squadron
878:2/3rd Commando Squadron
873:2/2nd Commando Squadron
868:1st Independent Company
454:182nd Infantry Regiment
450:132nd Infantry Regiment
372:2/5th Commando Squadron
205:2/3rd Commando Squadron
173:2/3rd Commando Squadron
21:2/3rd Commando Squadron
405:Mentions in Despatches
358:
314:
256:
203:and adopting the name
605:McCarthy 1959, p. 86.
470:67th Pursuit Squadron
368:landing at Balikpapan
356:
312:
254:
458:754th Tank Battalion
424:George Radford Warfe
401:British Empire Medal
860:Companies/Squadrons
673:Ryan, Alan (2002).
645:Horner 1989, p. 26.
596:Horner 1989, p. 23.
584:Horner 1989, p. 22.
504:Garland 1997, p. 4.
411:Commanding officers
331:Atherton Tablelands
302:’s campaign around
183:for service during
113:New Guinea Campaign
566:on 3 November 2013
359:
315:
277:lieutenant colonel
257:
233:Northern Territory
175:was one of twelve
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341:, along with the
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155:Unit colour patch
81:273 men all ranks
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623:. Archived from
621:Australia at War
617:"Taskforce 6814"
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389:Military Crosses
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397:Military Medals
335:Australian Army
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209:Borneo campaign
191:, it served in
181:Australian Army
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131:First Commander
118:Borneo Campaign
96:Double diamonds
56:Australian Army
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265:Taskforce 6814
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179:formed by the
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715:0-646-31944-2
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168:Military unit
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683:. Retrieved
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629:. Retrieved
625:the original
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610:
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568:. Retrieved
564:the original
559:
500:
477:
444:
381:
364:7th Division
360:
328:
324:
316:
300:3rd Division
288:Port Moresby
281:
258:
241:Pearl Harbor
218:
204:
188:
185:World War II
172:
170:
144:George Warfe
108:World War II
86:Part of
15:
685:29 February
631:29 February
246:Free French
104:Engagements
966:Categories
697:References
284:New Guinea
197:New Guinea
126:Commanders
99:Light blue
823:Regiments
570:24 August
493:Citations
436:Footnotes
403:and four
273:Australia
229:Katherine
46:Australia
29:1941–1946
726:(1989).
385:Brisbane
345:and the
304:Salamaua
269:American
225:Victoria
150:Insignia
65:Commando
757:3134247
391:, four
261:US Army
237:Japan's
215:History
34:Country
772:
755:
734:
712:
422:Major
399:, one
395:, six
221:Foster
142:Major
52:Branch
43:
26:Active
933:Other
431:Notes
347:2/6th
343:2/5th
263:sent
770:ISBN
753:OCLC
732:ISBN
710:ISBN
687:2020
633:2020
572:2009
296:Mubo
195:and
171:The
78:Size
70:Role
62:Type
292:Wau
968::
677:.
619:.
589:^
558:.
509:^
460:,
456:,
452:,
407:.
306:.
279:.
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759:.
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718:.
689:.
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574:.
485:.
472:.
426:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
