272:
342:
38:
291: – as the troops of the newly formed 8th Division were prepared for future employment in the Middle East, where it was planned that they would join the other 2nd AIF divisions that had already been deployed. This had only partially been completed by early 1941, when the Australian government agreed to a British request to dispatch Australian troops to bolster the British garrison in Malaya, amidst growing concerns about a war with Japan in the Pacific. They embarked from Sydney for Singapore aboard the
165:
354:
attacked from the rear by
Japanese forces that had pursued them from Bakri, the Australians were forced to leave their wounded behind in the hope that they would receive medical attention from the Japanese, while the remnants of the 2/19th attempted to reach the British lines at Yong Peng, trekking through thick jungle and Japanese lines. The wounded were subsequently murdered by the Japanese in the
366:
forward positions, too widely dispersed in countryside that was not ideal for defence, were easily infiltrated by the assaulting
Japanese troops and the 2/19th was forced back towards the centre of the island. The unit was later captured on the outskirts of Singapore on 15 February 1942, along with the bulk of British Commonwealth forces after the British commander, Lieutenant General
268:, a unit which had served during World War I before being raised as a Militia formation in 1921. These colours were brown over green, in a diamond shape, although a border of gray was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart; this border was formed into an oval shape, designating the battalion as part of the 8th Division.
318:. In January 1942, though, as the Japanese advance continued south in to Johore, the battalion moved into action. In early January, one company – 'D' Company – was detached to conduct delaying actions around Endau. A week later, the battalion was dispatched hurriedly to the west coast to help reinforce the
853:
353:
to withdraw from Muar. Finding its position being outflanked, the combined
Australian-Indian force attempted to withdraw over the bridge at Parit Sulong, fighting their way through several Japanese positions, but found the way blocked at the bridge. With supplies and ammunition running out, and being
381:
Following the surrender of Japan the survivors were liberated in August 1945. The battalion was disbanded later in 1945, having sustained the highest casualties of any
Australian Army unit during the war, sustaining 620 dead and 197 wounded. A total of approximately 1,500 men served with the 2/19th
365:
to
Singapore as the British Commonwealth forces were pushed off the peninsula. The 2/19th subsequently assumed a defensive position in the western sector of the island. Following the Japanese assault on 8 February, the 2/19th fought a series of desperate actions; during the initial landings, its
298:
on 2 February 1941, disembarking on 18 February, after which they undertook jungle training in southern Malaya, around
Seremban and Port Dickson, until September 1941. They then moved to Jemaluang to build defences on the east coast of the Malayan Peninsula, after a brief stay at Kluang.
219:
in early
February 1942, during which it suffered heavy casualties before being captured following the capitulation of the British garrison. The battalion's personnel subsequently spent the next three-and-a-half years as prisoners of war, before being released at the end of the conflict.
869:
358:; meanwhile, only 271 personnel from the battalion reached Yong Peng. As a result, the battalion saw no further action during the fighting in Malaya. On 26 January 1941, it received a batch of 650 reinforcements, and a hasty training program implemented.
211:, as part of the Australian force despatched to help bolster the British garrison there as tensions with Japan heightened. Following the commencement of hostilities against Japan, the 2/19th fought several actions in Johore, before withdrawing across the
271:
1350:
1340:
322:, by occupying a vital crossroad position around Bakri. The 2/19th was subsequently involved in heavy fighting against the Japanese during which its commanding officer – Lieutenant Colonel
310:. The first strikes of the Japanese attack fell on British and Indian troops in the north of the country, and initially the Australian units, which were based in primarily in the south around
1330:
415:
341:
466:
By the start of the Second World War, the authorised strength of an
Australian infantry battalion was 910 men all ranks; however, later in the war it fell to 803.
1345:
1325:
807:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. I (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
1335:
1273:
1268:
1263:
1258:
889:
863:
788:
1304:
1299:
1294:
1289:
349:
Arriving late on 17 January, the 2/19th's arrival helped briefly stabilise the situation on the west coast, allowing the 2/29th and the
769:
699:
233:
196:
915:
638:
613:
588:
438:
382:
Battalion. In addition to the
Victoria Cross awarded to Anderson, decorations awarded to members of the 2/19th included: two
323:
146:
1240:
1235:
1230:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1196:
1191:
1186:
1161:
1156:
1151:
1139:
1134:
1129:
1117:
1107:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1060:
1055:
1050:
1038:
1033:
1003:
536:
350:
319:
1028:
998:
993:
981:
976:
971:
959:
954:
949:
475:
The numerical designation of 2nd AIF units was prefixed by "2/", which was used to set them apart from
Militia units.
303:
634:
609:
584:
37:
265:
17:
288:
378:, while others were sent to prison camps in Borneo, Japan, Taiwan, French Indochina, Java, Sumatra, and Malaya.
1225:
1203:
1181:
1173:
1146:
1124:
1102:
1094:
1067:
1045:
1023:
1015:
988:
966:
944:
936:
327:
249:
245:
204:
200:
99:
95:
924:
391:
257:
164:
355:
414:
In 1961, these battle honours were entrusted to the 19th Battalion, and they are now maintained by the
284:
237:
216:
127:
721:
276:
911:
885:
859:
836:
808:
784:
765:
326:
who had taken over from Maxwell when the latter had been promoted to take over command of the
261:
158:
315:
307:
229:
208:
192:
122:
117:
835:(3). Garran, Australian Capital Territory: Military Historical Society of Australia: 4–14.
367:
362:
306:, the battalion was subsequently involved in fighting against the Japanese as part of the
253:
212:
188:
67:
283:
Individual and collective training was undertaken at several locations – Walgrove,
695:
431:
387:
383:
335:
331:
292:
241:
1319:
877:
403:
375:
371:
334:
for his actions leading an ad hoc force of Australian and Indian soldiers during the
849:
802:
759:
370:, ordered the capitulation of the garrison. The men were initially imprisoned at
207:. After completing training in Australia, in early 1941 the 2/19th deployed to
858:. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–101.
798:
840:
635:"Anderson, Charles Groves Wright: Service Number NX12595, pp. 7 and 13 of 25"
544:
812:
252:. The majority of the battalion's initial recruits were drawn from regional
184:
848:
Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter;
181:
77:
345:
Troops from the 2/19th await embarkation from Sydney on 5 February 1941
827:
Morgan, Joseph (2013). "A Burning Legacy: The 'Broken' 8th Division".
610:"Anderson, Charles Groves Wright: Service Number NX12595, p. 11 of 25"
426:
The following officers commanded the 2/19th Battalion during the war:
260:, and others came from Sydney. The colours chosen for the battalion's
311:
199:. After being formed in mid-1940, the battalion was allocated to the
340:
270:
696:"The 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment History"
1351:
Military units and formations in British Malaya in World War II
928:
910:. Sydney, New South Wales: 2/19 Battalion A.I.F. Association.
236:(2nd AIF), the 2/19th Battalion was formed on 15 July 1940 at
585:"Bucknell, Herbert Graham: Service Number NX35579, p. 3 of 6"
256:, although some recruits came from Australians living in the
930:
Infantry formations of the Second Australian Imperial Force
314:, did not see any fighting during the early stages of the
410:
Malaya 1941–1942; Johore; The Muar; and Singapore Island.
42:
2/19th personnel with a bogged Bren Carrier, Malaya, 1941
884:. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
882:
Australian Battalion Commanders in the Second World War
215:
to Singapore. There, the battalion was involved in the
855:
The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944
1341:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
1282:
1251:
1172:
1093:
1014:
935:
361:In late January, the battalion withdrew across the
240:in Sydney, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel
157:
152:
140:
135:
113:
105:
91:
83:
73:
63:
55:
47:
30:
416:1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
1331:Military units and formations established in 1940
374:; however, many were later sent to work on the
8:
761:Forgotten Captives in Japanese-Occupied Asia
402:The 2/19th Battalion received the following
758:Blackburn, Kevin; Hack, Karl, eds. (2007).
925:
908:The Grim Glory of the 2/19 Battalion A.I.F
783:. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing.
444:Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Robertson (1942)
191:, which was raised for service during the
36:
23:World War II Australian infantry battalion
543:. Australian War Memorial. Archived from
722:"2/19 Infantry Battalion: Appointments"
487:
459:
531:
529:
27:
527:
525:
523:
521:
519:
517:
515:
513:
511:
509:
7:
264:(UCP) were the same as those of the
1346:1945 disestablishments in Australia
275:The 2/19th Battalion marching down
1326:Australian World War II battalions
781:The Lineage of the Australian Army
702:from the original on 4 August 2008
14:
676:Blackburn & Hack 2007, p. 39.
541:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
1336:1940 establishments in Australia
234:Second Australian Imperial Force
197:Second Australian Imperial Force
163:
685:Festberg 1972, pp. 28 & 81.
639:National Archives of Australia
614:National Archives of Australia
589:National Archives of Australia
279:in Sydney on 15 September 1940
1:
232:as part of the all-volunteer
304:landings on 8 December 1941
1367:
745:Pratten 2009, pp. 325–326.
244:, and was attached to the
228:Raised for service during
18:19th Battalion (Australia)
15:
779:Festberg, Alfred (1972).
698:. Department of Defence.
35:
203:, which was part of the
565:Long 1952, pp. 321–323.
258:Territory of New Guinea
1252:Machine Gun Battalions
658:Morgan 2013, pp. 8–10.
392:Mentions in Despatches
346:
280:
906:Newton, R.W. (1975).
764:. London: Routledge.
356:Parit Sulong massacre
344:
274:
1274:2/4th Machine Gun Bn
1269:2/3rd Machine Gun Bn
1264:2/2nd Machine Gun Bn
1259:2/1st Machine Gun Bn
494:Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
16:For other uses, see
547:on 19 December 2013
437:Lieutenant Colonel
430:Lieutenant Colonel
422:Commanding officers
351:45th Indian Brigade
330: – earned the
217:Battle of Singapore
128:Battle of Singapore
1283:Pioneer Battalions
667:Morgan 2013, p. 9.
574:Morgan 2013, p. 6.
537:"2/19th Battalion"
376:Thai–Burma Railway
347:
281:
277:Castlereagh Street
1313:
1312:
891:978-0-521-76345-5
865:978-0-646-43590-9
790:978-0-85887-024-6
503:Long 1952, p. 51.
262:unit colour patch
171:
170:
159:Unit colour patch
1358:
1305:2/4th Pioneer Bn
1300:2/3rd Pioneer Bn
1295:2/2nd Pioneer Bn
1290:2/1st Pioneer Bn
926:
921:
895:
873:
872:on 9 March 2016.
868:. Archived from
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726:Orders of Battle
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441:(1941–42);
439:Charles Anderson
434:(1940–41);
384:Military Crosses
324:Charles Anderson
320:2/29th Battalion
316:Malayan Campaign
308:Malayan campaign
230:Second World War
193:Second World War
178:2/19th Battalion
167:
147:Charles Anderson
123:Malayan campaign
118:Second World War
109:Brown over green
40:
31:2/19th Battalion
28:
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900:Further reading
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388:Military Medals
368:Arthur Percival
254:New South Wales
226:
195:as part of the
189:Australian Army
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68:Australian Army
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432:Duncan Maxwell
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404:battle honours
399:
398:Battle honours
396:
336:Battle of Muar
332:Victoria Cross
302:Following the
266:19th Battalion
242:Duncan Maxwell
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1174:9th Division
1112:
1095:8th Division
1016:7th Division
937:6th Division
907:
881:
870:the original
854:
832:
828:
816:. Retrieved
803:
780:
760:
752:Bibliography
741:
729:. Retrieved
725:
716:
704:. Retrieved
690:
681:
672:
663:
654:
644:27 September
642:. Retrieved
629:
619:27 September
617:. Retrieved
604:
594:27 September
592:. Retrieved
579:
570:
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549:. Retrieved
545:the original
540:
499:
490:
471:
462:
425:
413:
401:
390:, and seven
380:
360:
348:
328:27th Brigade
301:
294:
282:
250:8th Division
246:22nd Brigade
227:
205:8th Division
201:22nd Brigade
177:
175:
100:8th Division
96:22nd Brigade
92:Part of
87:~800–900 men
25:
818:22 December
804:To Benghazi
799:Long, Gavin
551:18 December
114:Engagements
1320:Categories
917:090913300X
829:Sabretache
449:References
295:Queen Mary
143:commanders
136:Commanders
1241:2/48th Bn
1236:2/24th Bn
1231:2/23rd Bn
1219:2/43rd Bn
1214:2/32nd Bn
1209:2/28th Bn
1197:2/17th Bn
1192:2/15th Bn
1187:2/13th Bn
1162:2/30th Bn
1157:2/29th Bn
1152:2/26th Bn
1140:2/40th Bn
1135:2/22nd Bn
1130:2/21st Bn
1118:2/20th Bn
1113:2/19th Bn
1108:2/18th Bn
1083:2/33rd Bn
1078:2/31st Bn
1073:2/25th Bn
1061:2/27th Bn
1056:2/16th Bn
1051:2/14th Bn
1039:2/12th Bn
1034:2/10th Bn
1004:2/11th Bn
841:0048-8933
731:2 January
483:Citations
454:Footnotes
285:Ingleburn
185:battalion
59:Australia
1226:26th Bde
1204:24th Bde
1182:20th Bde
1147:27th Bde
1125:23rd Bde
1103:22nd Bde
1068:25th Bde
1046:21st Bde
1029:2/9th Bn
1024:18th Bde
999:2/8th Bn
994:2/4th Bn
989:19th Bde
982:2/7th Bn
977:2/6th Bn
972:2/5th Bn
967:17th Bde
960:2/3rd Bn
955:2/2nd Bn
950:2/1st Bn
945:16th Bde
880:(2009).
852:(eds.).
813:18400892
801:(1952).
700:Archived
363:Causeway
289:Bathurst
238:Walgrove
213:Causeway
182:infantry
153:Insignia
78:Infantry
706:22 July
224:History
187:of the
180:was an
141:Notable
106:Colours
56:Country
51:1940–45
914:
888:
862:
839:
811:
787:
768:
386:, two
372:Changi
312:Johore
209:Malaya
64:Branch
48:Active
912:ISBN
886:ISBN
860:ISBN
837:ISSN
820:2015
809:OCLC
785:ISBN
766:ISBN
733:2016
708:2009
646:2019
621:2019
596:2019
553:2013
293:HMT
287:and
176:The
84:Size
74:Type
833:LIV
1322::
831:.
724:.
637:.
612:.
587:.
539:.
508:^
418:.
406::
394:.
338:.
248:,
98:,
920:.
894:.
843:.
822:.
793:.
774:.
735:.
710:.
648:.
623:.
598:.
555:.
20:.
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