326:
resistance, and were pushed to the far west of the peninsula. With 24 hours of the landing Dutch forces on the island had capitulated. Meanwhile, B and C Companies of the 2/21st
Battalion at Laha Airfield were attacked on 31 January. Around 150 Australian soldiers and some Indonesians and Dutch were subsequently captured and many were later massacred following a major Japanese offensive on 2 February. Meanwhile, the remainder of the battalion under Scott, located around Eri, surrendered the following day and were interned in their former barracks at Tan Tui.
120:
306:
230:, a unit which had served during World War I before being raised as a Militia formation in 1921. These colours were black over red, in a diamond shape, although a border of gray in an oval shape was added to the UCP to distinguish the battalion from its Militia counterpart; the oval border denoted that the battalion was an 8th Division unit.
298:. Yet with the small Australian and Dutch force totaling just 3,700 men, Roach believed Ambon unable to be defended with the limited military resources available and he urgently requested reinforcement. He was subsequently relieved of his command, and was replaced by Lieutenant Colonel John Scott on 17 January 1942. Just prior to
294:
East Indies forces on the island numbered some 2,600 men, including several companies of
Indonesian troops and Dutch coastal artillery. These troops were tasked with defending the Bay of Ambon and the airfields at Laha and Liang which were being used by a small number of Dutch and some Australian aircraft from
293:
on 8 December the battalion prepared to move, arriving on Ambon on 17 December as part of Gull Force. Under Roach's command Gull Force consisted of the 2/21st
Battalion supported by anti-tank artillery, engineers and other supporting arms with a combined strength of 1,100 men. Meanwhile, Netherlands
334:
for the remainder of the conflict. Conditions for the prisoners on Ambon were poor and they suffered the highest death rate of any group of
Australian prisoners of war during the conflict. Meanwhile, some members of the battalion, including the majority of medical personnel were transferred by the
325:
landed at several locations on the north and south coast of the island. On the afternoon of 31 January Dutch forces around Paso had surrendered. Outnumbered and lacking air or naval support the 2/21st
Battalion, which was guarding Ambon itself, was unable to prevent the advance despite determined
329:
Gull Force lost 15 men killed during the defence of Ambon, and another 309 men at Laha who were either killed in action or murdered by the
Japanese in mass executions which occurred on 6 February and between 15–20 February. Although several small parties managed to escape Ambon and return to
178:; however, with the defence of the island considered untenable due to the limited military resources available and overwhelming Japanese strength it was subsequently captured despite determined resistance, surrendering on 3 February 1942. Most members of the battalion became
288:
The battalion began arriving in Darwin on 9 April 1941 and spent the next nine months training and on garrison duties; however, the amenities were isolated and uncomfortable and preparations were hampered through a lack of equipment. Following the
1295:
277: – if war broke out with the Japanese. Within this plan, the 2/21st was earmarked to reinforce Dutch troops on Ambon if the Japanese decided to attack and the battalion subsequently moved to
1285:
339:
in
October 1942. Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, the survivors began to be evacuated on 10 September 1945, with those on Hainan following two days later.
265:
in 1941 to bolster the garrison there, the
Australian government decided to keep the 23rd in Australia, to deploy to the islands to Australia's immediate north –
253:, and as more equipment became available, more complex training began. Training continued until 23 March 1941. While the 8th Division's two other brigades – the
245:, a march of 235 kilometres (146 mi) which it completed by 4 October. At Bonegilla, the battalion concentrated with the 23rd Brigade's other two battalions, the
233:
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
241:. Initially hampered by limited equipment and stores, the battalion undertook rudimentary training at Trawool until 23 September, the battalion moved on foot to
1300:
1280:
819:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. 4 (First ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
343:
750:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. I (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
1290:
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
342:
The battalion was disbanded later in 1945, having lost 661 dead and 12 wounded. Members of the battalion received the following decorations: one
314:
851:
803:
712:
302:
Scott altered the location of many of his defensive positions, which resulted in the battalion being less prepared to repel the invasion.
1259:
1254:
1249:
1244:
870:
731:
199:
151:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1173:
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1163:
1151:
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1141:
1116:
1111:
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909:
904:
347:
322:
290:
175:
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Australia, at least 791 men of the former garrison were captured. The survivors subsequently went into captivity as
218:. The majority of the battalion's initial intake of volunteers were Victorians, drawn from the country areas around
278:
227:
207:
17:
394:
Lieutenant
Colonel William John Scott (17 January – 3 February 1942 (in command); discharged August 1945).
1180:
1158:
1136:
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1101:
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1022:
1000:
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258:
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215:
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167:
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84:
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206:. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Roach, a Militia officer who had previously commanded the
119:
355:
295:
195:
159:
359:
242:
358:. In December 2020, one of the battalion's drivers, William Doolan, was posthumously awarded the
282:
866:
847:
820:
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751:
727:
708:
318:
223:
113:
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203:
179:
147:
94:
663:
313:
On the evening of 30/31 January 1942 three battalions from 228th Infantry Regiment of the
299:
262:
143:
99:
52:
482:
1274:
839:
791:
690:
624:
391:
Lieutenant Colonel Leonard Nairn Roach MC (17 June 1940 – 16 January 1942); and
371:
336:
305:
351:
266:
171:
814:
745:
863:
Ambon, Island of Mist: 2/21st Battalion AIF (Gull Force) Prisoners of War 1941–45
741:
219:
783:
456:
309:
Laha airfield, as shown in December 1945, where the 2/21st had fought in 1942
755:
139:
824:
136:
62:
362:
for his actions around Kudamati village, on Ambon, on 1 February 1942.
238:
191:
155:
387:
The following officers commanded the 2/21st Battalion during the war:
237: – designated 'A' through to 'D' – each consisting of three
726:. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military History Publications.
274:
770:
Morgan, Joseph (2013). "A Burning Legacy: The Broken 8th Division".
304:
270:
707:(1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
595:
593:
591:
778:(3, September). Military Historical Society of Australia: 4–14.
883:
222:
as well as Melbourne. The colours chosen for the battalion's
724:
Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001
885:
Infantry formations of the Second Australian Imperial Force
844:
Gull Force: Survival and Leadership in Captivity 1941–1945
566:
564:
798:. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press.
796:
Australian Battalion Commanders in the Second World War
174:
as part of Gull Force in December 1941 following the
1296:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
1237:
1206:
1127:
1048:
969:
890:
865:. North Geelong, Victoria: T.W. and C.T. Harrison.
190:The 2/21st Battalion was formed on 11 July 1940 at
112:
107:
90:
76:
68:
58:
48:
40:
32:
27:
1286:Military units and formations established in 1940
599:
555:
846:. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
8:
370:The 2/21st Battalion received the following
880:
348:Members of the Order of the British Empire
344:Officer of the Order of the British Empire
285:as the likelihood of war with Japan grew.
664:"Biography William John Scott (1888–1956"
378:Ambon; Laha; and South-West Pacific 1942.
705:The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
182:, and a large number died in captivity.
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611:
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403:
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451:
410:
24:
449:
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443:
441:
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431:
7:
625:"Gallantry and Distinguished Awards"
519:
507:
226:(UCP) were the same as those of the
1301:1945 disestablishments in Australia
154:, it was formed on 11 July 1940 at
1281:Australian World War II battalions
668:Australian Dictionary of Biography
170:. It was subsequently deployed to
14:
461:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
1291:1940 establishments in Australia
200:Second Australian Imperial Force
152:Second Australian Imperial Force
118:
703:Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998).
629:Federal Register of Legislation
489:. 2/21st Battalion Association
1:
146:. Raised for service during
861:Harrison, Courtney (1988).
323:Special Naval Landing Force
291:Japanese invasion of Malaya
176:Japanese invasion of Malaya
1317:
18:21st Battalion (Australia)
15:
463:. Australian War Memorial
261: – were deployed to
813:Wigmore, Lionel (1957).
321:from the 1st Kure
1207:Machine Gun Battalions
356:Mentions in Despatches
310:
335:Japanese to camps on
308:
300:the Japanese landings
210:, it was part of the
1229:2/4th Machine Gun Bn
1224:2/3rd Machine Gun Bn
1219:2/2nd Machine Gun Bn
1214:2/1st Machine Gun Bn
722:Kuring, Ian (2004).
600:Coulthard-Clark 1998
556:Coulthard-Clark 1998
296:No. 13 Squadron RAAF
16:For other uses, see
816:The Japanese Thrust
585:, pp. 436–437.
546:, pp. 420–421.
510:, pp. 321–323.
483:"Battalion History"
383:Commanding officers
360:Medal for Gallantry
317:and a battalion of
1238:Pioneer Battalions
457:"2/21st Battalion"
311:
283:Northern Territory
1268:
1267:
853:978-0-04302-008-1
805:978-0-521-76345-5
714:978-1-86448-611-7
631:. 4 December 2020
224:unit colour patch
126:
125:
114:Unit colour patch
1308:
1260:2/4th Pioneer Bn
1255:2/3rd Pioneer Bn
1250:2/2nd Pioneer Bn
1245:2/1st Pioneer Bn
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332:prisoners of war
204:Second World War
180:prisoners of war
148:Second World War
133:2/21st Battalion
122:
95:Second World War
28:2/21st Battalion
25:
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833:Further reading
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662:Moore, Andrew.
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534:, pp. 4–6.
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198:as part of the
188:
162:as part of the
150:as part of the
144:Australian Army
129:
100:Battle of Ambon
53:Australian Army
21:
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840:Beaumont, Joan
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792:Pratten, Garth
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683:
681:
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654:
652:, p. 326.
642:
616:
614:, p. 437.
604:
602:, p. 202.
587:
575:
573:, p. 436.
560:
558:, p. 201.
548:
536:
524:
512:
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474:
427:
425:, p. 316.
415:
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397:
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395:
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372:battle honours
367:
366:Battle honours
364:
228:21st Battalion
208:14th Battalion
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872:0-73164-751-3
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733:1-876439-99-8
729:
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710:
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691:Sparrow Force
689:
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522:, p. 52.
521:
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450:
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413:, p. 47.
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337:Hainan Island
333:
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315:38th Division
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128:Military unit
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26:
23:
19:
1129:9th Division
1084:
1050:8th Division
971:7th Division
892:6th Division
862:
843:
815:
795:
775:
771:
759:. Retrieved
746:
723:
704:
671:. Retrieved
667:
657:
650:Pratten 2009
645:
633:. Retrieved
628:
619:
612:Wigmore 1957
607:
583:Wigmore 1957
578:
571:Wigmore 1957
551:
544:Wigmore 1957
539:
527:
515:
503:
491:. Retrieved
486:
477:
465:. Retrieved
460:
423:Pratten 2009
418:
406:
386:
369:
352:George Medal
341:
328:
312:
287:
232:
216:8th Division
212:23rd Brigade
189:
168:8th Division
164:23rd Brigade
132:
130:
85:8th Division
81:23rd Brigade
77:Part of
72:~800–900 men
22:
761:22 December
747:To Benghazi
742:Long, Gavin
532:Morgan 2013
411:Kuring 2004
202:during the
194:in central
158:in central
91:Engagements
1275:Categories
772:Sabretache
697:References
493:12 January
487:Gull Force
467:11 January
220:Shepparton
1196:2/48th Bn
1191:2/24th Bn
1186:2/23rd Bn
1174:2/43rd Bn
1169:2/32nd Bn
1164:2/28th Bn
1152:2/17th Bn
1147:2/15th Bn
1142:2/13th Bn
1117:2/30th Bn
1112:2/29th Bn
1107:2/26th Bn
1095:2/40th Bn
1090:2/22nd Bn
1085:2/21st Bn
1073:2/20th Bn
1068:2/19th Bn
1063:2/18th Bn
1038:2/33rd Bn
1033:2/31st Bn
1028:2/25th Bn
1016:2/27th Bn
1011:2/16th Bn
1006:2/14th Bn
994:2/12th Bn
989:2/10th Bn
959:2/11th Bn
784:0048-8933
635:14 August
520:Long 1952
508:Long 1952
243:Bonegilla
235:companies
140:battalion
44:Australia
36:1940–1945
1181:26th Bde
1159:24th Bde
1137:20th Bde
1102:27th Bde
1080:23rd Bde
1058:22nd Bde
1023:25th Bde
1001:21st Bde
984:2/9th Bn
979:18th Bde
954:2/8th Bn
949:2/4th Bn
944:19th Bde
937:2/7th Bn
932:2/6th Bn
927:2/5th Bn
922:17th Bde
915:2/3rd Bn
910:2/2nd Bn
905:2/1st Bn
900:16th Bde
842:(1988).
794:(2009).
756:18400892
744:(1952).
685:See also
673:25 April
346:, three
239:platoons
196:Victoria
160:Victoria
137:infantry
108:Insignia
63:Infantry
825:3134219
354:and 14
319:marines
281:in the
214:of the
192:Trawool
186:History
166:of the
156:Trawool
142:of the
135:was an
41:Country
869:
850:
823:
802:
782:
754:
730:
711:
350:, one
279:Darwin
275:Rabaul
263:Malaya
251:2/23rd
247:2/22nd
49:Branch
33:Active
399:Notes
271:Timor
267:Ambon
172:Ambon
867:ISBN
848:ISBN
821:OCLC
800:ISBN
780:ISSN
763:2015
752:OCLC
728:ISBN
709:ISBN
675:2020
637:2021
495:2017
469:2014
273:and
259:27th
257:and
255:22nd
249:and
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