383:
35:
162:
300:. Personnel who were in the United Kingdom at the end of 1940 were issued with a circular UCP consisting of purple over red, with a border of grey. However, this UCP was issued without reference to Army Headquarters in Australia, who issued battalion reinforcements in Australia with a UCP consisting of an upright white and yellow rectangle inside a grey circle: this was intended to link the battalion to the
340:. They remained there, conducting patrols and manning the line, until 23 September 1941, when the majority of the Australian garrison was withdrawn by sea. The 2/32nd subsequently served in Palestine and Lebanon until July 1942 when the 9th Division was called upon to help stem the tide of the German and Italian advance around El Alamein; throughout the remainder of the year, the battalion took part in the
374:. After conducting an amphibious landing north-west of the town, the battalion's involvement in the fighting was limited as it was held back as part of the divisional reserve throughout the operation and Lae was captured sooner than expected. The battalion's next campaign followed only a few weeks later, when the operations to secure the
174:
895:
418:
Following the end of hostilities in August, the 2/32nd's personnel were repatriated to
Australia in drafts for demobilisation or transfer to other units for further service. The remaining personnel were transported back to Australian as a cadre in January 1946, at which time the 2/32nd was disbanded.
414:
on 26 June, to secure the Weston–Beaufort railway line. Throughout early July the battalion advanced towards Papar. The main advance was made along the railway line with a flanking move being provided by one company that conducted an amphibious landing to the south; after these moves, the town was
311:
The feared invasion of the United
Kingdom never eventuated, and by early 1941, the two Australian infantry brigades that had been sent to the United Kingdom were transferred to the Middle East. Arriving there in March 1941, the 2/32nd Battalion, along with the rest of the 25th Brigade, joined the
378:
were launched, with the 24th
Brigade landing at Finchhafen in late September. Throughout the following months, the 2/32nd was involved in the fighting around the landing beaches and then the advance inland. It was heavily involved in the fighting around Pabu, where over 195 Japanese were killed
911:
355:, where the 9th Division concentrated prior to departure from the Middle East; the Japanese had entered the war in the Pacific the previous year, and the Australian government had requested that their troops be returned as they were needed for the fighting in
459:
North Africa 1941–42, Defence of Tobruk, Defence of
Alamein Line, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943–45, Finschhafen, Defence of Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Borneo, Lae–Nadzab, Beaufort, Tell el Makh Khad, Sanyet el Miteirya and
276:
at the outset, rather than the usual four, and drew personnel from infantry reinforcements and surplus support corps troops. Under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo Sparkes, individual and collective training was completed at
304:, which had served during the First World War. Upon arrival at the unit, though, these patches were replaced with the purple and red patches. The battalion received a third UCP, following the unit's involvement in the fighting at
394:, as inter-Allied politics resulted in limited opportunities for the employment of Australian troops throughout 1944 and into 1945. As a result, it was not until mid-1945 that the 2/32nd went into battle again. The
402:, the battalion remained in reserve, and only came ashore on 12 June. The battalion was transported from Labuan to Padas Bay four days, on 16 June, via landing craft, and following this took part in capturing
1355:
1350:
379:
before the
Australians continued the advance into the Christmas Hills in December 1943. The battalion's campaign ended in February 1944, when it was withdrawn back to Australia for rest.
419:
During its service, a total of 2,916 men served with the battalion of whom 214 were killed, 567 wounded and 225 captured. Members of the 2/32nd received the following decorations: three
265:
382:
534:
The numerical designation of 2nd AIF units was prefixed by "2/", which was used to set them apart from
Militia units with corresponding numerical designations.
1360:
1345:
525:
By the start of World War II, the authorised strength of an
Australian infantry battalion was 910 men all ranks, however, later in the war it fell to 803.
858:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. I (1st ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
296:
The circumstances of the battalion's establishment overseas resulted in the unique situation of the battalion's personnel being issued two different
332:, and then by ship to the encircled port of Tobruk. By May, they were firmly established and around this time, the battalion was transferred to the
1293:
1288:
1283:
1278:
359:. After a parade at Gaza in December, the 9th Division departed the Middle East in January 1943, arriving back in Australia the following month.
34:
935:
905:
817:
641:
1324:
1319:
1314:
1309:
839:
798:
779:
285:, and by October 1940, the battalion was redesignated as the 2/32nd Battalion, to bring them into line with the other units of the
366:, before being committed to the fighting for the first time in the Pacific in September 1943, when they were assigned to capture
286:
208:, the battalion was originally designated the "71st Battalion", before being redesignated. After completing training in the
321:
599:
1260:
1255:
1250:
1238:
1228:
1216:
1211:
1206:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1159:
1154:
1149:
1137:
1132:
1127:
1102:
1097:
1092:
1080:
1075:
1070:
1058:
1053:
1023:
411:
1048:
1018:
1013:
1001:
996:
991:
979:
974:
969:
440:
428:
420:
345:
129:
464:
In 1961, these battle honours were entrusted to the 32nd
Battalion, and through that link are now maintained by the
173:
341:
301:
161:
124:
17:
371:
827:
494:
407:
1245:
1223:
1201:
1193:
1166:
1144:
1122:
1114:
1087:
1065:
1043:
1035:
1008:
986:
964:
956:
333:
313:
290:
261:
225:
221:
217:
204:. Formed in June 1940 from surplus Australian troops who had been sent to the United Kingdom shortly after the
104:
100:
96:
92:
944:
228:. In early 1943, the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in
465:
436:
375:
273:
237:
134:
395:
139:
877:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Vol. VII. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
356:
477:
391:
317:
931:
901:
878:
859:
835:
813:
794:
775:
649:
297:
278:
153:
398:
ultimately proved to be their final involvement in the war. During the initial operations to
399:
245:
201:
363:
362:
A period of reorganisation followed, during which time the battalion was converted to the
337:
197:
119:
64:
432:
424:
269:
257:
233:
209:
205:
1339:
452:
403:
39:
Troops from 'D' Company, 2/32nd
Battalion coming ashore at Jesselton, September 1945
891:
832:
That Magnificent 9th: An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Division 1940–46
329:
213:
114:
872:
853:
406:
the next day. The 2/32nd subsequently patrolled towards Beaufort, carrying out an
316:. A fourth company was raised while the battalion completed further training in
900:. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–101.
849:
282:
229:
642:"Colour Patches: Infantry Battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force"
607:
293:, they were tasked with responding in the event of a cross-Channel invasion.
863:
352:
272:. Understrength upon formation, the battalion consisted of only three rifle
193:
890:
Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter;
882:
190:
74:
928:
Britain to Borneo: A History of the 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion
386:
2/32nd Battalion stores being transported by jeep on Borneo, July 1945
325:
305:
241:
256:
Initially designated the 71st Battalion, the unit was raised in the
381:
439:; in addition, three members of the battalion were appointed as
948:
367:
320:
and then, in April, the battalion joined the fighting in the
950:
Infantry formations of the Second Australian Imperial Force
484:
Lieutenant Colonel Alonzo Sydney Clive Sparkes (1940–1941);
264:, which was formed from Australian troops that had been
351:
In December 1942, the battalion was withdrawn back to
308:, when the 9th Division units adopted a T-shaped UCP.
897:
The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944
328:, the 2/32nd Battalion was moved forward by train to
1356:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
1302:
1271:
1192:
1113:
1034:
955:
791:
The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
168:
152:
147:
110:
88:
80:
70:
60:
52:
44:
27:
930:. 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion Association.
503:Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Henry Scott (1942–1945).
490:Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Mayo Conroy (1941–1942);
1351:Military units and formations established in 1940
487:Lieutenant Colonel Raymond Keith Anderson (1941);
793:. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
500:Lieutenant Colonel John Walter Balfe (1942); and
694:
834:. Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
248:in mid-1945, before being disbanded in 1946.
8:
451:The 2/32nd Battalion received the following
289:. At the time, along with the troops of the
441:Officers of the Order of the British Empire
945:
812:. Melbourne, Victoria: Allara Publishing.
390:A long period of training followed on the
336:, joining its other two battalions in the
33:
606:. Australian War Memorial. Archived from
772:The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles
754:
742:
730:
565:
604:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
553:
546:
518:
324:. After the Allies were pushed back to
268:to help bolster the garrison after the
718:
594:
24:
592:
590:
588:
586:
584:
582:
580:
578:
576:
574:
7:
706:
682:
670:
628:
415:subsequently taken on 12 July 1945.
1361:1946 disestablishments in Australia
1346:Australian World War II battalions
810:The Lineage of the Australian Army
14:
476:The following officers served as
370:, during the final stages of the
287:Second Australian Imperial Force
172:
160:
770:Coulthard-Clark, Chris (2001).
364:jungle divisional establishment
224:, before being assigned to the
1:
926:Trigellis-Smith, Syd (1993).
774:. Sydney: Allen & Unwin.
260:in June 1940, as part of the
429:Distinguished Conduct Medals
421:Distinguished Service Orders
346:Second Battles of El Alamein
220:, which was assigned to the
216:in 1941–1942 as part of the
372:Salamaua–Lae campaign
130:Second Battle of El Alamein
1377:
200:, which served during the
125:First Battle of El Alamein
18:32nd Battalion (Australia)
15:
808:Festberg, Alfred (1972).
32:
16:Not to be confused with
745:, pp. 29 & 92.
466:Royal Victoria Regiment
212:, the 2/32nd served in
135:Huon Peninsula campaign
1272:Machine Gun Battalions
789:Dennis, Peter (1995).
437:Mentions in Despatches
387:
385:
1294:2/4th Machine Gun Bn
1289:2/3rd Machine Gun Bn
1284:2/2nd Machine Gun Bn
1279:2/1st Machine Gun Bn
871:Long, Gavin (1963).
695:Coulthard-Clark 2001
495:David Adie Whitehead
410:in concert with the
232:in 1943–1944 around
874:The Final Campaigns
673:, pp. 321–323.
493:Lieutenant Colonel
472:Commanding officers
392:Atherton Tablelands
338:defence of the port
298:unit colour patches
266:sent to the country
1303:Pioneer Battalions
600:"2/32nd Battalion"
478:commanding officer
408:attack on the town
388:
84:~800–900 personnel
1333:
1332:
937:978-0-646-13407-9
907:978-0-646-43590-9
819:978-0-85887-024-6
279:Tidworth Barracks
246:landing on Labuan
180:
179:
154:Unit colour patch
1368:
1325:2/4th Pioneer Bn
1320:2/3rd Pioneer Bn
1315:2/2nd Pioneer Bn
1310:2/1st Pioneer Bn
946:
941:
915:
914:on 9 March 2016.
910:. Archived from
886:
867:
845:
823:
804:
785:
758:
752:
746:
740:
734:
728:
722:
716:
710:
704:
698:
692:
686:
680:
674:
668:
662:
661:
659:
657:
648:. Archived from
638:
632:
626:
620:
619:
617:
615:
596:
569:
563:
557:
551:
535:
532:
526:
523:
425:Military Crosses
412:2/43rd Battalion
202:Second World War
187:2/32nd Battalion
176:
164:
37:
28:2/32nd Battalion
25:
1376:
1375:
1371:
1370:
1369:
1367:
1366:
1365:
1336:
1335:
1334:
1329:
1298:
1267:
1188:
1109:
1030:
951:
938:
925:
922:
920:Further reading
908:
889:
870:
848:
842:
826:
820:
807:
801:
788:
782:
769:
766:
761:
753:
749:
741:
737:
729:
725:
717:
713:
705:
701:
693:
689:
681:
677:
669:
665:
655:
653:
652:on 12 July 2007
640:
639:
635:
627:
623:
613:
611:
610:on 7 April 2012
598:
597:
572:
564:
560:
552:
548:
539:
538:
533:
529:
524:
520:
510:
480:of the 2/32nd:
474:
449:
433:Military Medals
396:Borneo campaign
254:
198:Australian Army
183:
156:
140:Borneo campaign
120:Siege of Tobruk
99:
65:Australian Army
40:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1374:
1372:
1364:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1348:
1338:
1337:
1331:
1330:
1328:
1327:
1322:
1317:
1312:
1306:
1304:
1300:
1299:
1297:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1275:
1273:
1269:
1268:
1266:
1265:
1264:
1263:
1258:
1253:
1243:
1242:
1241:
1236:
1231:
1221:
1220:
1219:
1214:
1209:
1198:
1196:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1185:
1184:
1179:
1174:
1164:
1163:
1162:
1157:
1152:
1142:
1141:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1119:
1117:
1111:
1110:
1108:
1107:
1106:
1105:
1100:
1095:
1085:
1084:
1083:
1078:
1073:
1063:
1062:
1061:
1056:
1051:
1040:
1038:
1032:
1031:
1029:
1028:
1027:
1026:
1021:
1016:
1006:
1005:
1004:
999:
994:
984:
983:
982:
977:
972:
961:
959:
953:
952:
949:
943:
942:
936:
921:
918:
917:
916:
906:
887:
868:
846:
840:
828:Johnston, Mark
824:
818:
805:
799:
786:
780:
765:
762:
760:
759:
747:
735:
733:, p. 247.
723:
721:, p. 114.
711:
709:, p. 475.
699:
697:, p. 252.
687:
685:, p. 472.
675:
663:
646:Digger History
633:
621:
570:
568:, p. 118.
558:
545:
544:
543:
537:
536:
527:
517:
516:
515:
514:
509:
506:
505:
504:
501:
498:
491:
488:
485:
473:
470:
462:
461:
453:battle honours
448:
447:Battle honours
445:
400:capture Labuan
376:Huon Peninsula
322:Western Desert
302:32nd Battalion
270:Fall of France
258:United Kingdom
253:
250:
238:Huon Peninsula
210:United Kingdom
206:Fall of France
181:
178:
177:
170:
166:
165:
158:
150:
149:
145:
144:
143:
142:
137:
132:
127:
122:
112:
108:
107:
90:
86:
85:
82:
78:
77:
72:
68:
67:
62:
58:
57:
54:
50:
49:
46:
42:
41:
38:
30:
29:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1373:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1347:
1344:
1343:
1341:
1326:
1323:
1321:
1318:
1316:
1313:
1311:
1308:
1307:
1305:
1301:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1276:
1274:
1270:
1262:
1259:
1257:
1254:
1252:
1249:
1248:
1247:
1244:
1240:
1237:
1235:
1232:
1230:
1227:
1226:
1225:
1222:
1218:
1215:
1213:
1210:
1208:
1205:
1204:
1203:
1200:
1199:
1197:
1195:
1191:
1183:
1180:
1178:
1175:
1173:
1170:
1169:
1168:
1165:
1161:
1158:
1156:
1153:
1151:
1148:
1147:
1146:
1143:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1125:
1124:
1121:
1120:
1118:
1116:
1112:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1090:
1089:
1086:
1082:
1079:
1077:
1074:
1072:
1069:
1068:
1067:
1064:
1060:
1057:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1046:
1045:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1037:
1033:
1025:
1022:
1020:
1017:
1015:
1012:
1011:
1010:
1007:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
989:
988:
985:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
967:
966:
963:
962:
960:
958:
954:
947:
939:
933:
929:
924:
923:
919:
913:
909:
903:
899:
898:
893:
892:Grey, Jeffrey
888:
884:
880:
876:
875:
869:
865:
861:
857:
856:
851:
847:
843:
841:1-86508-654-1
837:
833:
829:
825:
821:
815:
811:
806:
802:
800:0-19-553227-9
796:
792:
787:
783:
781:1-86508-634-7
777:
773:
768:
767:
763:
757:, p. xv.
756:
755:Johnston 2002
751:
748:
744:
743:Festberg 1972
739:
736:
732:
731:Johnston 2002
727:
724:
720:
715:
712:
708:
703:
700:
696:
691:
688:
684:
679:
676:
672:
667:
664:
651:
647:
643:
637:
634:
631:, p. 51.
630:
625:
622:
609:
605:
601:
595:
593:
591:
589:
587:
585:
583:
581:
579:
577:
575:
571:
567:
566:Festberg 1972
562:
559:
556:, p. 94.
555:
550:
547:
541:
540:
531:
528:
522:
519:
512:
511:
507:
502:
499:
496:
492:
489:
486:
483:
482:
481:
479:
471:
469:
467:
458:
457:
456:
454:
446:
444:
442:
438:
434:
430:
426:
422:
416:
413:
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
384:
380:
377:
373:
369:
365:
360:
358:
354:
349:
347:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
319:
315:
309:
307:
303:
299:
294:
292:
288:
284:
280:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
251:
249:
247:
243:
239:
235:
231:
227:
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
192:
188:
182:Military unit
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
146:
141:
138:
136:
133:
131:
128:
126:
123:
121:
118:
117:
116:
113:
109:
106:
102:
98:
94:
91:
87:
83:
79:
76:
73:
69:
66:
63:
59:
55:
51:
47:
43:
36:
31:
26:
23:
19:
1233:
1194:9th Division
1115:8th Division
1036:7th Division
957:6th Division
927:
912:the original
896:
873:
854:
831:
809:
790:
771:
750:
738:
726:
714:
702:
690:
678:
666:
654:. Retrieved
650:the original
645:
636:
624:
612:. Retrieved
608:the original
603:
561:
554:Palazzo 2004
549:
530:
521:
475:
463:
450:
417:
389:
361:
350:
334:24th Brigade
330:Mersa Matruh
314:9th Division
310:
295:
291:18th Brigade
262:25th Brigade
255:
226:24th Brigade
222:9th Division
218:25th Brigade
214:North Africa
186:
184:
115:World War II
105:9th Division
101:24th Brigade
97:9th Division
93:25th Brigade
89:Part of
22:
855:To Benghazi
850:Long, Gavin
719:Dennis 1995
236:and on the
169:(1942–1946)
157:(1940–1942)
111:Engagements
1340:Categories
764:References
357:New Guinea
283:Colchester
230:New Guinea
1261:2/48th Bn
1256:2/24th Bn
1251:2/23rd Bn
1239:2/43rd Bn
1234:2/32nd Bn
1229:2/28th Bn
1217:2/17th Bn
1212:2/15th Bn
1207:2/13th Bn
1182:2/30th Bn
1177:2/29th Bn
1172:2/26th Bn
1160:2/40th Bn
1155:2/22nd Bn
1150:2/21st Bn
1138:2/20th Bn
1133:2/19th Bn
1128:2/18th Bn
1103:2/33rd Bn
1098:2/31st Bn
1093:2/25th Bn
1081:2/27th Bn
1076:2/16th Bn
1071:2/14th Bn
1059:2/12th Bn
1054:2/10th Bn
1024:2/11th Bn
707:Long 1963
683:Long 1963
671:Long 1952
656:4 January
629:Long 1952
542:Citations
513:Footnotes
435:, and 42
318:Palestine
274:companies
240:, and in
194:battalion
56:Australia
48:1940–1946
1246:26th Bde
1224:24th Bde
1202:20th Bde
1167:27th Bde
1145:23rd Bde
1123:22nd Bde
1088:25th Bde
1066:21st Bde
1049:2/9th Bn
1044:18th Bde
1019:2/8th Bn
1014:2/4th Bn
1009:19th Bde
1002:2/7th Bn
997:2/6th Bn
992:2/5th Bn
987:17th Bde
980:2/3rd Bn
975:2/2nd Bn
970:2/1st Bn
965:16th Bde
894:(eds.).
864:18400892
852:(1952).
830:(2002).
191:infantry
148:Insignia
75:Infantry
883:1297619
614:17 July
497:(1942).
427:, four
423:, four
252:History
196:of the
189:was an
53:Country
934:
904:
881:
862:
838:
816:
797:
778:
404:Weston
326:Tobruk
306:Tobruk
242:Borneo
61:Branch
45:Active
508:Notes
460:Pabu.
431:, 16
342:First
932:ISBN
902:ISBN
879:OCLC
860:OCLC
836:ISBN
814:ISBN
795:ISBN
776:ISBN
658:2016
616:2012
353:Gaza
344:and
281:and
185:The
81:Size
71:Type
368:Lae
234:Lae
1342::
644:.
602:.
573:^
468:.
455::
443:.
348:.
244:,
103:,
95:,
940:.
885:.
866:.
844:.
822:.
803:.
784:.
660:.
618:.
20:.
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