318:. It was during this time that the Australian Army began to re-organise the independent companies, as part of its larger army-wide re-organisation as it began to prepare itself for the jungle campaigns that it would fight over the next two years. As a part of this re-organisation, the independent companies were amalgamated together under a regimental headquarters that would administer the companies. These headquarters units were formed using the cavalry regiments of the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions and as such, in October, although at that time currently overseas again, the 2/4th Independent Company was redesignated the "2/4th Cavalry (Commando) Squadron" as it became a part of the
48:
921:
326:
164:
291:
reported the movements of
Japanese ships and aircraft. This lasted until January 1943 when, due to the deteriorating situation, the decision was made to withdraw the force from the island and bring them back to Australia. Their success demonstrated what could be achieved by such a force behind enemy lines and it was used later as a model for the formation of the
744:
227:
The unit was initially formed as "No. 4 Independent
Company" in August 1941, but it was disbanded in October due to conceptual problems within the Australian Army surrounding the role that the 4th and other such companies could fill in the strategic situation at that time. The Company was reformed in
381:
and was officially attached to the 9th
Division with whom it had served during the recently concluded operations in New Guinea. The squadron then experienced a hiatus from operations for over a year, during which time it conducted numerous training exercises in northern Queensland, before embarking
290:
with the assistance of the local population. Over the course of four months, the company carried out a number of successful operations on Timor, including many successful ambushes, dynamiting of bridges and roads, as well as manning two observation posts in the mountains outside Dili where they
191:. Raised in August 1941, it was disbanded not long after due to conceptual problems, but it was quickly reformed following the entry of Japan into the war in December 1941. After a period of about six months performing garrison duties in northern Australia, the 2/4th was deployed to
760:
357:
was attacked by
Japanese dive and torpedo bombers. After the landing, the 2/4th began reconnaissance and flank protection operations for the 26th Brigade until 30 October, when Lae finally fell and they were sent by barge to reinforce the
875:
370:. During this time the 2/4th conducted numerous long range patrols, often being sent ahead of the main advance, before finally being removed from the line at the end of February 1944 and being sent back to Australia for leave.
1338:
868:
1353:
1343:
402:
was unopposed and a few days later on 3 May at
Tarakan it was once again tasked to act in support of the 26th Brigade. In the coming days and weeks the 2/4th saw extensive service during the
252:, in March 1942 where it undertook garrison duties. Following the bombing of Darwin this became an operation role and during this time the 2/4th deployed a number of small groups between the
1348:
861:
195:
to reinforce the other
Australian units already waging a guerilla war on the island. After a brief campaign the 2/4th was returned to Australia and from there it went on to serve in
1149:
1333:
1159:
1358:
817:
Commando:From Tidal River to
Tarakan: The Story of No 4. Australian Independent Company, AIF—Later Known as 2/4th Australian Commando Squadron, AIF: 1941–45
1144:
910:
905:
900:
378:
319:
260:, where they were to harass any Japanese forces which might have landed there. This never eventuated, though, and in August the 2/4th moved to the town of
86:
711:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945 Official History Series. Series 1— Army. Volume VII. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
1194:
1189:
774:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945 Official History Series. Series 1— Army. Volume IV. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
730:. Australia in the War of 1949–1945 Official History Series. Series 1—Army. Volume V. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
1095:
1256:
1246:
1119:
1100:
1080:
664:
640:
D-Day New Guinea: The
Extraordinary Story of the Battle for Lae and the Greatest Combined Airborne and Amphibious Operation of the Pacific War
1287:
1164:
1085:
1015:
843:
824:
805:
754:
1328:
992:
987:
982:
353:. The 2/4th came ashore in the second wave of the landing, suffering heavy losses with thirty-four men being killed or missing when their
977:
972:
967:
962:
957:
947:
942:
937:
502:
413:, on 8 January 1946. During its service the 2/4th lost 68 men killed in action or died on active service. Five members were awarded the
283:
1292:
261:
1184:
1139:
1134:
1053:
692:
647:
1129:
1090:
1251:
299:
398:
as part of the "Oboe" operations. Throughout May and June the 2/4th played an important role in the campaign. The landing on
292:
287:
113:
1213:
746:
The
Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944. Proceedings of the 2003 Chief of Army's Military History Conference
245:
232:. This time it was known as "2/4th Independent Company". After completing its training at the Guerilla Warfare School at
1154:
1062:
345:. On 4 September, the 2/4th participated in Australia's first amphibious landing since Gallipoli when they landed at
667:
Official
History Series. Series 1—Army. Volume VI. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial.
1307:
1222:
410:
216:
406:, suffering heavy casualties with four officers and fifty-two other ranks being killed or wounded in this time.
322:, attached to the 7th Division. This name would later be shortened simply to "2/4th Commando Squadron" in 1944.
1066:
403:
359:
342:
338:
128:
90:
1031:
418:
367:
204:
123:
920:
1169:
212:
1206:
1046:
374:
350:
200:
118:
1277:
884:
241:
180:
853:
1282:
1230:
315:
310:, in April 1943 where it received reinforcements and new equipment. From there, they were moved to
267:
In September the 2/4th Independent Company returned to Darwin and from there they were deployed to
399:
743:
Palazzo, Albert (2004). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey (eds.).
409:
This was the squadron's last operation and following its return to Australia it was disbanded at
276:
249:
237:
325:
839:
820:
801:
775:
750:
731:
712:
688:
668:
643:
354:
510:
207:. Later, the squadron was involved in one of the last campaigns of the war when it landed on
1039:
268:
233:
192:
108:
163:
1110:
635:
184:
215:. Following the end of hostilities, the 2/4th returned to Australia and was disbanded at
1302:
1297:
1020:
1010:
414:
391:
253:
208:
1322:
1272:
680:
188:
769:
725:
706:
658:
363:
329:
Members of the Australian 2/4th Commando Squadron on Tarakan Island in June 1945
229:
749:. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. pp. 86–101.
702:
383:
334:
307:
272:
196:
779:
672:
257:
52:
47:
735:
716:
685:
SAS: Phantoms of the Jungle—A History of the Australian Special Air Service
311:
303:
337:, arriving at Milne Bay where they were placed under the command of the
387:
395:
798:
Independent Company: The Australian Army in Portuguese Timor 1941–43
390:
in April 1945. From here the squadron took part in the landings at
324:
687:(1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
642:(1st ed.). St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
1035:
857:
346:
1339:
Military units and formations of Australia in World War II
298:
The company returned to Australia and was reformed at the
836:
Timor 1942: Australian Commandos at War with The Japanese
819:. Melbourne, Victoria: 2nd/4th Commando Association.
373:
Upon its return to Australia, the 2/4th regrouped at
1354:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
1344:
Military units and formations of the Australian Army
1265:
1239:
1221:
1205:
1118:
1109:
1073:
1001:
928:
891:
158:
153:
141:
136:
104:
96:
82:
74:
66:
58:
41:
33:
25:
20:
1349:Military units and formations established in 1941
885:Australian Commando units of the Second World War
727:South–West Pacific Area—First Year: Kokoda to Wau
228:late December 1941 following the outbreak of the
1047:
869:
8:
838:. Hawthorn, Victoria: Hutchinson Australia.
377:, where in March 1944 it became part of the
181:independent companies and commando squadrons
1334:Company sized units of the Australian Army
1195:173rd Special Operations Aviation Squadron
1190:171st Special Operations Aviation Squadron
1115:
1054:
1040:
1032:
876:
862:
854:
530:
528:
448:
446:
333:In August 1943, the 2/4th was deployed to
509:. Australian War Memorial. Archived from
464:
606:
558:
546:
442:
1257:Australian Secret Intelligence Service
1170:Tactical Assault Group (East and West)
1101:Special Operations Commander Australia
1096:National Security Committee of Cabinet
594:
582:
570:
534:
497:
495:
493:
452:
286:, which was at that time conducting a
17:
1165:Special Operations Logistics Squadron
1016:Royal Australian Navy Beach Commandos
491:
489:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
7:
1160:Special Operations Engineer Regiment
618:
1359:1946 disestablishments in Australia
1293:Services Reconnaissance Department
1278:Independent and Commando Companies
262:Adelaide River, Northern Territory
14:
800:. Richmond, Victoria: Heinemann.
665:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
507:Second World War, 1939–1945 units
211:in May 1945 and took part in the
1150:ADF School of Special Operations
919:
162:
46:
911:2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
906:2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment
901:2/6th Cavalry Commando Regiment
815:Lambert, George Ernest (1994).
379:2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
320:2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment
288:guerilla campaign on the island
87:2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment
293:Australian Special Air Service
244:, the 2/4th was posted to the
1:
433:Major Edward McDonald Walker.
1155:Special Air Service Regiment
199:in 1943, taking part in the
1329:Special forces of Australia
1063:Special Forces of Australia
503:"2/4th Independent Company"
1375:
1308:Far Eastern Liaison Office
1247:1st Intelligence Battalion
1223:Royal Australian Air Force
1081:Chief of the Defence Force
834:Wray, Christopher (1987).
796:Callinan, Bernard (1984).
411:Ingleburn, New South Wales
217:Ingleburn, New South Wales
1086:Chief of Joint Operations
917:
724:McCarthy, Dudley (1959).
660:The New Guinea Offensives
284:2/2nd Independent Company
1231:No. 4 Squadron, B Flight
1067:Australian Defence Force
993:2/12th Commando Squadron
988:2/11th Commando Squadron
983:2/10th Commando Squadron
768:Wigmore, Lionel (1957).
1214:Clearance Diving Branch
978:2/9th Commando Squadron
973:2/8th Commando Squadron
968:2/7th Commando Squadron
963:2/6th Commando Squadron
958:2/5th Commando Squadron
953:2/4th Commando Squadron
948:2/3rd Commando Squadron
943:2/2nd Commando Squadron
938:1st Independent Company
430:Major Kevin Boyd Garvey
419:Mentioned in Despatches
366:in the clearing of the
177:2/4th Commando Squadron
124:Huon Peninsula campaign
91:9th Australian Division
21:2/4th Commando Squadron
1145:ADF Parachuting School
657:Dexter, David (1961).
330:
1207:Royal Australian Navy
1185:6th Aviation Regiment
1140:2nd Commando Regiment
1135:1st Commando Regiment
404:liberation of Tarakan
375:Ravenshoe, Queensland
351:Salamaua-Lae campaign
328:
300:Jungle Warfare School
219:, on 8 January 1946.
201:Salamaua-Lae campaign
119:Salamaua-Lae campaign
1130:Special Forces Group
1091:Minister for Defence
78:17 officers, 256 men
1288:RAN Beach Commandos
1283:No. 200 Flight RAAF
1252:7th Signal Regiment
930:Companies/Squadrons
771:The Japanese Thrust
708:The Final Campaigns
513:on 19 December 2013
425:Commanding officers
316:Atherton Tablelands
149:Major Edward Walker
147:Major Kevin Garvey
1120:Special Operations
609:, pp. 158–162
549:, pp. 466–494
341:, attached to the
331:
250:Northern Territory
238:Wilsons Promontory
89:(HQ), attached to
1316:
1315:
1180:
1179:
1029:
1028:
845:978-0-09-157480-2
826:978-0-646-17827-1
807:978-0-85859-339-8
756:978-0-646-43590-9
561:, pp. 86–101
355:Landing Ship Tank
282:to reinforce the
170:
169:
159:Unit colour patch
129:Battle of Tarakan
1366:
1266:Historical units
1116:
1056:
1049:
1042:
1033:
923:
878:
871:
864:
855:
849:
830:
811:
783:
764:
763:on 9 March 2016.
759:. Archived from
739:
720:
698:
676:
653:
636:Bradley, Phillip
622:
616:
610:
604:
598:
592:
586:
580:
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556:
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538:
532:
523:
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520:
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499:
468:
462:
456:
450:
417:, while 15 were
269:Portuguese Timor
203:attached to the
193:Portuguese Timor
189:Second World War
166:
109:Second World War
51:
50:
18:
1374:
1373:
1369:
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1111:Australian Army
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789:Further reading
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386:and sailing to
295:after the war.
225:
213:Borneo campaign
185:Australian Army
173:
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143:
114:Battle of Timor
97:Double diamonds
62:Australian Army
45:
12:
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1303:Z Special Unit
1300:
1298:M Special Unit
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1021:Z Special Unit
1018:
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1011:M Special Unit
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426:
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415:Military Medal
392:Tarakan Island
368:Huon Peninsula
224:
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209:Tarakan Island
183:raised by the
179:was one of 12
171:
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37:8 January 1946
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1273:Coastwatchers
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694:1-86373-007-9
690:
686:
682:
681:Horner, David
678:
674:
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666:
662:
661:
655:
651:
649:9781760632588
645:
641:
637:
633:
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621:, p. 452
620:
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612:
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600:
597:, p. 602
596:
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585:, p. 335
584:
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465:McCarthy 1959
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172:Military unit
165:
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761:the original
745:
726:
707:
684:
659:
639:
614:
607:Bradley 2019
602:
590:
578:
573:, p. 26
566:
559:Palazzo 2004
554:
547:Wigmore 1957
542:
537:, p. 23
515:. Retrieved
511:the original
506:
467:, p. 85
460:
455:, p. 22
408:
400:Sadau Island
372:
360:20th Brigade
343:26th Brigade
339:9th Division
332:
297:
278:
266:
226:
205:9th Division
176:
174:
83:Part of
15:
703:Long, Gavin
595:Dexter 1961
583:Dexter 1961
571:Horner 1989
535:Horner 1989
453:Horner 1989
364:Finschhafen
349:during the
230:Pacific War
187:during the
105:Engagements
1323:Categories
1074:Leadership
628:References
384:Townsville
335:New Guinea
308:Queensland
277:HMAS
273:East Timor
258:Ord Rivers
197:New Guinea
144:commanders
137:Commanders
893:Regiments
780:186194020
673:186193918
619:Long 1963
517:24 August
246:Katherine
100:Dark blue
53:Australia
34:Disbanded
29:1941–1946
705:(1963).
683:(1989).
638:(2019).
312:Wongabel
304:Canungra
256:and the
254:McArthur
242:Victoria
154:Insignia
70:Commando
1240:Related
1122:Command
1065:of the
736:3134247
717:1297619
388:Morotai
314:on the
279:Voyager
223:History
142:Notable
42:Country
842:
823:
804:
778:
753:
734:
715:
691:
671:
646:
396:Borneo
234:Foster
59:Branch
26:Active
1003:Other
438:Notes
382:from
275:) on
271:(now
236:, on
840:ISBN
821:ISBN
802:ISBN
776:OCLC
751:ISBN
732:OCLC
713:OCLC
689:ISBN
669:OCLC
644:ISBN
519:2009
394:off
175:The
75:Size
67:Type
362:at
347:Lae
302:at
1325::
663:.
527:^
505:.
472:^
445:^
421:.
306:,
264:.
248:,
240:,
1055:e
1048:t
1041:v
877:e
870:t
863:v
848:.
829:.
810:.
782:.
738:.
719:.
697:.
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521:.
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