259:, they were employed as a complete battalion, undertaking conventional operations, rather than as smaller components as originally envisaged. In early July, the battalion headquarters moved to Kwimbu, and a company captured Gisanambu in a firefight that killed 10 Japanese. A further 27 Japanese were killed around Dunbit, although the platoon sent to capture it withdrew after sustaining several casualties, including its commander. In the middle of the month, several efforts were made to secure Aoniaru, although these too were checked until 24 July when Allied air attacks forced the remaining Japanese to abandon the position. Battalion headquarters was moved to Gwalip around this time, and the battalion concentrated there prior to capturing Sigora on 27 July. Three days later, a 2 NGIB company attacked Ulama, after a heavy aerial bombardment, and in the heavy fighting that followed 16 Japanese were killed. By 2 August, the battalion had consolidated their position are Sigora, which was to become a base of operations for the
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had also been raised. These successes had encouraged the Army to raise more such units, and in August 1944 and second New Guinea infantry battalion was authorised. The battalion was formed on 26 September 1944 in the territory of New Guinea, to augment
Australian troops fighting against the Japanese.
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including machine guns, mortars and anti-tank; in their stead, the battalion had a signals platoon and a pioneer platoon. The New Guinea battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers, although 2 NGIB was slightly above that establishment, with 28 officers and 56
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The war was coming to an end by this time and during this phase, large numbers of
Japanese prisoners were taken. There were still large numbers of Japanese offering resistance, though, and heavy fighting took place around Miyamboara, in the final days of the war, when a 2 NGIB patrol attempted to
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enter the village. By mid-August a ceasefire came into effect and the fighting came to an end prior to the official
Japanese surrender in Wewak on 13 September 1945. Following the end of the war, the battalion was disbanded in June 1946 as part of the demobilisation process.
252:, the battalion detached companies to patrol towards Gwalip. The fighting that the battalion undertook during this time proved heavier than expected, with over 25 Japanese being killed in clashes with 2 NGIB for three men killed in the first month alone.
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Figures for awards to PIR are difficult to accurately determine as most sources are incomplete, these figures are from
Sinclair 1990, p. 298 and Byrnes 1989, pp. 228–246. Neither Sinclair or Byrnes seem to include complete lists,
156:. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 2 NGIB was formed in September 1944. Formed late in the war, the battalion played only a minor role in the Allied campaign in New Guinea, supporting the
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joined the other battalions of the PIR in mid-1945, although 4 NGIB was soon disbanded. A further battalion, the 5th New Guinea
Infantry Battalion—although authorised—was never raised.
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Green
Shadows: A War History of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, 1 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 2 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 3 New Guinea Infantry Battalion
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Formed late in the war, the battalion ultimately played only a minor role during the Allied campaigns in New Guinea. After forming at Camp Diddy, near
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Upon formation, the battalion generally adopted the same organisation as a standard
Australian Army infantry battalion, consisting of four rifle
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to assist in mopping up operations in the mountains south of the town, arriving on 25 June. Setting out from
Hayfield, near the
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To Find a Path: The Life and Times of the Royal
Pacific Islands Regiment: Volume I – Yesterday's Heroes 1885–1950
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201:. The PIB along with the 1st and 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalions were amalgamated to form the
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NCOs, all
Australians, and 598 New Guineans, many of whom had been transferred from the PIB.
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to raise infantry battalions from local Papuan and New Guinean personnel for service during
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Its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian
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had just been captured by the Australians, so 2 NGIB was attached to the
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568:, Series 1 – Army, Volume VII. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory:
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Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (1995).
540:(First ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press.
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in November 1944. Several more units were raised later, and the
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The following officers commanded the battalion during the war:
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The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939–1945, Volume 2
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Members of the battalion received the following decorations:
279:: Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Kaboibus and Kiarivu.
685:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1946
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Battalion of the Australian Army during World War II
589:. Warriewood, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing.
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The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History
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650:Australian War Memorial – Pacific Islands Regiment
680:Military units and formations established in 1944
675:Military units and formations of Papua New Guinea
610:. Brisbane, Queensland: Boolarong Publications.
338:2 NGIB's casualties during the war amounted to:
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295:Lieutenant Colonel A.C. Murchison (1945–1946)
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292:Lieutenant Colonel H.M. Stewart (1944–1945)
263:. They then continued on towards Mt Irup.
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236:to take part in the final stages of the
188:(PIB) in 1940. Later, in March 1944 the
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35:'A' Company around Gisanamba, July 1945
521:. Newmarket, Queensland: G.M. Byrnes.
298:Lieutenant Colonel A.C. Cameron (1946)
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184:had resulted in the creation of the
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665:Australian World War II battalions
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566:Australia in the War of 1939–1945
211:4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion
190:1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion
164:. In 1945, it became part of the
146:2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion
24:2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion
690:Papua New Guinea in World War II
670:Infantry battalions of Australia
645:Australia-Japan research project
148:(2 NGIB) was a battalion of the
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585:McKenzie-Smith, Graham (2018).
160:during the final stages of the
342:17 killed, 5 died, 31 wounded.
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379:McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2267.
255:As the battalion entered the
475:McKenzie-Smith 2018 p. 2268.
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412:Dennis et al 1995, p. 449.
186:Papuan Infantry Battalion
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604:Sinclair, James (1990).
203:Pacific Islands Regiment
166:Pacific Islands Regiment
570:Australian War Memorial
466:Long 1963, pp. 381–385.
448:Long 1963, pp. 362–365.
176:Earlier efforts by the
484:Sinclair 1990, p. 305.
421:Sinclair 1990, p. 303.
403:Sinclair 1990, p. 273.
391:Sinclair 1990, p. 296.
257:Prince Alexander Range
517:Byrnes, G.M. (1989).
238:Aitape–Wewak campaign
162:Aitape–Wewak campaign
624:on 23 September 2015
503:Byrnes 1989, p. 269.
561:The Final Campaigns
284:Commanding officers
457:Long 1963, p. 368.
439:Long 1963, p. 362.
430:Long 1963, p. 362.
361:Long 1963, p. 82.
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334:Casualties
75:Allegiance
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69:Australia
52:June 1946
49:Disbanded
628:3 August
558:(1963).
494:however.
222:platoons
195:officers
121:Insignia
99:Infantry
578:1297619
172:History
152:during
113:Colours
57:Country
44:1944–46
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230:Nadzab
85:Branch
79:Allied
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41:Active
347:Notes
242:Wewak
630:2015
612:ISBN
591:ISBN
574:OCLC
542:ISBN
523:ISBN
329:(MM)
322:(MC)
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209:and
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105:Size
95:Type
89:Army
207:3rd
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