Australian 16th Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 16th Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army
. First raised during World War I
, when it existed only briefly in 1917 and did not participate in the fighting. Raised again in 1939 for service during World War II
, during which it saw action in Libya
, Greece
and New Guinea
before being disbanded in 1946 after the conflict had ended. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 16th Aviation Brigade
which was raised on 2 April 2002.
, on the Salisbury Plain
, as part of the 6th Division on 17 March 1917. The unit it did not see any action and was disbanded on 19 October 1917 due to manpower shortages in the AIF
.
in Libya
, the Battle of Greece
, the Kokoda Track campaign
and the Battle of Buna–Gona
in Papua
, and in the Aitape–Wewak campaign
in New Guinea
.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. First raised during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, when it existed only briefly in 1917 and did not participate in the fighting. Raised again in 1939 for service during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, during which it saw action in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
before being disbanded in 1946 after the conflict had ended. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 16th Aviation Brigade
16th Aviation Brigade (Australia)
The 16th Aviation Brigade currently commands most of the Australian Army's aviation units. Formed on 2 April 2002 the brigade from the amalgamation of the Aviation Support Group and the 1st Division's Aviation unit, it is headquartered in Enoggera, Queensland with units based throughout...
which was raised on 2 April 2002.
World War I
The 16th Infantry Brigade was formed in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, on the Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain
Salisbury Plain is a chalk plateau in central southern England covering . It is part of the Southern England Chalk Formation and largely lies within the county of Wiltshire, with a little in Hampshire. The plain is famous for its rich archaeology, including Stonehenge, one of England's best known...
, as part of the 6th Division on 17 March 1917. The unit it did not see any action and was disbanded on 19 October 1917 due to manpower shortages in the AIF
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
.
Subunits
- 61st Battalion61st Battalion (Australia)The 61st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1917 during the First World War but was disbanded the same year without seeing active service. Later it was re-raised as a part of the Militia in 1938 in Brisbane, Queensland...
(19 March 1917 – 19 October 1917) - 65th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 16 May 1917)
- 69th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 19 October 1917)
- 70th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 16 May 1917)
- 62nd Battalion62nd Battalion (Australia)The 62nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was first raised in 1917 during World War I but was disbanded before seeing active service. During World War II the battalion was re-raised in 1942 as a unit of the Militia and was tasked with undertaking garrison duty in Dutch...
(17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917) - 63rd Battalion (17 May 1917 – 19 October 1917)
- 16th Machine Gun Company (7 June 1917 – 16 August 1917)
- 16th Light Trench Mortar Battery (5 June 1917 – 26 September 1917)
Commanders
- Brigadier GeneralBrigadier GeneralBrigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
John M. Antill (20 March 1917 – 20 September 1917) - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
William MackenzieWilliam MackenzieWilliam Mackenzie may refer to:* William Mackenzie , Scottish ophthalmologist* William Mackenzie , British civil engineering contractor...
(20 September 1917 – 19 October 1918)
World War II
The 16th Infantry Brigade was reformed on 13 October 1939, again as part of the 6th Division. The 16th Brigade fought in the Western Desert CampaignWestern Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, the Battle of Greece
Battle of Greece
The Battle of Greece is the common name for the invasion and conquest of Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941. Greece was supported by British Commonwealth forces, while the Germans' Axis allies Italy and Bulgaria played secondary roles...
, the Kokoda Track campaign
Kokoda Track campaign
The Kokoda Track campaign or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought between July and November 1942 between Japanese and Allied—primarily Australian—forces in what was then the Australian territory of Papua...
and the Battle of Buna–Gona
Battle of Buna-Gona
The Battle of Buna–Gona was a battle in the New Guinea campaign, a major part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. On 16 November 1942, Australian and United States forces attacked the main Japanese beachheads in New Guinea, at Buna, Sanananda and Gona. Both forces were riddled by disease and...
in Papua
Papua (Australian territory)
The Territory of Papua comprised the southeastern quarter of the island of New Guinea from 1883 to 1949. It became a British Protectorate in the year 1884, and four years later it was formally annexed as British New Guinea...
, and in the Aitape–Wewak campaign
Aitape-Wewak campaign
The Aitape–Wewak campaign was one of the final campaigns of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. Between November 1944 and the end of the war in August 1945, the Australian 6th Division, with air and naval support, fought the Imperial Japanese 18th Army in northern New Guinea...
in New Guinea
Territory of New Guinea
The Territory of New Guinea was the Australia-controlled, League of Nations-mandated territory in the north eastern part of the island of New Guinea, and surrounding islands, between 1920 and 1949...
.
Subunits
- 2/1st Battalion (16 October 1939 – December 1945)
- 2/2nd Battalion (24 October 1939 – 15 February 1946)
- 2/3rd Battalion (24 October 1939 – 8 February 1946)
- 2/4th Battalion (3 November 1939 – 30 April 1940) to 19th Brigade19th Brigade (Australia)The 19th Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II as part of the 6th Division. Formed in April 1940 as a result of the reorganisation of the Second Australian Imperial Force when the infantry brigades composition was reduced from four to three battalions. The fourth...
Commanders
- BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Arthur AllenArthur Samuel AllenMajor General Arthur Samuel "Tubby" Allen CB CBE DSO VD was an Australian soldier. During World War II he reached the rank of Major General and commanded Allied forces in the Syria-Lebanon and New Guinea campaigns...
(1939–1940) - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
George WoottenGeorge WoottenMajor General Sir George Frederick Wootten KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, ED , was an Australian soldier, public servant, right wing political activist and solicitor. He rose to the rank of temporary Major General during World War II....
(1940) - Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth EatherKenneth EatherMajor General Kenneth William Eather CB, CBE, DSO, ED was an Australian soldier who served during World War II, rising to the rank of major general. Eather led a battalion in the Battle of Bardia, a brigade on the Kokoda Track campaign and a division in the New Britain campaign...
(1941) - Brigadier Allan BoaseAllan BoaseMajor General Allan Joseph Boase , CBE, was a soldier in the Australian Army, who served in the First World War and was a general during the Second World War.-Early Life:...
(1941–1942) - Brigadier John Lloyd (1942–1943)
- Brigadier Roy King (1943–1945)