33rd Battalion (Australia)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=33rd Battalion (Australian Imperial Force)


caption=
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=January 1916 - May 1919
specialization=
command_structure=
size=
current_commander=
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
ceremonial_chief_label=
nickname=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=Unit Colour Patch
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 33rd Battalion was a unit of First Australian Imperial Force, which was established in World War I. The battalion was formed in January 1916 as part of the 9th Brigade of the Australian 3rd Division. The bulk of the battalion’s recruits were drawn from the New England region and thus it was dubbed “New England’s Own”. The Battalion’s first, and only, commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Morshead. The Battalion arrived in France in 1916 and served on the Western Front until the end of the war.

Battle Honours

*Messines 1917
*Ypres 1917
*Polygon Wood
*Broodseinde
*Poelcappelle
*Passchendaele
*Somme 1918
*Ancre 1918
*Amiens
*Albert 1918
*Mont St Quentin
*Hindenburg Line
*St Quentin Canal
*France and Flanders 1916-1918

Casualties

*451 killed
*2052 wounded (including gassed)

Commanding Officers

*Morshead, Leslie James
*White, Harold Fletcher

Decorations

*2 Victoria Crosses
*1 Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
*4 Distinguished Service Orders, 1 Bar
*1 Member of the Order of the British Empire
*22 Military Cross's
*19 Distinguished Conduct Medals, 1 Bar
*76 Military Medals, 3 bars, 1 2nd Bar
*10 Meritorious Service Medals
*25 Mentioned in Despatches
*9 foreign awards

References

* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11220.asp Australian War Memorial - 33rd Battalion 1st Australian Imperial Force]