36th Battalion (Australia)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=36th Brigade (Australian Imperial Force)


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country=Australia
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type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=February 1916 - 30 April 1918
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garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
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identification_symbol_label=Unit Colour Patch
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anniversaries=Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=36th Brigade (Australian Military Forces)


caption=
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=1921 - 1945
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=

36th Battalion (1st Australian Imperial Force)

The 36th Battalion was raised at Broadmeadow Camp, in Newcastle, New South Wales in February 1916.

The 36th became part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division and left Sydney, bound for the United Kingdom on 13 May 1916. Arriving in early July 1916, the battalion spent the next four months in training. It moved into the trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 4 December 1916.

The battalion was invloved in the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. The 36th’s next major battle was around Passchendaele on the 12th June 1917. The 36th secured its objective but with open flanks and ineffective artillery support, was forced to withdraw.

For the next five months the 36th alternated between periods of rest, training, labouring, and service in the line. The battalion was part of the force deployed to defend the approaches to Amiens and around Villers-Bretonneux in 1918. It took part in a counter-attack at Hangard Wood on 30 March 1918, and helped to defeat a major drive on Villers- Bretonneux on 4 April 1918.

The fighting had exacted a heavy toll upon the 9th Brigade and it was decided to disband the 36th battalion to reinforce the other two and was disbanded on 30 April 1918.

Battle Honours

*Messines 1917
*Ypres 1917
*Polygon Wood
*Broodseinde
*Poelcappelle
*Passchendaele
*Somme 1918
*France and Flanders 1916-1918

Casualties

*452 killed
*1253 wounded (including gassed)

Commanding Officers

*Lieutenant Colonel Marcus Logan
*Lieutenant Colonel James William Albert Simpson
*Lieutenant Colonel John Alexander Milne
*Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fletcher White

Decorations

*1 Distinguished Service Order's
*11 Military Cross's
*3 Distinguished Conduct Medal's
*34 Military Medal's, 4 bars
*3 Meritorious Service Medal's
*13 Mentioned in Despatches

36th Battalion (Australian Military Forces)

The 36th Battalion was a Australian Infantry Battalion, of Australian Military Forces which was raised in 1921 as a Militia unit. It was also known as the "St Georges English Rifle Regiment" and also as "Ike's Marines".

With the outbreak of World War II, the battalion undertook training at Rutherford Camp, Greta Camp, and Bathurst Camp. Following the entry of the Imperial Japanese into the war, the 14th Brigade, comprising the 36th Battalion, 3rd Battalion, and 55th Battalion, moved to Newcastle to provide defence of the Newcastle area in March 1942. The 36th was headquartered at Gan Gan in Nelson Bay and was deployed along the beaches from Anna Bay, near Newcastle Bight, to Nelson Bay in Port Stephens.

Soon after the 36th returned to Greta Camp in preparation for transfer to Townsville and Port Moresby in May 1942.

In Port Moresby, the 36th carried out garrison duties, conducting long-range patrols in the Owen Stanley Range. When the Japanese began the Kokoda Track campaign, the 36th moved to Koitaki in September 1942. When the Japanese had reached Nauro, from where a track ran south to Subitana, connected by road to Moresby, the 36th was sent as a blocking force, against the Japanese using this alternate track. The 36th patrolled the area for about a week, before it was sent further up the track to Uberi, where they relieved the remnants of the 2/14th Battalion and 2/16th Battalion. The 36th was relived from duties on the track and returned to Port Moresby on 9 October 1942.

The 36th, as part of the 30th Brigade was sent to Sanananda to participate in part of the Battle of Buna-Gona to the 16th Brigade which had not been able to capture Sanananda. Between 19 December and 26 December 1942, numerous attacks against the Japanese defences at Sanananda, however failed to take Sanananda. The 36th was transferred from action after being reduced in strength to just 16 officers and 272 men in a fortnight.

In January 1943, the 36th was moved to the Gona area to relieve the 55th/53rd Battalion and patrol the Gona–Amboga River area. During March 1943, the 36th returned to Australia and, after a short period of leave and training in northern Australia, returned to New Guinea in July 1943. For the next 15 months, the 36th was stationed in Port Moresby, Soputa, Buna–Oro Bay, Lae, Wau, and Bulolo.

In October 1944 the battalion moved by sea to the north coast of New Britain. Rather than carry out a major offensive against the Japanese at Rabaul, the 36th and 6th Brigade confined the Japanese to the Gazelle Peninsula with active patrolling. The 36th made a name for itself with long-range patrols and numerous amphibious landings, becoming known as "'Ike’s Marines".

The 36th was relieved and brought back to Australia in June 1945. It was disbanded in August 1945.

Battle Honours

*South-West Pacific 1941-1945
*Buna-Gona
*Sanananda Road
*Liberation of Australian New Guinea

Casualties

*77 died
*126 wounded

Commanding Officers

*Lieutenant Colonel Arnold Brown
*Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Alexander 'Bull' Burrows
*Lieutenant Colonel Oscar Cedric “Ike” Isaachsen
*Lieutenant Colonel Muir Purser

Decorations

*1 Distinguished Service Order
*14 Mentioned in Despatches

References

* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11223.asp Australian War Museum - 36th Battalion 1st Australian Imperial Force]
* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11954.asp Australian War Museum - 36th Battalion Australian Military Force]