35th Battalion (Australia)

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=35th Brigade (Australian Imperial Force)


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country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=December 1915 - March 1919
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garrison=
ceremonial_chief=
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identification_symbol_label=Unit Colour Patch
identification_symbol_2=
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battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=35th Brigade (Australian Military Forces)


caption=
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Infantry
branch=Army
dates=1921 - 1946
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=

35th Battalion (1st Australian Imperial Force)

The 35th Battalion was formed in December 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales. It was known as Newcastle’s Own as the majority of the recruits were from Newcastle.

Part of the 9th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, it left Sydney, bound for the United Kingdom (UK) on 1 May 1916. Arriving in the UK in early July 1916, the battalion spent four months training, before being shipped to France in November 1916. The battalion was sent to the trenches of the Western Front on 26 November 1916.

The first major battle was the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. Then sent to Passchendaele on 12 October 1917, were it suffered large casulaties. 508 men crossed the start line but only 90 non casulaties remained at the end of the attack.

After the losses suffered the battalion was put into reserve and for the next five months the 35th 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 around Villers-Bretonneux. 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 and nearly 70 per cent casualties were suffered during these operations.

The battalion took part in the battle of Amiens on 8 August 1918, fought several small battles during the rapid advance that followed and in September provided reserves for the joint Australian-American operation that breached the Hindenburg Line.

The 35th Battalion was disbanded in March 1919.

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

*581 killed
*1637 wounded (including gassed)

Commanding Officers

*Lieutenant Colonel Grantley Andrew Holborrow
*Lieutenant Colonel Henry Arthur Goddard
*Lieutenant Colonel Harold Fletcher White

Decorations

*1 Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
*3 Distinguished Service Order's
*17 Military Cross's, 3 bars
*10 Distinguished Conduct Medal's
*72 Military Medal's, 1 bar
*6 Meritorious Service Medal's
*28 Mentioned in Despatches
*4 foreign awards

35th Battalion (Australian Military Forces)

Formed as part of the Citizens Military Force (CMF), also known as the Militia. In 1929 the 35th was linked with the 33rd Infantry Battalion, to form the 35th/33rd Infatnry Battalion. In 1932 the 35th/33rd was separated and the 35th merged with the 2nd Infantry Battalion. The 35th was later separated from the 2nd.

The 35th was mobilised for full-time service and took up defensive positions at St Ives, Sydney in early 1942. In June 1942 the 35th was sent to Greta Camp for further training and to join the 8th Brigade, comprised of the 4th Battalion and 30th Battalion.

In July 1942, the 35th relocated to Western Australia. The 35th undertook training, labouring, and manning defensive positions along the coast from Bunbury to Geraldton. As part of the 2nd Division, it made up III Corps with the 1st Armoured Division.

In late 1943, the 35th, together with the 8th Brigade, moved to Gordonvale, North Queensland. In January 1944, the 35th and the 8th Brigade, now part of the 5th Division, moved to New Guinea. The role was to support the 9th Division’s Huon Peninsula campaign by clearing the Rio Coast between Sio and Saidor. The 35th patrolled the many mountain tracks and villages inland of the coast.

As part of the 8th Brigade’s next objective at Madang, the 35th was used to patrol the inland mountain tracks. The 35th was concentrated south of the Rempi River. The 35th was ordered to maintain pressure on the Japanese who were north of Alexishafen and moved to Megiar Harbour and sent out patrols to the coast. It reached Kronprinz Harbour and then Suara Bay in June 1944.

Following the surrender of the Imperial Japanese, the 35th was sent to Wewak. The 35th was disbanded soon after returning to Australia in 1946.

Battle Honours

*Sio-Sepik River
*South-West Pacific 1944-45
*Liberation of Australian New Guinea

Casualties

*17 died
*18 wounded

Commanding Officers

*Major Frederick Henry Montgomery Armstrong
*Lieutenant Colonel Eugene William Egan
*Lieutenant Colonel Douglas Frank Rae

Decorations

*1 Military Medal
*12 Mentioned in Despatches

References

* [http://www.awm.gov.au/diaries/ww1/folder.asp?folder=976 35th Battalion war diary (World War I)]
*M.E. Lyne, "Newcastle's Own: The story of the Battalion", Newcastle Sun, 8 March-8 May 1920
* [http://www.awm.gov.au/diaries/ww2/folder.asp?folder=533 35th Battalion war diary (World War II)]
* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11222.asp Australian War Museum - 35th Battalion 1st Australian Imperial Force]
* [http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11930.asp Australian War Museum - 35th Battalion Australian Military Force]