16th Brigade (Australia)
| 16th Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Troops from the 16th Brigade cross the Owen Stanleys, October 1942 | |
| Active | 1917 1939–1946 |
| Land |  Australien |
| Branch | Army |
| Typ | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 6th Division |
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.
History
World War I
The 16th Infantry Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of the 6th Division on 17 March 1917. The brigade was formed mainly from convalescents who were in Britain recovering.[1] The unit did not see any action and was disbanded in September following the Battle of Bullecourt and Battle of Messines due to manpower shortages in the AIF.[2] After this, the brigade's personnel were transferred to the AIF's Overseas Training Brigade with the last elements departing on 19 October 1917.[3]
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 Campaign 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.[4]
Subunits
The following units were assigned to the brigade during World War I:[2][3]
- 61st Battalion (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 Battalion (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)
The following units were assigned to the brigade during World War II:[4]
- 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 Brigade
Commanders
The following officers commanded the brigade during World War I:[5]
- Brigadier General John Antill (20 March 1917 – 20 September 1917)
- Lieutenant Colonel William Mackenzie (20 September 1917 – 19 October 1918)
The following officers commanded the brigade during World War II:[6]
- Brigadier Arthur Allen (1939–1940)
- Lieutenant Colonel George Wootten (1940)
- Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Eather (1941)
- Brigadier Allan Boase (1941–1942)
- Brigadier John Edward Lloyd (1942–1943)
- Brigadier Roy King (1943–1945)
Notes
- ^ Bean 1941, p. 17.
- ^ a b Mallett, Ross. "Sixth Division, AIF (England, February – September 1917)". 1st AIF Order of Battle. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2009.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b Baker, Chris. "6th Australian Division". The Long, Long Trail: The British Army in the Great War of 1914–1918. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ a b "16th Brigade, World War II". Australian War. Retrieved 23 April 2009.
- ^ Clark, Rex (1979). "Antill, John Macquarie (1866–1937)". Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 7. Melbourne University Press. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
- ^ "16 Australian Infantry Brigade: Unit Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
References
- Bean, Charles (1941) [1933]. The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1917. Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918. Vol. Volume IV (11th ed.). Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 17648490.
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