109th Anti-Tank Regiment

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Brief History

Anti Tank Regiments were raised to make up for the lack of protection against armoured attack experienced by 2nd AIF units and formations in the Middle East and Greek campaigns in 1941. They were equipped with the Vickers Ordnance 2 pounder QF anti tank gun. Although inadequate against more heavily armoured tanks such as the German Pzkw III and later, they proved to be more than a match for the much less effective Japanese tanks encountered in the Malaya campaign. In 1943 in line with general practice across the Army, they were all re-designated "Tank Attack" units.

The 9th Anti-tank Regiment was mobilised at Point Walter in December 1941, with the 33rd, 34th, 35th and 36th Anti-tank Batteries. The unit was rebadged in January 1942 as the 109th Australian Anti-tank Regiment. The 34th Battery moved to Chidlows in April to support the 13th Infantry Brigade Group, later moving to Moora before rejoining its parent unit at Bellevue in June. In April 1942 the 107th Anti-tank Regiment arrived from Victoria before being disbanded at Point Walter in July resulting in the 109th Anti-tank Regiment becoming attached tot he 4th Australian Infantry Division.

The 33rd Battery were allocated t support the 6th Infantry Division, and moved with them to Mingenew in August, Irwin in October and Greenmount in November. They returned to the 109th Regiment at Point Walter in December. Meanwhile the 34th Anti-tank Battery had been working with the 13th Infantry Brigade Group, moving with them to Dandaragan in August and to Chidlows in January 1943. The 35th Anti-tank Battery had been stationed at Moora with the Regiment HQ unit. They moved to Moonyoonooka in September where they were disbanded. The 36th Anti-tank Battery had joined the 2nd Infantry brigade Group at Geraldton in August 1942, and when the 35th Battery was disbanded they took over their name - i.e. became the new 35th Anti-tank Battery. They moved to Gingin in November before rejoining the HQ element at Rockingham in January 1943.

The Brigades of the 4th Infantry Division left WA during early 1943, and the Anti-tank units were now operating with the 1st Armoured Division. In March 1943 the unit was renamed 112th Australian Tank Attack Regiment, with the batteries also renamed and located at Bellevue. In April 1943 the new Tank Attack Regiment moved to Mingenew. In July the 112th Tank Attack Regiment moved to Dandaragan, and then to Rockingham in October 1943 and then to Moora in March 1944, before being disbanded in June 1944.

Most of the AMF units (ie not part of the 2nd AIF) were disbanded from 1943 when the risk of Japanese invasion dissapated.

Unit Personnel

34th Anti-Tank Battery

• Edward Harry Tasker 17 Sep 1941 - 14 Jan 1943

35th Anti-Tank Battery

External Links

[[Category:Militia Units ww2]