2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion

Bren Carrier and temporary shelter El Alamein area - AWM photo P02522.004

Boarding Landing Craft at Morotai for the Borneo landing - AWM photo 108518

Brief History

Raised at Tidworth, Wiltshire in June 1940 as part of the 25th Infantry Brigade from infantry reinforcements and technical troops that had been diverted to the UK in the Third Convoy, and that were retained in the UK to assist with its defence. The unit name was changed in October to 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion when it relocated to Colchester in Essex. Initially it only had three rifle companies, with 'D' Company not formed until November in Palestine. In March 1941 the rest of the battalion joined 'D' Company at Kilo 89. Initially formed as part of what became the 9th Infantry Division, it was transferred to the 7th Infantry Division when it arrived in Palestine.

In April 1941 the 2/32nd Battalion moved to Ikingi Maryut near Alexandria to prepare to move to Greece. However, with the rapid German advances in both Greece and North Africa, it was retained in Egypt and sent to man the Mersa Matruh Fortress area instead. With the 24th Infantry Brigade (9th Division) a battalion short and engaged in the defence of Tobruk's eastern sector, the 2/32nd Battalion was transferred to them and moved to join them in Tobruk. Relieved in September 1941 the 24th Infantry Brigade including the 2/32nd Battalion moved to Kilo 89, to rest and retrain. The 9th Infantry Division moved to Syria in January 1942 to relieve the 7th Infantry Division which had been recalled to Australia.

The 2/32nd Battalion took up position at El Ayoun before moving to Ramlieh in March. In May the Brigade moved to Bech Mezzine for collective training. With the continued German advance on Egypt from the west, the 9th Division was sent to Egypt in late June. Initially occupying defensive positions west of Alexandria. During July and August they fought defensive battles, and in September again defended before launching a series of raids on German positions, until the breakthrough occurred in November. While other units pursued the retreating German forces, the 9th Division remained to mop up the battlefield before moving to Palestine in late November, where the 2/32nd Battalion re-organised and trained until they left for Australia in January 1943.

After leave, the battalion reassembled at Kairi in Queensland during April 1943 and began to prepare for a move to New Guinea. During June they conducted amphibious landing training near Cairns, and in August moved to Buna in New Guinea. In September, along with the rest of the 24th Infantry Brigade they followed up the earlier landings east of Lae by the 20th and 26th Infantry Brigades, attacking along the coast towards Lae. Following the capture of Lae, the 24th Brigade rested at Burep River, while 'D' Company was detached to protect a radar station on the Tami Islands. In October the battalion was again complete, located at Finschhafen airfield before moving to Scarlet Beach to block sustained enemy attacks, and then capturing Katika in late October. In November they established a blocking position at Pabu to interdict enemy supply lines and were forced to fight of several attacks on their position. The battalion remained in the Gusika / Pabu / Sattelberg area until January 1944 before moving to Australia in February via Finschhafen.

Reassembling in May at Ravenshoe Queensland after a period of leave, they began to prepare for a role to the north of New Guinea, which was to include amphibious landings on Borneo at Tarakan and at Brunei Bay. In April their Brigade moved to Morotai and with the 2/32nd Battalion acting as the divisional reserve, the landings took place in June. In mid June the 2/32nd Battalion landed at Weston on the mainland and advanced toward Beaufort, then advancing to Papar where they were at the conclusion of hostilities. 211 men died in action or of illness while a member of this battalion.

Battalion Personnel

• William Boyd Griffiths 27 Jun 1940 - 30 Jul 1942
• Ronald Adrian Shaw
• Thomas Henry (Tom) Whitehouse POW
• Harry Alfred Curtis 21 Aug 1941 - 8 Dec 1944
• Douglas John Elliott 10 Oct 1941 - 4 Sep 1943 WIA
• Harry Alfred Curtis 6 Nov 1941 - 15 Jun 1944
• Stanley Upton Hammond 30 Dec 1941 - 9 Mar 1944
• Edgar Paul Siebner 30 Dec 1941 - 6 Jul 1942
• † Wallace Nelson McLauchlan 23 May 1942 - 26 Oct 1943
• Raymond Victor Clough 5 Nov 1942 - 31 Jul 1944
• † Bernard Sydney Smailes 4 Oct 1941 - 22 Nov 1943
• Stephen Charles Southern 1 Jan - 15 Nov 1943
• † Eric Stanley Southern 1 Jan - 26 Nov 1943
• Edward Ernest Wilson 1 Jan 1943 - 30 Jan 1944
• Arthur Gordon Fielder 5 Jul 1944 - 27 Jan 1946

Battle Honours

• North Africa 1941-42
• Defence of Tobruk
• Defence of Alamein Line
• Tel el Makh Khad
• Sanyet el Miteirya
• El Alamein
• South West Pacific 1943-45
• Lae - Nadzab
• Finschhafen
• Defence of Scarlet Beach
• Pabu
• Liberation of Australian New Guinea
• Borneo
• Beaufort

Individual Honours

• 3 x Distinguished Service Orders
• 3 x Officer of the British Empire
• 4 x Military Cross
• 4 x Distinguished Conduct Medal
• 16 x Military Medal
• 42 x Mentioned in Despatches

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 2.334 to 2.336 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018