69th Battalion

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Brief History

During 1916 when the AIF was in France, plans were made to raise the 6th Division in England, with the British government formally requesting it on 1 Feb 1917. An establishment was established in April 1917 and men began to be posted to its units. The 6th Division structure comprised the 16th and 17th Brigades with the 16th Brigade comprising the 61st, 62nd, 63rd and 65th Battalions, and the 17th Brigade, the 66th, 67th, 69th and 70th Battalions. The 69th Battalion was formed in England on 19 Mar 1917, but disbanded on 19 Oct 1917.

However, the plan had to be abandoned after the casualties sustained at Bullecourt during April and May, and at Messines, during June 1917 meant that the number of reinforcements arriving in England was less then needed to keep existing Divisions up to establishment levels without conscription. The defeat of the Conscription Bill by Referendum (twice) sealed the fate of the 6th Division. The 6th Division and its subordinate Brigades and units never saw combat and were disbanded in September / October 1917 with personnel quickly posted to training units in the UK, or off to the Front in Belgium.

Individual Honours

• 1 x Military Cross

Battalion Personnel

• John (Senior) Shepherd 19 Sep - 5 Nov 1917