Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion

14 May 1942 HQ Guard being inspected by Brig JA Chapman AWM 024208

Brief History

During August 1940 HQ 1st Australian Corps Guard Battalion was formed at Deir Suneid in Palestine with 'A', 'B', and Depot Companies from men who were considered too old for front line service - commonly called "The Old and the Bold". Their role was to guard the Corps HQ and the base facilities in Palestine. In October they became the Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion and moved to Kilo 89. Extra companies were raised and each division were given a company and in January 1942 they also took responsibility for defending the lines of communication. With the return of 1st Australian Corps to Australia, some companies remained in the Middle East, while 'B', 'C' and 'E' Companies returned to Australia and did not later rejoin the parent unit.

Those that remained were sent back to Australia in January 1943 and following leave, gathered at Atherton where in May 1943 they were absorbed into the '2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion which had formed at Wondecla, Queensland with men who had returned in 1942.

In September 1943 the 2/1st Australian HQ Guard battalion' moved to Kairi, and changed its title to replace Battalion with Regiment. In December 1943 the units HQ element moved to Port Moresby as most of the companies were attached to Divisions already serving in New Guinea. With the run down of troops in New Guinea from early 1944, Regimental HQ moved back to Wongabel in Queensland during April 1944. In early 1945 most of the Companies were back overseas and so in March the HQ element moved to Lae where it remained for the rest of the war.

See also 2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion

Unit Personnel

• Harold Jack Spencer 4 Nov 1941 - 19 Nov 1943
• Robert Henry Fletcher 28 Sep 1941 - 30 Jul 1943 - 1 Platoon A Company

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 2.441 - 2.450 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018