33rd Port Operating Company

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Brief History

When the Australians were asked to relieve the US troops in New Guinea, the 5th Australian Infantry Division was tasked withestablishing a base at Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. From there they were to advanc eon the Japanese troops at Rabaul.

This unit was raised at Meadowbank in New South Wales during August 1944 as the 33rd Australian Docks Operating Company. After staging, first at Townsville, and then at Lae in New Guinea, they arrived at Jacquinot Bay in November 1944, remaining there until the end of the war, while a detachment went as part of the 11th Australian Infantry Division to accept the surrender at Rabaul. In August 1945 they transferred from the Engineers to the Transportation Corps, and were renamed 33rd Australian Port Operating Company.

Unit Personnel

• Ernest John Peters 3 - 26 Jan 1946

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.541 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018