9th Australian Infantry Division Salvage Unit

A member of the 9th Division Salvage Company demonstrates how to fire a captured 50mm German Mortar - AWM photo 020752

Brief History

Originally raised as the 8th Divisions Salvage Unit at Melville in August 1940 , it was transferred to the 9th Division (with subsequent renumbering) in October 1940. The unit departed for the Middle East in January 1941, and arrived at Hill 69 in Palestine during February. In March the 9th Division moved into Libya and was one of the 9th Division units that were besieged in Tobruk from April until October 1941. freed from their role at Tobruk they returned to Julis in Palestine, and then to Tripoli, Syria in January 1942, with detachment at Beirut and Latakia.

With the German advance on Egypt, the 9th Division returned to North Africa, with the Salvage unit part of Alexandria's defence. They resumed their salvage role during both the defensive and offensive battles that followed, and then with the defeat of the German forces they were withdrawn to Australia in January 1943, arriving in February.

The unit gathered after leave at Kairi in north Queensland by may and in August travelled with the 9th Division HQ unit to Milne Bay in August. When Lae was captured in September they moved to Lae to carry out their salvage role, and then to Finschhafen once it was captured. They returned to Ravenshoe in Australia in February 1944 where they waited for their next role. It was to be landings at Tarakan and around Brunei Bay. In April a detachment went with the 26th Brigade to a staging area on Morotai from where they landed in May. The rest of the unit travelled with the Divisional headquarters to Morotai in May and landed at Labuan in June. the 9th Division Salvage Unit worked from Tarakan and around Brunei Bay for the rest of the war.

Unit Personnel

• Richard Barrett

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 6.153 & 6.154 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018