172nd Australian Light Anti Aircraft Battery

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Brief History

Raised at Naval base in June 1942 as part of the '116th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment with men from the disbanding 107th Anti Tank Regiment, they trained for a mobile role with periods ont he Rockingham Artillery Range. In January 1943 they moved to Cottesloe to man LAA gun positions around Fremantle until April when they moved to rejoin the regiment at Bibra Lake. From may to August they returned to Cottesloe, and then in August to Melville Camp. This move was followed by one to Moonyoonooka near Geraldton in October 1943, and a return to Perth (Northam Camp) in January 1944.

In March 1944 they were brought up to strength with men from other units and in April 1944 they left for Merauke in Dutch New Guinea. By the time they arrived plans for an operation along the southern New Guineea coast had been dropped, but a section was sent to Eilanden River 200 miles (330 km) west of Merauke, and another to Tanaherah. With the return of the 11th Australian Infantry Brigade to Australia, the 172nd LAA Battery moved to greta in new South Wals in October and then to Narellan in December 1944 where it was disbanded.

See also 116th Australian Light Anti Aircraft Regiment for detail

Unit Personnel

• Percy John Powell 19 Feb 1944 - 20 Feb 1945

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.303 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018