17th Australian Company AASC

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Brief History

Another unit that went by many names. Originally mobilised at Wallgrove, New South Wales in December 1941 as the 2nd Infantry Division Petrol Company with an establishment of 376 men, it was the reserve for Eastern Command, having brigades at Wallgrove, Bathurst and Greta. In March 1942 they moved to Narellan, temporarily attached to the 31st Infantry Brigade Group, but in June it joined the 5th Infantry Brigade Group at Wallgrove. Detachments from all companies accompanied 14th Australian Infantry Brigade Group to New Guinea in May. The rest of the unit transferred to WA in July, and during the voyage the unit was re-organised, and renamed 5th Infantry Brigade Company AASC.

After arriving at Melville they were again renamed, this time in August 1942 as 17th Australian Company AASC. Soon after they proceeded to Bushmead attached to the 5th Australian Infantry Group, and moved with it to Gingin in October, Strawberry in November 1942 and Bringo in March 1943, before returning to Strawberry in August, and Bringo in September 1943. The unit moved to Kairi in north Queensland with the 5th Infantry Brigade Group during February 1944. The unit was disbanded at Kairi in April by forming the 248th Supply Depot Platoon and the 249th Supply Depot Platoon which then remained with the 5th Infantry Brigade Group until war's end.

Unit Personnel

• Derrick Leonard Saw 13 Jan - 3 Mar 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 5.054 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018