1st Australian Armoured Division Salvage Unit

Brief History

The 1st Armoured Division Salvage Unit was formed at Northam in March 1942 before moving to Puckapunyal in April. In April they participated in the major training exercise in teh Narabri region of NSW before moving to WA with the rest of the 1st Armoured Division in early 1943. Their initial base was at Morowa with detachments at Mullewa and Mingenew. In August they moved to Moora, but with the disbanding of 1st Armoured Division in September 1943 they were renamed 1st Armoured Brigade Salvage Unit. However, by early 1944 troop numbers in WA were decreasing and units were being disbanded, with this unit moving to Claremont before leaving for Wongabel in Queensland in March where they joined 1st Beach Group. In April they moved to Deadmans Gully near Cairns where they downsized to a HQ and two sections.

2nd Beach Group moved to Morotai in March 1945 and landed teh 26th Australian Infantry Brigade at Tarakan in May before returning to Morotai. Their last role was to assist the landing of the 7th Australian Infantry Division at Balikpapan in July 1945 where the 1st Armoured Brigade Salvage Unit remained until the end of the war.

Unit Personnel

• Hubert James (Jim) Gale 16 Mar 1942 - 22 Aug 1944
• Maxwell John Watson 23 Mar - 4 Nov 1942

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 6.154 & 6.155 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018