2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion

The Old and the Bold

Aug 1943 Herberton, Qld. Lines of 'C' Company AWM photo 055466

Brief History

The official formation of the 2/1st HQ Guard Battalion' is listed as occurring at Wondecla in Queensland during March 1943 using members of the HQ Guard Battalion that were returning from the Middle East. However, AWM photos and casualty figures for the unit attribute Middle East activity to 2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Battalion.

• HQ formed at Deir Suneid in Palestine in August 1940.

• A Company formed at Deir Suneid in Palestine in August 1940, attached to the 9th Division with a platoon for each Brigade HQs, and one for the Divisional HQ. Following leave on their return from the Middle East they gathered at Kairi (Queensland) in April 1943, becoming 'A' Company of the 2/1st Australian Headquarters Guard Regiment. HQ and 3 Platoon were attached to Divisional HQs, while 1 Platoon was attached to the 20th Infantry Brigade Group, 2 Platoon was attached to the 2th Infantry Brigade Group. 4 Platoon was detached in May 1943 to the 11th Infantry brigade Group at Merauke in Dutch New Guinea. The detachment was in July renamed 13 Platoon of 'D' Company, with a new 4 Platoon raised to service the 26th Infantry Brigade Group. In support of their designated HQs, the units moved to Milne Bay in August, then to Lae and on to Finschaffen, before returning to Australia with their respective brigades. By March 1944 they were all at Ravenshoe in North Queensland before deploying to Borneo via Morotai - 4 Platoon to Tarakan, and the rest to Labuan. At the conclusion of hostilities, Coy HQ and 3 Platoon were at Labuan, 1 Platoon was at Kuala Belait, 2 Platoon at Beufort, and 4 Platoon at Tarakan.

• B Company formed at Deir Suneid in Palestine in August 1940.

• C Company formed at Kilo 89 in Palestine during November 1940.

• D Company formed at Kilo 89 in Palestine during December 1940.

• E Company formed at Kilo 89 in Palestine during January 1941.

• F Company formed at Kilo 89 in Palestine during March 1941.

• G Company formed at Kilo 89 in Palestine mid-1941.

• H Company formed at Kilo 89 in September 1941.

• I, J and K Companies were also formed in January 1942 by appear to have been absorbed into the other companies by mid-1942.

One member of the unit was killed in action in North Africa, one died of illness while in captivity, one died an accidental death in Palestine, and eight others of illness in Australia.

Battalion Personnel

• Hubert Laurence Batt 4 Nov 1941 - 26 Sep 1944 C & D Companies
• Raymond Victor Clough 31 Jul 1944 - 23 Nov 1945 (2 Platoon A Company)
• Harold Jack Spencer
• Robert Henry Fletcher 28 Sep 1941 - 30 Jul 1943 - (1 Platoon A Company)

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 2.441 - 2.445 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018