2/22nd Australian Field Park Company

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Brief History

Formed in June 190 at Northam, Western Australia as the 2/2nd Field Park Company to provide engineering support to the 7th Infantry Division. However, when the 2/1st Field Park Company, aboard a ship in the third convoy, was deviated to England, the 2/2nd Company was allocated to take their place in the 6th Infantry Division, and it left for the Middle East in September 1940. Arriving at Qastina in Palestine in October, they moved to Amiriya (Egypt) in November. Their next move was to Maaten Bagush to support the attacks on Bardia in Libya, and Tobruk. Their stay in Tobruk was brief with them moving to Tecnis before moving back to Egypt in March to prepare for a move to Greece.

The Company arrived in Greece in mid April after the German invasion was well established, and after providing some assistance in blowing up key infrastructure to slow the German advance, they escaped to Crete in late April. In Crete they acted as infantry at Kalives. Some also worked the wharves at Suba Bay until they were forced to evacuate via the south coast. Significant numbers of men were left behind. On their return they began retraining and re-equipping at Hill 69 in Palestine. In June 1941 the unit's name changed to 2/22nd Australian Field Park Company'.

In September they moved to Rayak in Syria, but with the entry of the Japanese into the war they were recalled to Australia, departing the Middle East in February 1942. However, instead of gong directly home, hey were diverted to Matugama, Ceylon in March to assist with the preparation of defences along the south west coast. Relieved in July, the unit returned to Melbourne where after leave they reassembled at Seymour. In September they were detached from the 6th Infantry Division and moved to Greta in New South Wales before moving to Rocky Creek in north Queensland in January 1943 to work on the development of the Atherton Tablelands as a training area for troops destined for New Guinea.

In May they rejoined the 6th Infantry Division and moved to Wondecla. In October the unit moved to Aitape in New Guinea where the field companies alternated in supporting the forward brigade during the advance down the coast towards Wewak, while the rest of the unit maintained the supply road back to the Aitape base. They also operated a sawmill to provide timber, as well as a workshop while maintaining both the base stores dump and the forward dumps. In March 1945 a detachment was sent to But, and with the capture of Wewak all Engineer units moved there to establish a major base.

Unit personnel

• † Francis James Marchant ??? - 19 Apr 1941
• Alexander William Turner