2nd Australian Field Bakery

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Brief History

Sharing designation with the WW1 unit of the same name, the 2nd AUstralian Field Bakery was formed, as equipment became available in NSw during January 1942. However, by August only one section had been raised, and it was baking at Tenterfield by November. By March 1943 another section was baking at Tamworth, and in July 1943 a Platoon was raised to move to Port Moresby, later to be known as 6th Field Baking Platoon. In October, the HQ and two sections moved to the Northern Territory to service the large number of troops there. On arrival at Adelaide River, 2nd Australian Field Bakery took over detachments at Vesteys Katherine and Larrimah.

In March 1944 army baking units were re-organised and the unit became HQ 5th Australian Field Baking Company with the 37th and 38th Platoons at Adelaide River, 39th Platoon at Vesteys and 40th Platoon at Katherine with a detachment at Larimah. In July 1944 14th Field Baking Company took over the Katherine area, so the 40th Platoon moved to Noonamah while 36th Platoon joined Company HQ at Adelaide River. A detachment of 36th Platoon moved to Truscott in WA during August 1944 and the 36th and 40th Platoons changed places at Noonamah and Vesteys. In October the 36th Platoon moved to Vesteys, and in January 1945 the 40th Platoon left for NSW, and were replaced at Vesteys by the 38th Platoon. With ever decreasing troop numbers in the NT, 39th Field Baking Platoon left in August 1945, while the units still at Adelaide River, Vesteys and Noonamah remained in place until the end of hostilities.

Unit Personnel

• Mervyn Eric Doherty 31 Oct 1943 - 14 Jan 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 5.259 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018