43rd Water Transport Operating Company (Landing Craft)

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Brief History

43rd Water Transport Operating Company (Lnding Craft) was raised at Coochiemudlo Island, Queensland in November 1943 with men from the disbanded 25th Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Australian Corps Guerrilla Warfare group. In February 1944 they absorbed a detachment from 41st Water Transport Company which had returned from Port Moresby.

In April 1944 they began to move to New Guinea, headquarters at Labu Lagoon near Lae. In June they were renamed to 43rd Landing Craft Company which retained its base at Labu. They had detachments at Lae, Finschhafen and Madang. In 1944 the unit was due to return to Australia, however, with the Australians now taking all responsibility for New Guinea and New Britain, they remained innew Guinea, were re-equipped and sent detachments to Aitape and Jacquinot Bay. In May 1945 their headquarters moved to Aitape, withthe units craft carrying Farida Force to a landing at Dove Bay that resulted in the capture of Wewak. While headquarters moved to Mission Point in June 1945, the detahments remained in place until the end of the war. In August 1945the unti was transferred to Transport Corps.

The functions of Water Transportation units such as the 43rd Landing Craft Company were:- 1. The resupply of essential supplies from principal base ports to forward areas, where there were no roads yet where inshore sea transport was possible. 2. The carriage of troops, especially in amphibious assaults. 3. The evacuation of wounded. 4. The local carriage of equipment, stores and salvage. 5. Building of minor port facilities, such as jetties and landing stages, to facilitate the operation of inshore water craft.

The 43rd Landing Craft Company produced their own magazine which was called "Barging About".

Unit Personnel

• Thomas Timothy Roberts 3 Dec 1943 - 24 Jan 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 3 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 3.555 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018