5th Australian Reinforcement Depot

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Brief History

This unit began as the 8th Military District Training Depot to supply reinforcements for Port Moresby and Thursday Island units. Formed in Brisbane in early 1941 it moved to Toowoomba in late 1941, and then to Selheim near Charters Towers in April 1942 where it was named New Guinea Line of Communication Area Training Depot. In July its named changed again, to New Guinea Force Advanced Reinforcement Depot and it continued to supply reinforcements before becoming the 5th Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot. Its role changed in September when as sister unit (1st Advanced Reinforcement Depot) moved to Port Moresby and took over the role of providing reinforcement for specific units in New Guinea.

In December 1943 the 5th Australian Advanced Reinforcement Depot was expanded to eight companies, absorbing its sister units from Western Australia and the Northern Territory (3rd and 4th Advanced Reinforcement Depots), providing reinforcements for all units in Australia. In December 1944 it moved to Wacol in Brisbane and in May 1945 their name changed a last time to 5th Australian Reinforcement Depot.

Passing through

• Harold Baldwin 29 Nov - 7 Dec 1943
• Alexander Rhone 15 Sep - 9 Nov 1944

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 6.259 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018