63rd Australian Infantry Battalion

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Brief History

The 63rd Australian Infantry Battalion was formed on Morotai during August 1945 with the initial title of the 2nd Australian Reinforcement Infantry Battalion. It was established with volunteers as part of the 33rd Australian Infantry Brigade Group which had been given the role of occupying parts of the Netherlands East Indies until such time as the Dutch could regain control. The 63rd Battalion was used to occupy Ambon in early October before returning to Morotai in early 1946 where it was disbanded

On Ambon its duties included providing personnel to support war crimes trials and details to assist war graves units. There were also about 800 Australian former prisoners of war at Ambon who needed repatriation. They also undertook ceremonial duties as war cemeteries were established.

Battalion Personnel

• Stan John Barrett 25 Aug 1945 - 20 Jan 1946

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 2.346 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018