7th Infantry Division Supply Column

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Brief History

Formed at Puckapunyal in May 1940, the unit embarked for the Middle East in October and in November they were established at Barbara in Palestine. Preparing to move to Greece in April 1941 the German advance in Libya instead saw them move to Mersa Matruh mid w ay between the Egyptian border and Alexandria. With the 18th Infantry Brigade Group they joined the 9th Division in Tobruk in time to be involved in the siege. Here they re-organised to form the 18th Infantry Brigade Composite Company AASC, but in June they were withdrawn from the brigade to form an area transport company with four sections. When they were relieved in August 1941 they moved back to Beit Jirja in Palestine, before moving to El Aine in Syria before rejoining the 18th Infantry Brigade Group at Aleppo in October. With the Japanese entering the war, they moved back to Kilo 89 in Palestine during January 1942, now know as the 2/6th Company AASC. They left the Middle East with the 7th Division in February, landing at Port Adelaide in March 1942.

In April the Company moved to Tenterfield in NSW, and then to Kilcoy in Queensland in May. In response to the Japanese advance in New Guinea, the 7th Division was rushed to Papua, and the Company provided a detachment of 160 men to move to Milne Bay in August with the 18th Brigade Group. meanwhile the rest of the Company moved to Woodford, and then Beachmere in September before concentrating at Milne Bay in October 1942. Over the next 12 months the company provided detachments to Wanigela in December, one to Buna, and another to Goodenough Island while the Company HWQ remained at Milne Bay. They concentrated again at Milne bay in August 1943 and left for Kairi in Queensland in October where they joined the 3rd Division and supported its units all over the Atherton Tablelands.

In February 1944 'A' Platoon was at Deadman's Gully, the Composite Platoon, 'B' Platoon, and 'C' Platoon ere at Ravenshoe. By May all bar 'B' Platoon were concentrated in Mapee. In June 1944 they re-organised to form the 2/10th Transport Platoon, 2/11th Transport Platoon, 2/12th Transport Platoon and 2/6th Workshop Platoon, with the HQ 2/6th General Transport Company being absorbed into 3rd Supply Depot Company. In September they moved to Gordonvale, and then in November to Mapee to re-join the 7th Infantry Division. In May 1945 the 2/6th General Transport Company left for Morotai, equipped with 2.5 ton GMC 6x6 trucks that they landed at Balikpapan in July, where they worked until the end of the war.

Unit Personnel

• George Charles Owens 29 Apr 1941 - 4 Dec 1941

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 5 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 5.062 & 5.063 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018