9th Australian Infantry Division Provost Company

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Brief History

The Provost unit carried by the 3rd Convoy intended for the Middle East, but diverted to the UK, formed the Force Provost Unit, AIF (United Kingdom) in June 1940. It became Austral Force Provost Unit in September 1940 before moving to Colchester in October, and then in January 1941 they left for the Middle East. On their arrival they became the 9th Australian Infantry Division Provost Company. They moved first to Libya to assist with the retreat towards Tobruk where they then remained under seige until relieved in October 1941.

In January 1942 they moved with the 9th Division into Syria where their base was Tripoli, with deetachments at Beirut and Latakia. With the German advance in Libya gaining ground, the 9th Division was rushed back to Alexandria and participated in the confused defensive battles near El Alamein before playing a key role in the British breakout in November. They returned to Palestine in December and left for Australia in February 1943.

Following some leave the unit gathered at Kairi in North Queensland before moving in August 1943 to Milne Bay in New Guinea. In October the Provost Company moved to Finschhafen, with sections outposed to brigades. Between January and March 1944 they moved back to Australia and gathered at Ravenshoe while waiting for their next role. The 9th Division was tasked with landings at Tarakan and Brunei Bay. In March 1945, 3 and 4 Sections moved to Morotai and accompanied the 26th Infantry Brigade in its landing during May on Tarakan Island (NEI). The rest of the unit moved to Morotai in May and landed in June on Labuan Island on the other side of the Borneo landmass. In both locations they continued policing work until after the end of the war.

Nine men died while posted to this unit, three KIA, 2 DOWs and 4 as a result of injuries received in accidents.

Individual Honours

• 9 x Mentioned in Despatches

Unit Personnel

• Allan Butcher 11 Jul 1944 - 21 Jul 1945

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 6 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, pages 6.185 & 6.186 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018