HQ 21st Australian Infantry Brigade

[[File:]]

Brief History

This unit was raised in Melbourne in May 1940 as part of the 7th Infantry Division to control the 2/14th Battalion and 21st Antitank Company from Victoria, the 2/16th Battalion from Western Australia, and the 2/27th Battalion from South Australia. They did not come together until after they had landed in the Middle Eastin November 1940 when they moved to Julis in Palestine. In April 1941 thy moved to Ikingi Maryut west of Alexandria in Egypt, preparing to reinforce the 6th Australian Infantry Division in Greece. However rapid advances by German troops, both in North Africa in and Greece led to the 7th Division being moved to a blocking position in the Mersa Matruh Fortress area on the Egyptian border until the end of May when the 21st Brigade was sent to Syria to participate in the campaign against the Vichy French.

The 21st Brigade were on the left flank of the attack, moving along the coast to Beirut. With the Armisitice in July, the 21st Infantry Brigade initially camped around Beirut, but in September they moved to defensive positions around Tripoli, and in January 1942 they had returned to Hill 69 in Palestine. In February they left for Australia, arriving in Adelaide in March 1942. Following a period of leave the Brigade moved to Glen Innes in NSW during April and then in May to Woombye in Queensland to defend the beaches north of Caloundra. The Japanese advance on the Kokoda Track finally led to reinforcements being sent to New Guinea in the form of the HQ 7th Infantry Division and the 21st Brigade Group who arrived in Port Moresby in mid August.

HQ 21st Brigade along with 2/14th and 2/16th Battalions were immediately sent up the Kokoda Track to push the Japanese back to Kokoda itself. However, a major push by the Japanese saw Australian troops forced back to Efogi where the 2/27th Battalion replaced the 53rd Battalion (a militia unit). Forced to withdraw again to Ioribaiwa Ridge after which the 21st Brigade moved to Koitaki for a rest. The tired by successful 25th Infantry Brigade Group had pushed the Japanese back over the range and had them contained at Gona. However, as the Japanese were in well prepared defensive positions they had made no progress in eliminating them. The understrength 21st Brigade were flown in to attack the Japanese from the east. Japanese reinforcements were landed during this time and a fierce struggle took place until Gona was handed over by the 21st Brigade at the end of December.

HQ 21st Australian Infantry brigade then moved to the Sanananda area where they had the 39th and 49th Battalions to protect supply lines and cut off any Japanese retreat. In January they were relieved by the fresh 163rd US Infantry Regiment allowing the HQ 21st Brigade to return to Port Moresby to rejoin its original battalions and then back to Australia for leave. The unit reassembled at Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tableland where the 7th Division trained until mid-1943 when they were tasked with attacking Lae and capturing the airfields in the Markham Valley while the 9th Division attacked via an amphibious landing t the east of Lae. The 21st Infantry Brigade returned to Port Moresby to prepare for their role in August 1943. Following the capture of the Nadzab airfield by US paratroopers in September and its upgrade to accept transport aircraft, the 25th and 21st Infantry Brigades flew in to advance to meet the 9th Division units. The 21st Brigade was then tasked with capturing the Ramu and Markham Valleys to provide for additional allied airfields.

By October the 21st Brigade had reached Dumpu and began to move on the Finisterre Range where the Japanese had establish strong positions. A two month pause caused by the priority being support for the capture of Finschhafen by the 9th Division meant that when relieved by the 25th Brigade they were facing the main Japanese positions on Shaggy Ridge. The 21st Brigade withdrew to the Mene River to rest while guarding the approaches from the Ramu Valley. In December they returned to Shaggy Ridge area where they made some progress before being relieved again, this time to return to Australia in February 1944.

After leave the 21st and 25th Infantry Brigades reformed in Strathpine before being joined by Divisional HQ and the 18th Infantry Brigade in May. In early 1945 the 7th Division moved north to join 1 Australian Corps which had been given the task of liberating the island of Borneo. The 7th Division's role was to land at Balikpapan in July to capture the oilfields and port. In May they moved to Morotai and in June they launched a two brigade attack on Balikpapan. The 21sy Brigade were on the right and after consolidation the beach head, moved along the coast to capture Sepinggang airfield. The 2/14th Infantry Battalion led the 21st Brigade's capture of Manggar airfield. By the end of July most objectives had been achieved with mopping up under way - this was to last until the end of the war. the 21st Australian Infantry brigade then formed Macassar Force which moved to the souher Celebes to administer the surrender and return to civil control.

Brigade Personnel

• Ralph Godfrey 19 Apr 1943 - 3 Dec 1945