HQ 2nd Australian Infantry Training Brigade

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Brief History

In January 1942 the HQ 2nd Division Division Infantry Training Brigade was formed at Bathurst to include former 3rd and4th AIF Infantry Training Battalions. In April the infantry training units in NSW were re-organised, and the 2nd Infantry Training Brigade with the 14th, 28h, 31st, and 32nd Training battalions. While the 32nd Training Battalion provided trained reinforcements for the Garrison Battalions, the others provided them to matching Battalions in the Brigade. In August 1942 the 1st Pioneer Training Battalion joined the Brigade.

October 1942 saw another reorganisation of training units and the 5th and 8th Infantry Training Battalions joined them in Bathurst while the 28th and 32nd Infantry Training Battalions 1st Infantry Training Brigade at Dubbo. At the same time the 31st Infantry training battalion was disbanded, but its name was then adopted by the 1st Pioneer Training Battalion which moved to Cowra. With the centralisation of recruit training, the 2nd Infantry Specialist Group was formed to train men from all battalions in mortar, anti/tank and intelligence roles. In late 1942 the 30th Infantry Training Battalion arrived from New Guinea and in April 1943 the 23rd Infantry training Battalion joined the Brigade from Watsonia in Victoria. In May the Infantry Special Groups were deleted from Training Brigades.

From October 1943 all recruit training moved to Cowra, and the 5th Infantry training battalion moved to Cowra and in December the 14th Infantry training Battalion also moved there. In December the 1st Machine Gun Training Battalion joined the brigade at Bathurst, followed in January 1944 by the 16th and 21st Infantry Training Battalions. In June the 30th Infantry Training battalion was disbanded, followed by the 8th in July. However, they were replaced in August when the 28th nd 32nd Infantry Training Battalions joined them in Bathurst, along with the 2nd Services Training Battalion. The later unit was disbanded in December 1944 and in March 1945 the majority of the units left for Greta where they saw out the rest of the war, leaving the 1st Machine Gun Training battalion and the 2nd Infantry Specialist Group in Bathurst.

Trainees

• Thomas Donald Neilson 24 Jul 1943 - 9 Oct 1944
• Edward James (Jim) Lawrence 27 May - 2 Jun 1944