HQ 4th Australian Infantry Division Signals Company

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Brief History

When the 4th Division was mobilised in December 1941 at Frankston in Victoria the 4th Infantry Division Signals were mobilised at Balcombe with 1 Company servicing Division HQs, 2 Company the Artillery, and 3 Company the infantry signals section. In March 1942 with the return of units from the Middle East, the 4th Division was sent to Western Australia. In May the signals unit was based at Bellevue, and then in June it relocated to Bushmead servicing the Brigade Groups alternating between Geraldton and Perth. In June they moved to Moora until November when they moved back to Bushmead. The majority of the unit moved to Dick Creek in Queensland in April 1943 as the 4th Division was now defending the Townsville area.

Over the next few months most subordinate units moved to the Northern Territory, New Guinea, or were disbanded. The 4th Infantry Division Signals were re-organised in June with 3 Company disbanded. The Division HQs and 1 Company moved to Cape York in September to take over Torres Strait Force and Merauke Force, while 2 Company remained in Townsville where it was disbanded in November. By mid 1944 the threat to the Torres Strait area had reduced enough to withdraw most field forces allowing 4th Division Signals HQ and 1 Company to move to Balcombe in Victoria where they were disbanded in November 1944.

Unit Personnel

• Arthur Harry Ayre 29 Sep 1942 - 18 May 1943