Pacific Island Regiment Depot Battalion

Pacific Islands Regiment badge

Brief History

In August 1944 the 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion was at Camp Diddy at Erap near Nadzab in the Markham Valley where they formed a Depot Company to continue training recruits, and to then act as a holding company for trained men awaiting a posting.

With the estabishment of the Pacific Islands Regiment in November 1944, the Depot Company was expanded to become Pacific Island Regiment Depot Battalion. It also incorporatd the Depot Company Papuan Infantry Battalion at Bisiatabu. In early 1945 a training wing was established at Garoka to provide training for recruits from the Highlands for the planned expansion of the regiment. In September they relocated to Mumbu River near Lae, and in January 1946 they moved to Yunakanau, Rabaul.

Unit Personnel

• Donald Norrish MacDonald 14 APr - 4 Dec 1945

Notes

Content has come from The Unit Guide - Volume 2 - The Australian Army 1939-1945, page 2.269 - Graham R McKenzie-Smith - Big Sky Publishing - 2018