2/3 Australian Infantry Battalion History

After BnHQ was formed at Victoria Barracks, Paddington (NSW), in October 1939, as part of I6 Inf Bde Gp in 6 Inf Div AIE they moved to Ingleburn in November to build the 2/3 lnf Bn with recruits mainly from Sydney, the Monaro and southern NSW. They departed for the Middle East in the 'First Convoy' in January 1940 and in February arrived at Julis (Palestine) to complete their training. They moved to Helwan (Egypt) in September to complete their equipping and to Amiriya in October for divisional exercises. In December 1940, 6 Inf Divreplaced 4 Ind Inf Div after their victory at Sidi Barrini and 16 Inf Bde Gp took the lead. 2/3 Inf Bn moved forward to Sidi Barrini and in January 1941 they followed the breakthrough of 2/1 Inf Bn into Bardia, leading to its capture. They then moved onto Tobruk where 16 Inf Bde Gp led the breakthrough of the Italian line, allowing the rest of 6 Inf Div to complete the capture. While the rest of the division moved on to capture Derna and Benghazi, 16 Inf Bde Gp stayed to garrison Tobruk before returning to Amiriya in early March. 

The battalion was rebuilt at Julis as part of 16 Inf Bde Gp until June 1941 when, as one of only two 6 Inf Div battalions fit for duty, they joined 7 Inf Div for the invasion of Syria. As a result of the French counterattack in mid-June, 2/3 Inf Bn moved to a blocking position at Kuneitra (Syria) where they came under command of HQ 5 Ind Inf Bde, and later attacked Mezze, leading to the fall of Damascus. They then transferred to 16 UK Inf Bde Gp and attacked Jebel Mazer, leading to the fall of Dimas. In July, 2/3 Inf Bn moved to Habbouch where they joined the re-formed 17 Inf Bde Gp for the attack on Damour. Here they advanced to cut the northern routes into Damour while 21 Inf Bde Gp attacked from the south. 

The deteriorating position on the Kokoda Trail in September 1942 prompted the move of 16 Inf Bde Gp to Port Moresby (NG) where they joined 7 Inf Div, with the initial role of preventing Japanese infiltration into the base area while 25 Inf Bde Gp stopped the main thrust at lmita Ridge. 2/3 Inf Bn at Armstrong's patrolled towards Erenumu and when the Japanese withdrew from loribaiwa, 16 Inf Bde Gp was ordered in October to follow 25 Inf Bde Gp towards Kokoda. They concentrated at Myola while 25 Inf Bde Gp dealt with the initial rearguard positions at Templeton's Crossing before 16 Inf Bde Gp moved forward to relieve them and recapture Eora Creek. In November, 16 Inf Bde Gp skirted Kokoda to advance towards Wairopi before hitting strong Japanese positions at Oivi. 25 Inf Bde Gp used a parallel track to the south co attack the rear of the Japanese position at Gorari. Together they progressively reduced these positions and crossed the Kumusi River at Wairopi. 16 Inf Bde Gp then moved towards the coast at Sanananda. By the end of November the three exhausted battalions of16 Inf Bde Gp had reached the forward defences of the main Japanese positions around Sanananda but made little progress in eliminating them. Furcher attacks by 126 US Inf Regt made little progress and by mid-December 1943, the remnants off 16 Inf Bde Gp were relieved by 30 Inf Bde Gp. They were flown to the rest camp at Donadabu (outside Port Moresby) and were repatriated to Australia in January 1943. 

16 Inf Bde Gp was the last brigade to move to Aitape, arriving in December 1944. The general plan was for 16 Inf Bde Gp and 19 Inf Bde Gp to alternate in an advance east towards Wewak on the coastal side of the Torricelli Range while 17 Inf Bde Gp alternated its battalions advancing on the Sepik River side of the range. In January 1945, 19 Inf Bde Gp had advanced beyond the Danmap River and had reached the line from Abau to Malin. Here 16 Inf Bde Gp took over in late January, with 2/1 Inf Bn advancing along the coast while 2/3 Inf Bn advanced from Malin along Mirna Creek to reach Cory's Spur. Then 2/3 MG Bn took over the inland sector in March and 2/3 Inf Bn was in reserve. The coastal advance was swift, and by the end of March 2/2 Inf Bn had reached Dagua while 2/3 Inf Bn had cleared the hills towards Wonginara. In April, 2/1 Inf Bn advanced to Karawop and 2/3 Inf Bn followed by taking Boiken (assisted by the tanks of C Sqn 2/4 Armd Regt) with 2/2 Inf Bn advancing to Hawain River where 19 Inf Bde Gp took over the lead with 16 Inf Bde Gp resting at Hawain River. The break was short-lived with 16 Inf Bde Gp moving in late May to develop the base at Wewak and to guard the supply lines. It had been planned to bring 16 Inf Bde Gp back to lead the advance into the ranges behind Wewak, but after 2/3 Inf Bn moved to Boram in June it was found that they were not ready and patrolling out of Boram reverted to 2/11 Inf Bn. After 2/2 Inf Bn relieved 2/8 Inf Bn at Hambrauri in July and took up the advance into the ranges, 2/3 Inf Bnmoved to Mt Shiburanga as the reserve for 16 Inf Bde Gp and were preparing to move forward when the war ended.