4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion

4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion
Active 1945
Disbanded October 1945
Country  Australia
Branch Army
Type Infantry
Size Battalion
Colours Red and Green
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion (4NGIB) was a battalion of the Australian Army. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 4 NGIB was formed in the final stages of World War II. It eventually became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment, but due to the abrupt ending to the war, the battalion did not see action against the Japanese and was disbanded in October 1945 without seeing active service.

History

The battalion was formed in August 1945 in the territory of New Guinea, during the final stages of World War II. Raised to fight against the Japanese, its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian officers and non commissioned officers (NCOs).[1] The New Guinea battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers.[2]

Along with the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB), and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalions, 4 NGIB formed part of the Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR), which had originally been formed in November 1944, when the PIB and 1 and 2NGIB had been amalgamated into the regiment. A fifth New Guinea battalion, the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion, was also authorised, but was never raised.[3] The battalion was disbanded in October 1945 without having seen active service.[1]

Battle honours

The following battle honours were awarded to the PIR in 1966:

  • World War II: South West Pacific 1942–45, Kokoda Trail, Kokoda–Deniki, Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Sio–Sepik River, Kaboibus–Kiarivu and Bonis–Porton.[4]

Commanding officers

  • Lieutenant Colonel J.S. Jones (1945)

Notes

  1. 1 2 Sinclair 1990, p. 296.
  2. ↑ Dennis et al 1995, p. 449.
  3. ↑ Sinclair 1990, p. 273.
  4. ↑ Byrnes 1989, p. 269.

References

  • Byrnes, G.M. (1989). Green Shadows: A War History of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, 1 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 2 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 3 New Guinea Infantry Battalion. Newmarket: G.M. Byrnes. ISBN 0-7316-6716-6.
  • Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (1995). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (First ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-553227-9.
  • Sinclair, James (1990). To Find a Path: The Life and Times of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment: Volume I — Yesterday's Heroes 1885–1950. Brisbane: Boolarong Publications. ISBN 0-7316-9120-2.
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