30th Brigade (Australia)

30th Brigade (Australia)
Soldiers of the 39th Battalion—part of the 30th Brigade—following their relief in September 1942
Active	1941–43
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Engagements	Second World War New Guinea campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Selwyn Porter

Second World War

The 30th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed in December 1941, as part of the Militia, the unit was raised for service during the Second World War. Sent to New Guinea in early March 1942, the brigade initially provided garrison troops to Port Moresby before later taking part in the fighting along the Kokoda Track and at Buna and Gona. In 1943 it was withdrawn back to Australia and was disbanded in July 1943.

The brigade was raised as a Militia formation in December 1941 in response to Japan's entry into the war. Upon establishment the brigade was raised as an independent unit, and consisted of three infantry battalions – the newly re-formed Victorian-based 39th, the Queensland 49th and the 53rd from New South Wales – which were supported by the 23rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery and the 13th Field Artillery Regiment, which was equipped with First World War vintage 18-pound field guns. From the outset it was formed for the purpose of garrisoning Port Moresby, and indeed one of its battalions, the 49th, had been deployed to New Guinea as early as March 1941. Following the attacks on Pearl Harbor and Malaya; however, the decision was made to boost the force around Port Moresby up to a brigade-group sized force and as a result the 30th Brigade was formed. On 3 January 1942, the brigade was deployed to New Guinea arriving on the troopship RMS Aquitania.