57th Battalion (Australia)
| Australian 57th Battalion | |
|---|---|
Officers from the 57th Battalion in Egypt, February 1916
|
|
| Active | 1916–19 1921–30 |
| Country |
 Australia
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | ~900–1,000 men |
| Part of | 15th Brigade |
| Nickname(s) | The Merri Regiment |
| Motto(s) | Strike Hard |
| Colours | Black beside Red |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
The 57th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Formed in early 1916 for service during World War I, the battalion served on the Western Front until the end of the war, when it was disbanded. In 1921, it was re-raised as a part-time unit in Victoria, known as "The Merri Regiment". In 1930, the battalion was amalgamated with the 60th Battalion, to form the 57th/60th Battalion, which remained linked until it was disbanded in 1946, after having fought against the Japanese in New Guinea and Bougainville during World War II.
The 57th Battalion was originally raised as a unit of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Egypt on 18 February 1916, as part of an expansion of the AIF that took place after the conclusion of the Gallipoli Campaign. This was achieved by joining half of the members of the veteran 5th Battalion with fresh recruits raised in Australia from north-east Victoria. With an authorised strength of 1,023 men, and under the command of Lieutenant Colonel James Stewart, together with the 58th, 59th and 60th Battalions, the 57th formed part of the 15th Brigade, which was assigned to the 5th Australian Division.
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