59th Battalion (Australia)

59th Battalion
59th Battalion soldiers in Egypt, April 1916
Active	1916–1919 1921–1942 1952–1960
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line Infantry
Size	~800–1,000 men
Part of	15th Brigade (in both WWI and WWII)
Colours	Brown alongside Red
Engagements	World War I Western Front World War II New Guinea campaign Bougainville campaign
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

World War I

World War II

The 59th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Initially raised for service during World War I, the battalion fought on the Western Front in France and Belgium between 1916 and 1918, before being disbanded in 1919. In 1921, it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Militia in Victoria. They remained in existence until 1942 when, due to a manpower shortage in the Australian economy, the decision was made to amalgamate the battalion with the 58th Battalion to form the 58th/59th Battalion. Together they remained linked throughout World War II, serving in New Guinea and Bougainville in 1943–1945. In 1952, the 59th Battalion was re-raised and subsequently was absorbed into the Royal Victoria Regiment in 1960.

The 59th Battalion was originally raised as a unit of the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in Egypt on 21 February 1916 for service in World War I as part of an expansion of the AIF that took place following the end of the Gallipoli campaign. The battalion was formed through the joining of half of the members of the 7th Battalion with fresh recruits raised in Australia from rural Victoria. Together with the 57th, 58th and 60th Battalions, the 59th formed part of the 15th Brigade, attached to the 5th Australian Division.