61st Battalion (Australia)
| 61st Battalion (Queensland Cameron Highlanders) | |
|---|---|
Unit badge of the 61st Battalion
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| Active | 1917 1938–46 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | ~550–900 men all ranks |
| Part of | 7th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Garrison/HQ | Kelvin Grove, Queensland |
| Motto(s) | "A Cameron Never Yields" |
| Colours | Green beside black |
| Engagements | |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |  |
The 61st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1917 during the First World War but was disbanded the same year without seeing active service. Later it was re-raised as a part of the Militia in 1938 in Brisbane, Queensland. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War they initially undertook garrison duties in Australia, however, in 1942 they were deployed to New Guinea where they took part in the Battle of Milne Bay, during which the Japanese were defeated for the first time in a major land battle. In late 1943, the 61st Battalion was withdrawn back to Australia for a period of re-organisation and training before being deployed overseas again in late 1944. This time they were deployed to Bougainville, where the Australian 3rd Division had taken over from the American garrison and the battalion joined the drive towards the Japanese stronghold at Buin in the south of the island. Following the end of the war, the 61st Battalion was disbanded as part of the demobilisation process on 8 January 1946.
The 61st Battalion was initially raised in the United Kingdom in February 1917 as part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during the First World War in an effort to raise the 6th Division. However, following manpower shortages that occurred as a result of heavy losses amongst the AIF on the Western Front in 1917 and the failure of attempts to introduce conscription in Australia, it was decided to disband the division and its subordinate units in September 1917 and use their personnel to reinforce other units. As a result, the 61st Battalion was disbanded without seeing active service.
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