Papuan Infantry Battalion

Papuan Infantry Battalion
Sergeant Bengari MM of A Company, 5 August 1944
Active	1940–46
Country	Australia
Allegiance	Allied
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Battalion
Colours	Red and Green
Battle honours	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
Disbanded	August 1946
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that was raised for service during World War II. Formed in early 1940, the battalion was recruited from the territory of Papua and was intended to be used to defend the territory in the event of a Japanese invasion. Commanded by European officers and non-commissioned officers, following the outbreak of the Pacific War, the PIB served in a number of campaigns against the Japanese until the end of the war. Together with several New Guinea infantry battalions, the PIB was formed into the Pacific Islands Regiment in late 1944. It was disbanded in mid-1946.

The Papuan Infantry Battalion was formed on 27 May 1940 in the territory of Papua, during World War II, in order to fight the Japanese. The unit was slow in forming, with its first members arriving in March 1941. By 1942 it consisted of only three companies and were all understrength and poorly equipped. The PIB was soon sent forward in June 1942 to patrol the northern coast of Papua and were dispersed over a wide area, led by Australian officers and NCOs. The small parties were the first to make contact with the Imperial Japanese forces upon landing in Papua. The battalion would ultimately serve in many of the Allied campaigns in New Guinea, with its soldiers becoming noted for their ferocity and tenacity against the Japanese during the Kokoda Trail campaign, Salamaua-Lae campaign, Ramu Valley-Finisterre Range campaign, Bougainville campaign and Aitape-Wewak campaign.