17th Brigade (Australia)
| 17th Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active |
1917 1939–1946 |
| Country |
 Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 6th Division |
| Engagements |
World War I World War II |
The 17th Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army. First formed in 1917 during World War I, it did not see any action. Reformed during World War II it took part in fighting in Libya, Greece and New Guinea before being disbanded in 1946. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, which was raised as a logistics formation in May 2006.
History
World War I
The 17th Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of the 6th Division on 25 April 1917. The formation did not see any action and was disbanded on 26 September 1917.
Units
- 62nd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
- 63rd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
- 65th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
- 66th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
- 67th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
- 70th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
- 17th Machine Gun Company (1 June 1917 – 20 August 1917)
- 17th Light Trench Mortar Battery (28 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
Commanders
- Brigadier General John Paton (25 April 1917 – 19 July 1917)
- Colonel William Watson (19 July 1917 – 26 September 1917)
World War II
The 17th Brigade was reformed on 13 October 1939, again as part of the 6th Division, recruited from Victoria. The 17th Brigade fought in the Western Desert Campaign in Libya, the Battle of Greece, the Battle of Wau, the Salamaua-Lae campaign in Papua, and in the Aitape-Wewak campaign in New Guinea.
Units
- 2/5th Battalion (18 October 1939 – 28 February 1946)
- 2/6th Battalion (25 October 1939 – 18 February 1946)
- 2/7th Battalion (25 October 1939 – February 1946)
- 2/8th Battalion (30 October 1939 – Feb-April 1940) to 19th Brigade
Commanders
- Brigadier Stanley Savige (13 October 1939 – 15 December 1941)[1]
- Brigadier Murray Moten (17 December 1941 – 1945)[1]
References
- 1 2 "War Diary 17 Infantry Brigade December 1941". Australian War Memorial. p. 2. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- Australian War Memorial 17th Brigade Information (World War I) (Archived 2009-05-03)
- 6th Division – World War I data (Archived 2009-05-03)