The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion (4 NGIB) was a battalion of the Australian Army. One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea, 4 NGIB was formed in the final stages of World War II to fight against the Japanese. It eventually became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment, but due to the abrupt ending to the war, the battalion did not see action against the Japanese and was disbanded in October 1945 without seeing active service.
At the start of the war, New Guinea was a former German possession that had become a mandated territory administered by Australia after World War I, and Papua, which been annexed by Queensland in 1883, had been an Australian external territory since 1903. While efforts were made to raise local military forces from indigenous personnel in Papua in the early war years, this did not extend to New Guinea until late in the war.[1] The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles was raised in 1939, but consisted entirely of Australian and European expatriates.[2]
The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion was formed in August 1945 in the territory of New Guinea, but ultimately it did not complete its formation as it was suspended following the Japanese surrender.[3] Raised to fight against the Japanese, its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian officers and non commissioned officers (NCOs).[4] The New Guinea battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 indigenous soldiers.[5] The main role of the New Guinea infantry battalions was to assume responsibility for "mopping up" operations in rear areas and searching for Japanese stragglers left over after main combat operations had ceased; this essentially freed up the Australian infantry battalions for operations elsewhere.[1]
Along with the Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB), and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalions, 4 NGIB formed part of the Pacific Islands Regiment (PIR), which had originally been formed in November 1944, when the PIB and 1 and 2 NGIB had been amalgamated into the regiment. Another battalion, the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion, was also authorised, but was never raised.[6] 4 NGIB was disbanded in October 1945 without having seen active service.[4] In the post war period, the PIR was re-formed in 1951, building on the tradition established during the war. One battalion was formed in New Guinea at this time, and another in Papua.[7]
Battle honoursedit
4 NGIB received no battle honours as it saw no combat during the war.[3] However, as part of the PIR, it was awarded the following:
World War II: South West Pacific 1942–1945, Kokoda Trail, Kokoda–Deniki, Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Sio–Sepik River, Kaboibus–Kiarivu and Bonis–Porton.[8]
Byrnes, G.M. (1989). Green Shadows: A War History of the Papuan Infantry Battalion, 1 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 2 New Guinea Infantry Battalion, 3 New Guinea Infantry Battalion. Newmarket: G.M. Byrnes. ISBN0-7316-6716-6.
Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; Prior, Robin (1995). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (First ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-553227-9.
Sinclair, James (1990). . Brisbane: Boolarong Publications. ISBN0-7316-9120-2. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
External linksedit
Australia-Japan research project
May 17, 2024
guinea, infantry, battalion, ngib, battalion, australian, army, four, infantry, battalions, raised, guinea, ngib, formed, final, stages, world, fight, against, japanese, eventually, became, part, pacific, islands, regiment, abrupt, ending, battalion, action, a. The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion 4 NGIB was a battalion of the Australian Army One of four infantry battalions raised in New Guinea 4 NGIB was formed in the final stages of World War II to fight against the Japanese It eventually became part of the Pacific Islands Regiment but due to the abrupt ending to the war the battalion did not see action against the Japanese and was disbanded in October 1945 without seeing active service 4th New Guinea Infantry BattalionNew Guinea troops on patrol July 1945Active1945DisbandedOctober 1945Country AustraliaBranchArmyTypeInfantrySizeBattalionColoursRed and greenInsigniaUnit colour patch Contents 1 History 2 Battle honours 3 Commanding officers 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksHistory editAt the start of the war New Guinea was a former German possession that had become a mandated territory administered by Australia after World War I and Papua which been annexed by Queensland in 1883 had been an Australian external territory since 1903 While efforts were made to raise local military forces from indigenous personnel in Papua in the early war years this did not extend to New Guinea until late in the war 1 The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles was raised in 1939 but consisted entirely of Australian and European expatriates 2 The 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion was formed in August 1945 in the territory of New Guinea but ultimately it did not complete its formation as it was suspended following the Japanese surrender 3 Raised to fight against the Japanese its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea under the command of Australian officers and non commissioned officers NCOs 4 The New Guinea battalions each had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 indigenous soldiers 5 The main role of the New Guinea infantry battalions was to assume responsibility for mopping up operations in rear areas and searching for Japanese stragglers left over after main combat operations had ceased this essentially freed up the Australian infantry battalions for operations elsewhere 1 Along with the Papuan Infantry Battalion PIB and the 1st 2nd and 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalions 4 NGIB formed part of the Pacific Islands Regiment PIR which had originally been formed in November 1944 when the PIB and 1 and 2 NGIB had been amalgamated into the regiment Another battalion the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion was also authorised but was never raised 6 4 NGIB was disbanded in October 1945 without having seen active service 4 In the post war period the PIR was re formed in 1951 building on the tradition established during the war One battalion was formed in New Guinea at this time and another in Papua 7 Battle honours edit4 NGIB received no battle honours as it saw no combat during the war 3 However as part of the PIR it was awarded the following World War II South West Pacific 1942 1945 Kokoda Trail Kokoda Deniki Nassau Bay Tambu Bay Finschhafen Scarlet Beach Liberation of Australian New Guinea Sio Sepik River Kaboibus Kiarivu and Bonis Porton 8 Commanding officers editThe following officers commanded 4 NGIB Lieutenant Colonel J S Jones 1945 9 Notes edit a b McKenzie Smith 2018 p 2264 Downs 1999 p 34 a b McKenzie Smith 2018 p 2268 a b Sinclair 1990 p 296 Dennis et al 1995 p 449 Sinclair 1990 p 273 Pacific Islands Regiment Australian War Memorial Archived from the original on 24 March 2014 Retrieved 25 August 2019 Byrnes 1989 p 269 Sinclair 1990 p 305 References editByrnes G M 1989 Green Shadows A War History of the Papuan Infantry Battalion 1 New Guinea Infantry Battalion 2 New Guinea Infantry Battalion 3 New Guinea Infantry Battalion Newmarket G M Byrnes ISBN 0 7316 6716 6 Dennis Peter Grey Jeffrey Morris Ewan Prior Robin 1995 The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History First ed Melbourne Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 553227 9 McKenzie Smith Graham 2018 The Unit Guide The Australian Army 1939 1945 Volume 2 Warriewood New South Wales Big Sky Publishing ISBN 978 1 925675 146 Sinclair James 1990 To Find a Path The Life and Times of the Royal Pacific Islands Regiment Volume I Yesterday s Heroes 1885 1950 Brisbane Boolarong Publications ISBN 0 7316 9120 2 Archived from the original on 23 September 2015 Retrieved 3 August 2015 External links editAustralia Japan research project Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion amp oldid 1212672080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
