Australian 1st Battalion

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Australian 1st Battalion
5 members of 1st Battalion waiting to be relieved by troops of 7th Battalion
Active	1914-1919
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line Infantry
Part of	Australian 1st Brigade
Colors	Black over Green
Engagements	World War I
Commanders
Notable commanders	James Heane
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 1st Battalion was raised for the First Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. The 1st Battalion along with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions were completely recruited from New South Wales and formed the 1st Brigade.

The battalion was raised within two weeks of the declaration of war and left Australia two months later. The battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. The battalion took part in the Landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915 as part of the second and third waves. In August, the battalion took part in the attack on Lone Pine. The battalion served at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December. Two members of the battalion, Captain Shout and Lieutenant Keysor were awarded the Victoria Cross for valour at Lone Pine

After the withdrawal from Gallipoli, the battalion returned to Egypt. In March 1916, it sailed to France and deployed to the Somme. The battalion's first major action in France was at Pozières in July 1916. Later the battalion fought at Ypres, in Belgium, before returning to the Somme in winter. At Bullecourt in May 1917, Corporal Howell became the third member of the battalion to be awarded the Victoria Cross.

In 1918 the battalion helped to stop the German spring offensive in March and April. The battalion subsequently participated in the greatest Allied offensive of 1918, launched near Amiens on 8 August 1918. The battalion continued operations to late September 1918.

The battalion returned to Australia between November 1918 and May 1919 for demobilisation and discharge.