Australian 3rd Battalion

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Australian 3rd Battalion
3rd Battalion on parade in 1914
Active	1914-1919
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line Infantry
Part of	Australian 1st Brigade
Colors	Brown over Green
Engagements	World War I

The 3rd Battalion was raised for the First Australian Imperial Force during the First World War. Like the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions it was 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. During the battle Private John Hamilton was awarded the Victoria Cross defending Sasse's Sap. The battalion served at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December.

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.

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.