Australian 5th Battalion

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Australian 5th Battalion
Active	1914-1919
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line Infantry
Part of	Australian 2nd Brigade
Colors	Black over Red
Engagements	World War I
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 5th Battalion was raised for the First Australian Imperial Force during the First World War from Victoria and formed the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division.

The battalion was raised within two weeks of the declaration of war. It left Australia two months later and proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. It took part in the Landing at Anzac Cove on 25 April 1915, as part of the second wave. Ten days after the landing the 2nd Brigade was transferred from Anzac Cove to Cape Helles to assist in the attack on Krithia. In August, the battalion took part in the Battle of Lone Pine. The battalion continued to serve at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December when the battalion returned to Egypt.

5th Division Memorial at Buttes New British Cemetery

In March 1916, the battalion sailed to France and deployed to the Somme, seeing action at Pozières in July 1916, followed by 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 in November and amalgamated with the 8th Battalion. This battalion was amalgamated with another, formed from the 6th and 7th Battalions, to form the 2nd Brigade Battalion.

The Landing at Anzac battle honour was carried by the 5th Battalian, also known as the Victorian Scottish Regiment, until it was absorbed by the Royal Victoria Regiment (those colours are laid up in Scots' Church, Melbourne) and the honour is now carried by the 5th/6th Battalion, the Royal Victoria Regiment, on their colours.