2/22nd Battalion | |
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Australian prisoners of war, including members of the 2/22nd Battalion, in Japan c. 1942–45. |
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Active | 1940–1942 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~900 men[Note 1] |
Part of | 23rd Brigade, 8th Division |
Engagements | World War II |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol |
The 2/22nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force for service during World War II, the battalion formed part of the 23rd Brigade, attached to the 8th Division. It was captured by the Japanese during the Battle of Rabaul in 1942.
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Formed on 1 July 1940 at Victoria Barracks, Melbourne, the 2/22nd Battalion formed part of the 23rd Brigade, attached to the 8th Division. Shortly after being raised it moved to Trawool, Victoria, to undertake infantry training on 11 July. In September, the battalion was then required to march 235 kilometres (146 mi) to Bonegilla, arriving on 4 October. There they undertook further training before being sent to Sydney in April 1941 to begin the move to New Britain.[2] Upon formation, the 2/22nd's commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Howard Carr; he would remain in command of the battalion throughout its brief existence.[2]
On 26 April 1941, the 2/22nd arrived at Rabaul, New Britain, where they formed the main element of Lark Force, along with a few artillery units, a field ambulance, a detachment from the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and No. 24 Squadron RAAF.[2] They were tasked with protecting the seaplane base at Rabaul, the Lakunai and Vunakanau aerodromes and to delay any proposed Japanese advance towards Australia. Between April 1941 and January 1942, the battalion helped construct defences and acclimatised to the tropical environment.[2] The Imperial Japanese started bombing Rabaul in early January 1942, in advance of an invasion. By 22 January, No. 24 Squadron had only three aircraft remaining and was forced to withdraw back to New Guinea, so the decision was made to crater both aerodromes in order to prevent the Japanese from landing aircraft.[2]
In anticipation of the coming invasion, the battalion withdrew from around Rabaul and set up defences on the western shores of Blanche Bay, only hours before the Japanese landings commenced at 01:00 on 23 January. Due to overwhelming Japanese forces, the commander of Lark Force, Colonel John Scanlan issued an order to withdraw. Elements of the 2/22nd that had not been captured escaped along New Britain’s north and south coasts with about 300 escaping to Australia via New Guinea.[2] The battalion was not re-raised at this time and those personnel that made it back to Australia were absorbed into the amalgamated 3rd/22nd Battalion, which was formed from the 2/22nd survivors along with volunteers for overseas service from the disbanding 3rd Battalion. Later, this battalion was also disbanded and its personnel transferred to the 2/3rd Battalion.[3]
Some of the battalion who surrendered or were captured by the Japanese were massacred at Tol Plantation.[2] The rest were interned as prisoners of war. In June 1942 they were embarked upon the Montevideo Maru for transport to Hainan Island. While at sea, however, on 1 July, the ship was sunk by the submarine USS Sturgeon off the Philippines, with 1,053 prisoners and civilian internees losing their lives.[2] Those members of the 2/22nd that had remained at Rabaul were later transported aboard the Natuno Maru to Japan where they remained in captivity until they were liberated in September 1945, following the end of hostilities.[2]
The battalion lost 608 men who died or were killed in captivity and one man wounded. Members of the 2/22nd received the following decorations: one Military Cross, one Military Medal and 16 Mentioned in Despatches.[2]
The 2/22nd received only one battle honour during the war, that of "Rabual 1942".[2]