3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion

3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion
Active 1945–1947
Country  Australia
Allegiance Allied
Branch Army
Type Infantry
Size Battalion
Colours Red and Green
Battle honours South West Pacific 1942–45, Kokoda Trail, Kokoda-Deniki, Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Sio-Sepik River, Kaboibus-Kiarivu and Bonis-Porton
Disbanded November 1947
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 3rd New Guinea Infantry Battalion (3NGIB) was a battalion of the Australian Army formed in June 1945 in the territory of New Guinea, during World War II, in order to fight against the Japanese. Its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian officers and NCOs.[1] Formed late in the war the battalion took no part in the allied campaigns in New Guinea, although a few of its members saw service with 2NGIB during the Aitape-Wewak campaign, suffering a number of casualties.[2] 3NGIB had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers.[3]

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) along with the 1st and 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion were amalgamated to form the Pacific Islands Regiment in November 1944. The 3rd and 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion joined the regiment in 1945, although 4NGIB was soon disbanded, whilst the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion—although authorised—was never raised.[4] The battalion was disbanded in November 1947.[1]

Contents

Battle honours

Commanding officers

Decorations

Casualties

Notes

  1. ^ a b Sinclair 1990, p. 296.
  2. ^ Byrnes 1989, p. 184.
  3. ^ Dennis et al 1995, p. 449.
  4. ^ Sinclair 1990, p. 273.
  5. ^ The battle honours listed above are those awarded to the PIR in 1966 as listed in Byrnes 1989, p. 269.
  6. ^ Byrnes 1989, p. 269.

References

  • 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. ISBN 0731667166. 
  • Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey; Morris, Ewan; and Robin Prior (1995). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (First ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195532279. 
  • 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 0731691202. 

External links