2/4th Battalion (Australia)

2/4th Battalion
Carriers from the 2/4th in Syria, October 1941
Active	1939–1945
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 all ranks[Note 1]
Part of	19th Brigade, 6th Division
Colours	White and green
Engagements	World War II North African campaign Greek campaign New Guinea campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/4th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that was raised for service during World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. Deploying to the Middle East in early 1940, the battalion took part in the early fighting in North Africa in early 1941 along with the rest of the 6th Division, before being sent to Greece and then Crete, where it was heavily engaged and suffered heavy losses. Rebuilt in Palestine, the battalion undertook occupation duties in Syria.

In early 1942, the 2/4th returned to Australia in response to Japan's entry into the war, and subsequently undertook a long period of defensive duties and training in Darwin, and then in north Queensland. While other elements of the 6th Division saw action in New Guinea in 1942–1943, the 2/4th saw no combat again until late in the war, when it was committed to the Aitape–Wewak campaign in late 1944, fighting throughout the remainder of the war. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion was disbanded in Australia in November 1945.

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