2/8th Battalion (Australia)

2/8th Battalion
An Australian light machine gun team in action near Wewak in June 1945
Active	1940–1945
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 men[Note 1]
Part of	19th Brigade, 6th Division
Engagements	World War II North Africa campaign Greek campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/8th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force at Melbourne, Victoria on 30 October 1939, the 2/8th was initially attached to the 17th Brigade, 6th Division. It was later transferred to the 19th Brigade and with this formation the battalion saw action in Egypt, Libya, Greece and Crete before returning to Australia. A period of garrison duty in Darwin followed in 1942–1943, after which the battalion concentrated with other 6th Division units on the Atherton Tablelands, remaining there throughout 1943–1944. In late 1944, the battalion was sent to New Guinea to fight the Japanese as part of the Aitape–Wewak campaign. The battalion was disbanded at Puckapunyal on 14 December 1945.

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