24th Brigade (Australia)

24th Brigade
Soldiers disembarking a landing craft on a beach during training
24th Brigade personnel exercise at Palm Beach, August 1944
Active1940–46
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeBrigade
Part of8th Division (1940)
9th Division (1940–46)
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Selwyn Porter
Insignia
Unit colour patch
1940–1942

1942–1946

The 24th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed on 1 July 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II. Originally formed as part of the 8th Australian Division the brigade was subsequently transferred to the newly created 9th Australian Division in December. The brigade served during the Western Desert Campaign, forming part of the Allied garrison during the Siege of Tobruk. Later, the brigade was withdrawn to Syria for occupation duties, but then later took part in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. In early 1943, the brigade was returned to Australia to fight against the Japanese in the Pacific. In 1943–1944, the brigade fought in New Guinea, taking part in the landing at Lae and the Huon Peninsula campaign. Its final campaign came late in the war, when it took part in the Labuan landings and the Battle of North Borneo in mid-1945. After the war, the brigade was disbanded in early 1946.