25th Battalion (Australia)

25th Battalion
Active1915–1919
1921–1930
1934–1946
1948–1960
1965–1997
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
Size~900–1,000 all ranks
Part of7th Brigade, 2nd Division
3rd Division
Nickname(s)The Darling Downs Regiment
Motto(s)Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum
ColoursBlack over blue
EngagementsFirst World War

Second World War

Insignia
Unit colour patchA two toned diamond symbol

The 25th Battalion was an infantry unit of the Australian Army. Raised in early 1915 as part of the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, the battalion fought at Gallipoli and in the trenches along the Western Front, before being disbanded in early 1919. In mid-1921, it was re-formed as a part-time unit based in the state of Queensland. Throughout the 1930s, the battalion was merged briefly with the 49th Battalion as a result of manpower shortages, but was later re-raised in its own right. During the Second World War, the 25th deployed to New Guinea where they fought the Battle of Milne Bay in August and September 1942. Later in the war, the 25th took part in the Bougainville Campaign. During the post-war period, the 25th Battalion became part of the Royal Queensland Regiment, variously forming battalion or company-sized elements, before being merged with the 49th Battalion to form the 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment.