27th Battalion (Australia)

27th Battalion
Members of the 27th Battalion marching through Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre in the Somme, France, 7 April 1918
Active1915–1919
1921–1946
1948–1960
1965–1987
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
Size~800–1,000 men[Note 1]
Part of7th Brigade (1915–19)
3rd Brigade (1921–42)
23rd Brigade (1942–46)
9th Brigade (1948–60; 1965–87)
Nickname(s)South Australian Scottish Regiment
Motto(s)Primus inter Pares
ColoursBrown over blue
MarchThe Campbells Are Coming
EngagementsWorld War I

World War II

Insignia
Unit colour patchA two-toned diamond shape, one half of which is brown and the other half light blue

The 27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was initially raised in 1915 as part of the all-volunteer First Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I. During the conflict, the battalion saw action briefly at Gallipoli before later fighting on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918. It was disbanded in 1919, but was re-raised in 1921 as part of the Citizens Force, which later became the "Militia". During World War II the battalion was used mainly in a garrison role until the last year of the war when it was committed to the fighting against the Japanese during the Bougainville campaign. Following the end of hostilities it was disbanded in May 1946. Between 1948 and 1965 the battalion was re-raised and disbanded a number of times before eventually becoming part of the Royal South Australia Regiment. It was disbanded for a final time in 1987, when it was amalgamated with the 10th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment to form the 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment.

  1. ^ Kuring 2004, p. 47
  2. ^ Palazzo 2004, p. 94


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