44th Battalion | |
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Active | 1916–1919 1921–1944 |
Country | Australia |
Branch | Australian Army |
Type | Infantry |
Size | ~900–1,000 men |
Part of | 11th Brigade 13th Brigade |
Nickname(s) | The West Australian Rifles |
Motto(s) | In Hoc Signo Vinces |
Engagements | First World War |
Insignia | |
Unit colour patch |
The 44th Battalion was an infantry unit of the Australian Army. Originally formed in 1916 for overseas service during World War I, the battalion fought in the trenches along the Western Front in France and Belgium between late 1916 and 1918, before disbanding at the conclusion of hostilities. During the inter-war years, the 44th became part of the part-time Citizens Force, based in Western Australia. During World War II, it undertook garrison duties in Australia but was not deployed overseas to fight. In the post-World War II period the 44th was amalgamated with the 11th Battalion, before being subsumed into the Royal Western Australia Regiment in 1960.