47th Battalion (Australia)

47th Battalion (Australia)
A Bren gunner covers a patrol from the 47th Battalion on Bougainville, January 1945
Active1916–1918
1921–1946
1948–1960
Country Australia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
Size~800–1,000 officers and men[Note 1]
Part of12th Brigade, 4th Division
29th Brigade, 3rd Division
ColoursBrown over dark blue
EngagementsFirst World War

Second World War

Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 47th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 for service during the First World War. The battalion then took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium, before being disbanded in early 1918 to provide reinforcements for other Australian units that were suffering from a manpower shortage following the German spring offensive. In 1921, it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens Force, which later became the Militia. During this time it was based in south-east Queensland and in 1927 it became known as the "Wide Bay Regiment". During the Second World War the 47th Battalion took part in fighting in New Guinea and Bougainville, before being disbanded again in January 1946. Later, the battalion was re-raised before eventually being subsumed into the Royal Queensland Regiment in 1960.

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


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