61st Battalion (Australia)

61st Battalion (Queensland Cameron Highlanders)
A coat of arms consisting of a large X superimposed over a person, surrounded by a laurel wreath. Below this, the number "61" is presented above the words "Queensland Cameron Highlanders".
Unit badge of the 61st Battalion
Active1917
1938–1946
CountryAustralia
BranchAustralian Army
TypeInfantry
Size~550–900 men all ranks[Note 1]
Part of7th Brigade, 3rd Division
Garrison/HQKelvin Grove, Queensland
Motto(s)"A Cameron Never Yields"
ColoursBlack beside green
EngagementsSecond World War
Insignia
Unit colour patchA two-toned oval shape, one half of which is black and the other half green surrounded by a strip of light grey

The 61st Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1917 during the First World War but was disbanded the same year without seeing active service. Later it was re-raised as a part of the Militia in 1938 in Brisbane, Queensland. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War they initially undertook garrison duties in Australia, however, in 1942 they were deployed to New Guinea where they took part in the Battle of Milne Bay, during which the Japanese were defeated for the first time in a major land battle. In late 1943, the 61st Battalion was withdrawn back to Australia for a period of re-organisation and training before being deployed overseas again in late 1944. This time they were deployed to Bougainville, where the Australian 3rd Division had taken over from the American garrison and the battalion joined the drive towards the Japanese stronghold at Buin in the south of the island. Following the end of the war, the 61st Battalion was disbanded as part of the demobilisation process on 8 January 1946.

  1. ^ Palazzo 2004, p. 94.
  2. ^ Watt 2001, p. 5 & 53.


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