8th Battalion (Australia)

8th Battalion
Members of the 8th Battalion, after attacking at Passchendaele, 28 October 1917
Active	1914–1919 1921–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Role	Line infantry
Size	~800–1,000 men
Part of	2nd Brigade (1914–19) 23rd Brigade (1941–46)
Colours	White over red
Engagements	First World War Gallipoli campaign Western Front Second World War Bougainville campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 8th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Initially raised in 1914 for the First Australian Imperial Force during the First World War the battalion was completely recruited from Victoria and formed part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division. During the war it fought at Gallipoli and in France and Belgium on the Western Front. It was disbanded in 1919, before being re-raised as a Militia battalion in 1921. During the Second World War the 8th Battalion was used primarily as a garrison unit before taking part in the Bougainville campaign late in the war. It was disbanded again in 1946 during the demobilisation process, although it was reformed again in 1948 when it was amalgamated with the 7th Battalion. Today, its honours and traditions are perpetuated by the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment.