| 2/9th Field Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940–45 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Military Forces |
| Type | Regiment |
| Role | Artillery |
| Size | 3 batteries |
| Part of | 1st Australian Corps |
| Engagements | World War II |
The2/9th Field Regiment was anAustralian Armyartillery regiment formed as part of the all volunteerSecond Australian Imperial Force in July 1940 for operations duringWorld War II. Assigned to the1st Australian Corps, the regiment was sent to theMiddle East in mid-1941, and served in Palestine, Egypt, and Syria before returning to Australia in 1942. It undertook defensive duties in south-east Queensland before deploying north toMerauke, inDutch New Guinea, andCape York. It returned to Australia in October 1944 and sent to theAtherton Tablelands to carry out training as it waited for further deployment. This never came and the regiment was disbanded in late 1945.
The 2/9th was formed in July 1940, as part of the all-volunteerSecond Australian Imperial Force, the regiment was raised atHolsworthy, New South Wales, from men largely drawn from that state. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel G.R.L Adams,[1] and it was initially assigned to the8th Division.[2][3] Upon establishment, the regiment initially consisted of twobatteries – the 17th and 18th – but was expanded to three in October 1941 with the addition of 59th Battery, while the regiment was deployed to Syria.[4] Two of the regiment'stroops were equipped with4.5-inch howitzers.[2] The remainder of the regiment usedOrdnance QF 25-pounders,[5] although the regiment's initial training took place onOrdnance QF 18-pounders and some of these vintage guns were used by the regiment later in the war while undertaking garrison duties inDutch New Guinea.[6]
The regiment concentrated atIngleburn in September, but later moved back to Holsworthy. After a reorganisation of the 2nd AIF, and the creation of the9th Division,[2] in November 1940, the regiment subsequently became part of the corps artillery of the1st Australian Corps.[7] At this time, the regiment was redesignated as the "2/9th Army Field Regiment". Training was undertaken at Holsworthy before the regiment embarked for theMiddle East in April 1941. After concentrating inPalestine in May, the regiment was redeployed toAlexandria, in Egypt, and was used to support British troops on alert to defend against a possible German airborne invasion in the wake ofBattle of Crete. The following month, the regiment was deployed to theSyria–Lebanon campaign where it was largely used to support British forces from the23rd Infantry Brigade aroundMerdjayoun, although the regiment's two 4.5-inch howitzer troops supported the Australian7th Division. The campaign concluded with an armistice in July, after which the 23rd Infantry Brigade was relieved by the Australian18th Infantry Brigade, and as a result the regiment was reassigned to the 7th Division with which it carried out occupation duties.[2]
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Following Japan's entry into the war, the Australian government sought to bring a large number of troops back from the Middle East to meet the new threat. In February 1942, the regiment moved to Khassa, in Palestine, and it was subsequently brought back to Australia as part ofOperation Stepsister. Landing inAdelaide, South Australia, in March 1942, the regiment was slowly moved east, marrying up with their guns at Springbank the following month, and moving on toEsk, Queensland, and then Arakoon, in June. In October 1942, it was reassigned to the3rd Division for defensive duties in south-east Queensland, moving betweenBuderim,Maroochydore andCaboolture. In mid-1943, it was allocated toMerauke Force and sent to garrisonMerauke in Dutch New Guinea with the 17th and 59th Batteries, andCape York with the 18th Battery, and was reallocated the4th Division. While deployed, the regiment's personnel were largely used to complete construction tasks. The regiment returned to its original designation of the "2/9th Field Regiment" in June 1944. The 18th Battery was redeployed from Cape York toWondecla on theAtherton Tablelands in September by road, while the 17th and 59th Batteries departed Merauke by sea in October 1944. After a month-long interlude onThursday Island, they disembarked atBrisbane in November.[8]
A period of leave followed, after which the regiment was reconstituted at Wondecla, returning to the control of the 1st Australian Corps.[8] There were limited combat opportunities for Australian forces around this time, as US forces had taken over as the main combat force in the Pacific.[9] The reduced artillery scale of thejungle converted divisions also limited the opportunities for artillery regiments.[10] The regiment was not deployed toBorneo when 1st Corps deployed and it was subsequently reassigned to the11th Division in April 1945. A further change of assignment came in July when it was transferred to the5th Division, at which time the regiment moved toKairi, where it remained until war's end. The regiment was disbanded in late 1945.[11] A total of 1,458 men served in the regiment throughout the war. One member was decorated, Major A.R. Blair, who received aMention in Despatches for service in Merauke. Three members of the regiment were killed in action while serving with other units.[12]
The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/9th:[13]