Protected by Federal Govt Copyright. Used with limited permission. Do not copy without approval. The Rising Sun was the General Service Badge for the AIF and the 2nd AIF.

The 42nd Infantry Battalion Australian Imperial Force (42Bn AIF)
11 Bde 3 Div

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This copy supplied in part by Ross Mallett (ADFA) and in part by AWM and other sources.

11th Brigade Third Division  AIF

Click here to scroll down to History of 11th Infantry Brigade

  • Narrative

On 2 February 1916, the Australian government agreed to form another Division. The Third Division was formed in Australia in March 1916 and it moved to England to train in July 1916. Its commander for most of its war service was the famous Major General John Monash. In December 1916 it moved to France, becoming the last division to do so, taking over part of the "nursery" sector near Armentieres.

In June 1917 it participated in the Battle of Messines. In October it fought in the Battle of Broodseinde alongside the veteran First and Second Divisions. On the 12th of October, the Third Division was repulsed at Passchendaele.

In March 1918 the Third Division was rushed to the Somme region to stem the German Offensive there. It clashed repeatedly with the advancing Germans, halting their advance at Morlancourt and Villers Bretonneux.

Holding the high ground north of the Somme River, the Third Division was involved in a series of remarkable exploits of "peaceful penetration" around Sailly-le-Sec.

Later the Third Division fought in the Battles of Hamel, Amiens, Mont Saint Quentin and the Hindenburg Line.

  • Casualties

    • killed in action: 4,542
    • died of wounds: 1,678
    • other deaths: 554
    • prisoners: 161
    • wounded: 24,188
    • total: 31,123

Third Division (France, December 1916)

Click to enlarge. 3 Div HQ Staff 1916. 3 Div HQ Staff 1916. 

Lark Hill, England. November 1916. Group portrait of men of 3rd Australian Division Headquarters before the division embarked for France.

Click for details
  • 3rd Division Artillery
  • 3rd Division Engineers
    • 9th,10th,11th Field Companies (New South Wales; Victoria; Outer States)
    • 3rd Signals Company
  • 9th Infantry Brigade
  • 10th Infantry Brigade
  • 11th Infantry Brigade
    • 41st,42nd,43rd,44th Infantry Battalions (Queensland; Queensland; South Australia; Western Australia)
    • 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery [8 x 3 inch Stokes mortars]
    • 11th Machinegun Company [16 x Vickers machineguns]
  • 3rd Pioneer Battalion
  • British 207th Machinegun Company Their story [16 x Vickers machineguns]
  • 3rd Division Medical Services
  • 3rd Salvage Company
  • 3rd Division Train
    • 22nd,23rd,24th,25th Australian Army Service Corps Companies
  • 3rd Division Supply Column
  • 3rd Division Ammunition Sub Park
  • 3rd Mobile Veterinary Section
3 Div HQ staff; Glisy, France; 25 May 1918

Summary: Group portrait of Major General J. Monash VD, Divisional Commander and Divisional Staff of the 3rd Division, while the Division was engaged in the Villers-Bretonneux sector.

Click for enlargement and details.

 Click to enlarge. 3 Div HQ Staff 1918.

Third Division (France, September 1918)

  • note the difference in artillery support from 1916 to 1918

  • note the difference in heavy machine gun arrangements

  • 3rd Division Artillery
  • 3rd Division Engineers
    • 9th,10th,11th Field Companies (New South Wales; Victoria; Outer States)
    • 3rd Signals Company
  • 9th Infantry Brigade
    • 33rd,34th,35th Infantry Battalions (New South Wales)
    • 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery [8 x 3 inch Stokes mortars]
  • 10th Infantry Brigade
    • 37th ,38th,39th,40th Infantry Battalions (Victoria; Victoria; Victoria; Tasmania)
    • 10th Light Trench Mortar Battery [8 x 3 inch Stokes mortars]
  • 11th Infantry Brigade
    • 41st,42nd,43rd,44th Infantry Battalions (Queensland; Queensland; South Australia; Western Australia)
    • 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery [8 x 3 inch Stokes mortars]
  • 3rd Machinegun Battalion [64 x Vickers machineguns]
    • 9th,10th,11th,23rd Machinegun Companies
  • 3rd Pioneer Battalion
  • 3rd Division Medical Services
  • 3rd Salvage Company
  • 3rd Division Train
    • 22nd,23rd,24th,25th Australian Army Service Corps Companies
  • 3rd Mobile Veterinary Section

 

History of 11th Infantry Brigade Click for enlargement. Subject to Federal Govt Copyright. Do not use or copy without approval.

Note that the original Saxe blue oval shoulder patch is still part of the 11 Bde badge.

  • 11th Brigade was formed in Queensland in 1916 from the 41st Battalion (QLD), 42nd Battalion (QLD), 43rd Battalion (SA), 44th Battalion (WA), 11 Field Ambulance (SA), 25th Company Service Corps (SA), 11th Machine Gun Company and with 11th Trench Mortar Company joining later. The Brigade first paraded on ANZAC Day in 1916 Commanded by Brigadier C.D.W. Rankin, VD.

  • On 17 May 1916 Brigade embarkation began for Britain, concentrating at Larkhill, Wiltshire by 27 July 1916. On 22 November that year the Brigade, as part of 3rd Division, embarked for France after the Somme Offensive. They fought in the Battle of Messines under the command of Brigadier General J.H. Cannan, CB, CMG, DSO, VD. Included in the WWI battle honours were: Third Battle of Ypres, Broodseinde, Passchendaele, Morlancourt, Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel, Mericourt, Suzanne, the capture of Mont St Quentin and Peronne and the Hindenberg Line.

  • In December 1941 the Brigade reformed under Brigadier F.R. North CB, MC, ED and comprised of 26th Battalion, 31st Battalion and 51st Battalion. In the ensuing period 42nd Battalion transferred to 29 Brigade, the 11th Brigade moved to Cairns and 31st Battalion and 51st Battalion linked as the 31st/51st Battalion. In July 1943 the Brigade embarked for Merauke, Dutch New Guinea, Commanded by Brigadier J.R. Stevenson CBE, DSO, ED. The Brigade returned to Strathpine in April 1944 for retraining and was reinforced by 53rd/55th Battalion. In January 1945 they sailed for Bougainville under 3rd Division where 31st/51st Battalion fought the Battle of Porton Plantation on 8 June 1945.

  • The Brigade paraded for the last time on 21 May 1960 under the command of Colonel I.M. Hunter, CVO, MBE. The post war period saw many changes to units and formation with HQ 11th Task Force being established in January 1972 under Colonel J.M. Church, DSO and changing again in November 1977 to 11th Field Force Group then under Colonel N.S. Harris, ED. The 11th Brigade was re-raised in Townsville on 5 September 1987, under command of Brigadier G.L. Mansford, AM.

  • 42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment is back as part of 11th Brigade.

11th Infantry Brigade (Outer States) [Third Division]

Formed in Australia March 1916 and assigned to Third Division.

  • Subunits:
    • 41st Infantry Battalion March 1916 to past November 1918
    • 42nd Infantry Battalion March 1916 to 31 October 1918
    • 43rd Infantry Battalion March 1916 to past November 1918
    • 44th Infantry Battalion March 1916 to past November 1918
    • 11th Machine Gun Company July 1916 to February 1918
    • 11th Light Trench Mortar Battery July 1916 to past November 1918
  • Commanders:
    •
  • Campaigns:
    • Messines, 
    • Broodseinde, 
    • Passchendaele, Third Battle of Ypres
    • Amiens, 
    • Mont St Quentin, 
    • Hindenburg Line
    • Morlancourt, 
    • Villers-Bretonneux, 
    • Hamel, 
    • Mericourt, 
    • Suzanne,  
    • Peronne 

 

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This web site was first presented to the public on ANZAC Day, 25 April 2002. It was upgraded 8 January 2005

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The History of the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion in WW1