Battalion History

Summary

  • The Battalion was formed at Bonegilla in Victoria in October 1940. It was part of the 8th Division's 27th Brigade, which was the last AIF infantry brigade raised for service during the Second World War.

  • The Battalion trained at Bonegilla from its formation until February 1941 when it moved to Bathurst.

  • Late July the Battalion sailed to Singapore with the rest of the Brigade, arriving 15 August 1941.

  • Further training was undertaken in Segamat, Malaya

  • the battalion fought in the Muar–Bakri area in January 1942, facing heavy Japanese attacks.

  • The 2/29th and supporting units were forced into a difficult withdrawal, suffering severe losses; many wounded left behind at Parit Sulong were massacred.

  • Only 130 members of the battalion reached Yong Peng before withdrawing to Singapore.

  • Reinforced with new troops, the battalion fought in the defence of Singapore until its surrender on 15 February 1942.

  • The men spent the next three and a half years as prisoners of war, working in harsh conditions across Asia, including the Burma–Thailand Railway, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and Japan.