2/32nd Battalion (Australia)

For other uses, see 32nd Battalion (Australia).

2/32nd Battalion
Active	1940–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 personnel
Part of	25th Brigade, 9th Division 24th Brigade, 9th Division
Engagements	World War II Siege of Tobruk First Battle of El Alamein Second Battle of El Alamein Huon Peninsula campaign Borneo Campaign

The 2/32nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. Formed in June 1940, the battalion served in North Africa in 1941–42 as part of the 25th Brigade, which was assigned to the 9th Division, before being assigned to the 24th Brigade. In early 1943 the battalion returned to Australia and later took part in campaigns against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943–44 and Borneo in 1945, before being disbanded in 1946.

Battle honours

The 2/32nd Battalion received the following battle honours:

• North Africa 1941-42, Defence of Tobruk, Defence of Alamein Line, El Alamein, South-West Pacific 1943-45, Finschhafen, Defence of Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Borneo, Lae-Nadzab, Beaufort, Tell el Makh Khad, Sanyet el Miteirya and Pabu.

Commanding officers

The following officers served as commanding officer of the 2/32nd:

• Raymond Keith Anderson;
• John Walter Balfe;
• Thomas Mayo Conroy;
• Thomas Henry Scott;
• Alonzo Sydney Clive Sparkes; and
• David Adie Whitehead.

Notes

Footnotes

Citations

References

• Palazzo, Albert (2003). "Organising for Jungle Warfare". In Dennis, Peter; Grey, Jeffrey. The Foundations of Victory: The Pacific War 1943–1944. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: Army History Unit. ISBN 978-0-646-43590-9. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. http://web.archive.org/web/20121111052548/http://www.defence.gov.au/Army/ahu/docs/The_Foundations_of_Victory_Palazzo.pdf. Retrieved 20 April 2011. 

Further reading

• "Britain to Borneo : a history of the 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion". 2/32 Australian Infantry Battalion Association. 1993. ISBN 978-0-646-13407-9.