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2nd / 18th Australian Infantry Battalion Print Page Print this page

02-April-2011
02-April-2011

Photographs supplied by Diane Watson / Glen Yeomans

The plaque commemorates those who served in the 2nd / 18th Australian Infantry Battalion of the 8th Division during World War Two.

The plaque location is indicated by a red poppy in the second image. 

Formed in June 1940, the battalion was assigned to the 22nd Brigade, which formed part of the Australian 8th Division. After completing basic training, the Battalion was sent to Singapore and Malaya to strengthen the defences of the British colonies in February 1941 against a possible Japanese attack. It subsequently undertook garrison duties throughout the year at various locations in Malaya, where it conducted jungle training and constructed defences along the eastern coast.

Following the outbreak of war in the Pacific in December 1941, the Battalion saw action against Japanese forces in theMalayan campaign, during which they took part in a large-scale ambush of a Japanese force on the Malay Peninsula before joining the withdrawal to Singapore in early 1942.

Assigned to defend part of the north-west coast of the island, the Battalion participated in the unsuccessful defence of Singapore in early February 1942. Following the fall of Singapore the majority of the Battalion's personnel were taken as prisoners of war. Many of these men died in captivity; the survivors were liberated in 1945 and returned to Australia where the Battalion was disbanded.

Location

Address:Fairbairn & Limestone Avenues, Captain Reg Saunders Courtyard, Australian War Memorial, Campbell, 2612
State:ACT
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.280461
Long: 149.148348
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW2
Approx. Event Start Date:June-1940
Actual Event End Date:15-August-1945

Dedication

Actual Monument Dedication Date:Friday 17th November, 2006
Front Inscription

2 / 18th Australian Infantry Battalion 
8th Division A.I.F.

Malaya 1941 -42    Johore  Jemaleung  Singapore Island

In memory of all who died in action or as Prisoners of War and all who served in the Battalion

Lest We Forget
 

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au