55th Battalion
The 55th Battalion was raised in Egypt
on 12 February 1916 as part of the “doubling” of the AIF. Half of
its recruits were Gallipoli veterans from the 3rd Battalion, and the
other half, fresh reinforcements from Australia. Reflecting the
composition of the 3rd, the 55th was predominantly composed of men from
New South Wales. The battalion became part of the 14th Brigade of the
5th Australian Division.
Arriving in France on 30 June 1916,
the battalion entered the frontline trenches for the first time on 12
July and fought its first major battle at Fromelles a week later. The
battle was a disaster, resulting in heavy casualties across the
division. Although in reserve, the 55th was quickly committed to the
attack and eventually played a critical role, forming the rearguard for
the 14th Brigade’s withdrawal. Despite its grievous losses the 5th
Division continued to man the front in the Fromelles sector for a
further two months.
After a freezing winter manning
trenches in the Somme Valley, in early 1917 the 55th Battalion
participated in the advance that followed the German retreat to the
Hindenburg Line. It was spared the assault but did, however, defend
gains made during the second battle of Bullecourt. Later in the year,
the AIF’s focus of operations switched to the Ypres sector in Belgium.
The 55th’s major battle here was at Polygon Wood on 26 September.
With the collapse of Russia in October
1917, a major German offensive on the Western Front was expected in
early 1918. This came in late March and the 5th Division moved to defend
the sector around Corbie. The 14th Brigade took up positions to the
north of Villers-Bretonneux and held these even when the village fell,
threatening their flanks.
Once the German offensive had been
defeated, the Allies launched their own offensive in August 1918. The
14th Brigade did not play a major role in these operations until late in
the month, but its actions were critical to the capture of Péronne,
which fell on 2 September. The 54th fought its last major battle of the
war, St Quentin Canal, between 29 September and 2 October 1918. For his
valour during this action Private John Ryan was awarded the Victoria
Cross.
The battalion was resting out of the
line when the Armistice was declared on 11 November. The progressive
return of troops to Australia for discharge resulted in the 55th merging
with the 53rd Battalion on 10 March 1919. The combined 53/55th
Battalion, in turn, disbanded on 11 April. Text from AWM
- 507 killed, 1328 wounded (including
gassed)
-
Decorations
- 1 VC
- 1 DSO
- 1 MBE
- 24 MC and 2 bars
- 22 DCM and 1 bar
- 72 MM, 1 1st bar, 1 2nd bar, 1
3rd bar
- 3 MSM
- 24 MID
- 4 foreign awards
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