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Category:
2nd AIF |
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The 16th Brigade was formed in
October 1939, one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second
AIF, and became part of the 6th Australian Division. Its designation was
derived from the fact that there were already 15 infantry brigades in
the Australian Military Forces, not, as is popularly believed, because
there had been 15 infantry brigades in the original AIF.
The 16th Brigade's four
infantry battalions - 2/1st, 2/2nd, 2/3rd and 2/4th - were all recruited
in New South Wales. In February 1941 the Second AIF was reorganised in
accordance with the war establishments of the British Army. This
resulted in the reduction of Australian infantry brigades from four to
three battalions, and the 2/4th Battalion subsequently became part of
the 19th Brigade.
As a formation, the 16th Brigade
fought in Libya, Greece, on the Kokoda Trail and Sanananda Track in
Papua, and in the Aitape-Wewak campaign.
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