4th Machine Gun Battalion (Australia)
| 4th Machine Gun Battalion | |
|---|---|
|
Members of the 12th Machine Gun Company | |
| Active | 1918–19 |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Direct and indirect fire support |
| Size | ~ 900 personnel |
| Part of | 4th Division |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Harry Murray |
| Insignia | |
| Unit Colour Patch |
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The 4th Machine Gun Battalion was an infantry support unit of the Australian Army. Originally formed in March 1918 for service during World War I as part of the all volunteer Australian Imperial Force, it was one of five such units raised as part of the AIF during the war.[1] Assigned to the 4th Division, the battalion had an authorised strength of 46 officers and 890 other ranks. It consisted of four machine gun companies – the 4th, 12th, 13th and 24th – which had previously existed as independent companies assigned mainly at brigade level, having been formed in March 1916 (the 4th, 12th and 13th) and February 1917 (the 24th).[2] The battalion took part in the final stages of the war, seeing action during the Allied defensive operations during the German Spring Offensive and then the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, which finally brought an end to the war.[3] The battalion was disbanded in mid-1919 during the demobilisation of the AIF following the conclusion of hostilities.[4] The battalion's commanding officer on formation was Lieutenant Colonel Harry Murray, who had previously received the Victoria Cross for his actions while serving with the 13th Infantry Battalion. Murray commanded the battalion until the end of the war.[5]
The battalion's Unit Colour Patch (UCP) was a black and gold circle, which was usually worn above the crossed guns badge of the Machine Gun Corps. While the battalion's constituent companies had previously been issued distinctive UCPs, upon the formation of the battalion these were replaced by the single battalion style. The black and gold colours were chosen to signify that the unit as a machine gun unit, while the circle showed that the 4th Machine Gun Battalion was part of the 4th Division, which used the same shape UCP for the majority of its units.[6]
One member of the 4th Machine Gun Company, Sergeant (later Lieutenant) John Dwyer, received the Victoria Cross for his actions during the war, prior to the company's incorporation into the 4th Machine Gun Battalion.[7]
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- "4th Machine Gun Battalion". RSL Virtual War Memorial. Returned and Services League. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- "AWM4 24/4/11: 4th Machine Gun Battalion: April 1919". Unit war dairies. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
- Batt, Chris (1996). "Dwyer, John James (Jack) (1890–1962)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Volume 14. Melbourne University Press. pp. 64–65.
- Dennis, Peter; et al. (1995). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (1st ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. ISBN 0-19-553227-9.
- Harris, Ted. "Patches of Machine Gun Corps, Service Corps & Pioneers". Digger History. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
- Lincoln, Merrilyn (1986). "Murray, Henry William (1880–1966)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Volume 10. Melbourne University Press.
- Mallett, Ross (2003). "Machine Gun Corps". AIF Project. University of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 12 November 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
Further reading
- Kuring, Ian (2004). Redcoats to Cams: A History of Australian Infantry 1788–2001. Loftus, New South Wales: Australian Military Historical Publications. ISBN 1876439998.
External links
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