This gives a general overview of the units present: Battle for Australia Council 55th Australian Infantry Battalion 7th Australian Infantry Brigade Group, made up of the 9th, 25th, 61st Battalions plus anti-tank and anti-aircraft artillery However, it's not a specidic OoB
MILNE BAY-AUGUST, SEPTEMBER 1942 AIF & Militia 'Milne Force' 7th Brigade (9th, 25th, 61st Battalions) 18th Brigade (2/9th, 2/10th, 2/12th Battalions) 2/5th Field Regiment 4th Battery, 101st Anti-Tank Regiment 6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery 9th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery 24th Field Company RAAF No.6 Squadron (Hudsons) No.32 Squadron (Hudsons) NO.75 Squadron (Kittyhawks) No.76 Squadron (Kittyhawks) Detachment of No.30 Squadron (Beaufighters) Detachment of No.100 Squadron (Beauforts)
These American units were also at Milne Bay. Australian and United States forces had been active in the area since June. The 46th United States Engineer Battalion were joined by II/43rd US Engineer Regiment.
Forgot I had these. Pages 5 & 6 should be interesting for you. http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/awm52/1/AWM52-1-5-25-001.pdf
thanks for the responses Kyt and spidge My research has the 33rd Heavy AA battery arriving in milne bay on the MV Anshun. They had departed Townsville in convoy Q2 on Wednesday 2nd September arriving Giligili Plantation Saturday 5th September 1942. Q2 consisted of Anshun and S'Jacob escorted by HMAS Swan and HMAS Castlemaine. Q2 had left Townsville together with convey P2 comprising Sea Witch and Tarooma. On September 4 Q2 and P2 and escorts met up with HMAS Arunta. The two convoys split 180 miles south of Port Moresby, P2 and HMAS Castlemaine went to Port Moresby and Q2 and the other two escorts went on to Milne Bay. A Japanese submarine was sunk by HMAS castlemaine as it approached Port Moresby? HMAS Anshun was sunk by and a Japanese cruiser Tenryu and destroyer Arashi that came to Milne Bay to bombard allied shipping and defenses. Following orders the escorts had left Milne Bay and returned the next morning. The S'Jacob was sunk when it left Milne Bay. I will digest what you have posted and get back thanks again Adam
Yes Andy, sorry, my mistake. It was the HMAS Arunta..... HMAS ARUNTA (I) - HMA Ship Histories (Sea Power Centre - Australia) - "On 11 August 1942 ARUNTA began escorting convoys and other shipping between Australia and New Guinea. On 29 August she experienced her first contact with the enemy when she destroyed by depth charge the Japanese Submarine RO33 off Port Moresby. In September she continued escorting convoys to New Guinea and while thus engaged took on board the survivors of the SS ANSHUN at Milne Bay after that ship had been sunk by Japanese cruisers on the night of 6/7 September." Thanks again
No worries, Adam, I'm sadly not up enough on the naval (or any) side of things of that period so I couldn't offer another option. Really need to get my head around the chronology. Good old Arunta! Btw, how cool is it that Castlemaine still survives?!
An American said to me once that their forces were also instrumental in the victory at Milne Bay and we wanted to take all the glory ourselves. "We had troops there too"! They did, however they were not front line troops. They were an engineer battalion constructing the three airfields. One was killed by action, the other three due to an Air Raid. Even Macarthur couldn't claim this an American victory however he reported it as an "Allied" victory.
milne bay Thank you Spidge for the pdf files which I am assuming is the war diary of Milne Force. There are quite a few references to the AA units and the days around late August seem especially busy. The light and heavy anti-aircraft units claim quite a few destroyed aircraft and notes of near misses are included. I see on page 5 the only reference to the 33rd HAA that I could find noting that it is the HQ company. Would this be the scenario, that a HQ company could be deployed and other HAA units in the force would be attached to that HQ? I note there are 2nd AIF HAA units as well as some American AA. How would those units go coming under command of a militia unit or any idea how the command structure would go? What about the LAA? Thanks again Adam
Adam, Spidge is currently in Perth but will be back home tomorrow so should be able to answer your question then.
A very, very well put together video of the Battle of Milne Bay. Features extensive commentary from one of the Australian engineers and New Guinea expert Peter Brune. Prepare to spend a wonderful 16 minutes! I'll try to post this in the video album as well. Remembering the Battle of Milne Bay - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
