39th (Militia) Battalion
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The 39th Militia Battalion played a crucial role along the infamous Kokoda Track during the Second World War. Garrisoning the Papuan capital of Port Moresby, the 39th Battalion was the first unit to directly defend Australian territory in wartime.
Battalion History
Training
The Battalion was raised in Victoria (Australia) in late 1941 and, apart from a small number of veterans of World War I, consisted of young boys aged 18 or 19 years of age. The Battalion was raised hastily and received poor training and equipment. The unit arrived in Port Moresby only weeks after the start of the Pacific War and instead of receiving much needed further training the 39th was used for months to build defences and unload ships. The Battalion received a small amount of training just before they were sent up the Kokoda Track when some of the older officers were relieved by some experienced AIF officers. They quickly disciplined the men into shape, giving them some much needed training. But, before the officers could complete the soldiers' training, the Militia were sent up the Kokoda Track. In evaluations of units the 39th received the lowest possible score and was deemed to have not completed training. It is perhaps a historical irony that during Australia's darkest days the front was manned by what were seen as the worst units.
Kokoda Track
The 39th Battalion first saw action fighting the Japanese advance along the Kokoda Track. The battalion played a key role in the Australian defensive campaign before being relieved by better trained and equipped elements of the Second Australian Imperial Force in September 1942. Following the Allied victory on the Kokoda Track the 39th Battalion was again sent into action during the Battle of Buna-Gona. After taking very heavy casualties the battalion was disbanded.Later Use Of The Designation
At the launch of a book detailing the events of the Kokoda Track, Mud over Blood, on March 24th 2006, Federal Treasurer Peter Costello announced that on August 8th later this year, the Sydney-based Deployed Forces Support Unit will be redesignated as the 39th Personnel Support Battalion at a ceremony to be held at Melbourne's Shrine of Remembrance.References
One of Australia's most popular historians on the 39th and/or the Kokoda Track campaign is Peter Prune, author of such books as Those Ragged Bloody Heroes, A Bastard of a Place and The Spell Broken. Another excellent book is "To Kokoda and Beyond - the Story of the 39th Battalion 1941-1943" by Victor Austin.
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