This service remembers the men of the 29/46th Australian Infantry Battalion on the anniversary of their first action of the Second World War.
In August 1942 the 29th and 46th Battalions were merged to form the 29/46th Australian Infantry Battalion. After a period of training and garrison duties, they deployed to New Guinea. They took part in the Huon Peninsula campaign from December 1943, first tasked with capturing Fortification Point. With this goal, the 29/46th left Finschhafen on 5 December 1943.
In January 1945 the battalion deployed to New Britain and remained there until after the end of the war. They used active patrolling to confine the Japanese to Rabaul, then acted as an occupation force once the Second World War came to an end.
The 29/46th Battalion was disbanded in June 1946, having lost 39 men, and many more wounded.
Reviewed 21 June 2021