From Gallipoli to Afghanistan

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Although we can not claim direct descendency from the 1st AIF nonetheless Infantry Battalions listed as 7 on the nation’s orbats have served Australia for a century  from Gallipoli to Afghanistan.

 

7th Battalion, AIF

The 7th Battalion was among the first infantry units raised for the AIF during the First World War. Like the 5th, 6th and 8th Battalions, it was recruited from Victoria and, together with these battalions, formed the 2nd Brigade.

The battalion was raised by Lieutenant Colonel H.E Pompey Elliot within a fortnight of the declaration of war in August 1914 and embarked just two months later. After a brief stop in Albany, Western Australia, the battalion proceeded to Egypt, arriving on 2 December. It later took part in the Anzac landing on 25 April 1915, as part of the second wave. Of the men who served in the 7th battalion 1045 were killed and 2076 were recorded as wounded (including gassed)

Members of the 1st 7th were awarded the following decorations.

• 4 VC
• 1 CMG
• 2 DSO
• 20 MC, 2 bars
• 31 DCM, 1 bar
• 100 MM, 5 bars
• 6 MSM
• 37 MID
• 6 foreign awards

Click on the Colour Patch to read more.

7th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF 1936-1945

The 7^th Battalion (Mount Alexander Regiment) was raised as a Militia unit in Mildura in the presence of many distinguished members of the ‘original’ 7^th Battalion AIF and wore its colour patch. It also carried the Battle Honours of its predecessor on its Regimental Colours.

At the commencement of the Second World War, like other Militia units, the 7^th volunteered en masse for overseas service but was rejected on the grounds that it was needed for the defence of Australia, Many of its soldiers volunteered for the 2^nd AIF and left the unit. The battalion trained many soldiers and spent much time at its camp at Nagambie, near Seymour Victoria. At the outbreak of war the Militia became the training organisation for the fit men in their twenties called-up and called ‘Universal Trainees’. When Japan struck, the battalion dug in in a defensive position as part of the defences of Melbourne.  In February 1942 the battalion was moved to Darwin and formed part of its defences until March 1943. In April 1942 the battalion received the designation 7^th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF) having reached the necessary 75% of its strength being AIF (and thus volunteering for overseas service).

The battalion was moved to the Atherton Tableland in November 1943 and in April sailed for New Guinea, landing at Lae. In April 1945 it was deployed to Bougainville and commenced operations against the Japanese in June. Thirty-five men of the battalion died on active service. The unit was disbanded on 10^th May 1946.

Its present day successor is now designated as 8^th/7^th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment , an Army Reserve battalion headquartered at Hawthorn, Victoria.

During its service throughout the war the battalion lost 35 men killed  on active service, with a further 50 men wounded.

Members of the Battalion were awarded the following decorations.

• 1 DSO
• 1 MC
• 16 MIDs

7th Battalion 2nd AIF

Part of the 17th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division, the 2/7th Battalion opened its headquarters at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds on 25 October 1939. It relocated to the newly-established camp at Puckapunyal on 3 November to carry out its basic training, and departed Melbourne for service overseas on 15 April 1940.

Arriving in the Middle East on 17 May 1940, the 2/7th conducted further training in Palestine and Egypt, before embarking on its first campaign – the advance against the Italians in eastern Libya – just before Christmas. It fought in the battles for Bardia (3-5 January 1941) and Tobruk (21-22 January 1941) and ended its activities in Libya manning defensive positions at Marsa Brega – the western extent of the advance. Of the men who served in the 2nd 7th 226 were killed and 473 were recorded as wounded.

Members of the 2nd 7th were awarded the following decorations.

• 6 DSO
• 2 MBE
• 11 MC
• 5 DCM
• 26 MM
• 60 MID

Click on the Colour Patch to read more.

7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment

7RAR was formed at Puckapunyal, Victoria on 1 Sep, 1965 as a part of the Australian Army’s build up for the Vietnam War. The Battalion subsequently served twice in Phuouc Tuy Province, South Vietnam.

The first tour was from April 1967 and the second from February 1970. Both tours lasted approximately 12 months and during this time 7RAR was deployed on 48 operations.

During the period 2007 to 2010, 7RAR deployed two company groups to Afghanistan and Iraq respectively. During 2008/2009, 7RAR led the Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force in Afghanistan. 7RAR has also contributed platoon size groups and numerous individual deployments to various theatres of operations since it was re-raised.

Approximately 2 400 men served with the Seventh. Of these thirty four were killed and 220 were recorded as being wounded.

Members of the 7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment were awarded the following decorations.

South Vietnam

• First tour
  • 1 DSO
  • 2 MBE
  • 2 MC
  • 2 DCM
  • 3 MM
  • 14 MID
• Second tour
  • 1 DSO
  • 2 MBE
  • 2 MC
  • 2 MM
  • 5 MID
  • 1 BEM

Afghanistan

• All Tours
  • 1 DSC
  • 3 MG
  • 4 DSM
  • 1 CSM
  • 3 Commendation for Gallantry
  • 1 OAM
  • 2 Commendation for Distinguished Service

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