2/27th Battalion (Australia)

2/27th Battalion
Troops from the 2/27th at Hammana, Lebanon on 2 September 1941, including their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Murray Moten and Major General Arthur Allen
Active	1940–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 men[Note 1]
Part of	21st Brigade, 7th Division
Engagements	World War II North Africa Campaign Syria–Lebanon Campaign New Guinea Campaign Borneo Campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in May 1940 as part of the 7th Division from volunteers from the state of South Australia, the battalion was assigned to the 21st Brigade. After completing training in Australia, the 2/27th deployed to the Middle East in November 1940, and in early 1941 undertook defensive duties in the Western Desert. The battalion's first combat experience came against the Vichy French during the short Syria–Lebanon campaign during which it fought major engagements around Sidon and Damour. At the conclusion of the fighting in Syria, the battalion remained in the area as part of the Allied occupation force until early 1942 when it was returned to Australia to fight against the Japanese.

From September 1942 until early 1943, the 2/27th took part in the Kokoda Track campaign and then the Battle of Buna–Gona, before being withdrawn to Australia where it was rebuilt. In August 1943, the 2/27th returned to New Guinea and subsequently took part in the Finisterre Range campaign, leading the 21st Brigade's effort to capture Shaggy Ridge, remaining there until early 1944. The battalion's final campaign of the war came in the final months of the conflict during the Borneo campaign when it took part in the landing at Balikpapan. Following a short stint on occupation duties in the Celebes Islands after the end of the war, the battalion was disbanded in Australia in early 1946.

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