50th Battalion (Australia)

50th Battalion (Australia)
Members of the 50th Battalion at Zonnebeke, September 1917
Active	1916–1919 1921–1930 1930–1936 (10th/50th Battalion) 1936–1945 (12th/50th Battalion)
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~1,000 officers and men[1]
Part of	13th Brigade 4th Division
Engagements	World War I Western Front World War II
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 50th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in Egypt in early 1916 for service during World War I, drawing a cadre of experienced personnel from the 10th Battalion. After the unit's formation, it was transferred to Europe where it took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion was amalgamated with the 51st Battalion in early 1919 as demobilisation reduced the numbers in both battalions. In the inter war period, the battalion was briefly reformed in 1921 as a part-time unit based initially in South Australia and then later in Tasmania. At different periods it was amalgamated with both the 10th and 12th Battalions. The battalion did not see combat during World War II, being employed as garrison troops in Australia instead, and it was disbanded in mid-1945.