16th Brigade (Australia)

The 16th Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army. First raised during World War I, when it existed only briefly in 1917 and did not participate in the fighting. Raised again in 1939 for service during World War II, during which it saw action in Libya, Greece and New Guinea before being disbanded in 1946 after the conflict had ended. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 16th Aviation Brigade which was raised on 2 April 2002.

World War I
The 16th Infantry Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of the 6th Division on 17 March 1917. The unit it did not see any action and was disbanded on 19 October 1917 due to manpower shortages in the AIF.

Subunits

 * 61st Battalion (19 March 1917 – 19 October 1917)
 * 65th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 16 May 1917)
 * 69th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 19 October 1917)
 * 70th Battalion (19 March 1917 – 16 May 1917)
 * 62nd Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
 * 63rd Battalion (17 May 1917 – 19 October 1917)
 * 16th Machine Gun Company (7 June 1917 – 16 August 1917)
 * 16th Light Trench Mortar Battery (5 June 1917 – 26 September 1917)

Commanders

 * Brigadier General John M. Antill (20 March 1917 – 20 September 1917)
 * Lieutenant Colonel William Mackenzie (20 September 1917 – 19 October 1918)

World War II
The 16th Infantry Brigade was reformed on 13 October 1939, again as part of the 6th Division. The 16th Brigade fought in the Western Desert Campaign in Libya, the Battle of Greece, the Kokoda Track campaign and the Battle of Buna–Gona in Papua, and in the Aitape–Wewak campaign in New Guinea.

Subunits

 * 2/1st Battalion (16 October 1939 – December 1945)
 * 2/2nd Battalion (24 October 1939 – 15 February 1946)
 * 2/3rd Battalion (24 October 1939 – 8 February 1946)
 * 2/4th Battalion (3 November 1939 – 30 April 1940) to 19th Brigade

Commanders

 * Brigadier Arthur Allen (1939–1940)
 * Lieutenant Colonel George Wootten (1940)
 * Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Eather (1941)
 * Brigadier Allan Boase (1941–1942)
 * Brigadier John Lloyd (1942–1943)
 * Brigadier Roy King (1943–1945)