17th Brigade (Australia)

The 17th Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army. First formed in 1917 during World War I, it did not see any action. Reformed during World War II it took part in fighting in Libya, Greece and New Guinea before being disbanded in 1946. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 17th Combat Service Support Brigade, which was raised as a logistics formation in May 2006.

World War I
The 17th Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of the 6th Division on 25 April 1917. The formation did not see any action and was disbanded on 26 September 1917.

Units

 * 62nd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
 * 63rd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
 * 65th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
 * 66th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
 * 67th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
 * 70th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
 * 17th Machine Gun Company (1 June 1917 – 20 August 1917)
 * 17th Light Trench Mortar Battery (28 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)

Commanders

 * Brigadier General John Paton (25 April 1917 – 19 July 1917)
 * Colonel William Watson (19 July 1917 – 26 September 1917)

World War II
The 17th Brigade was reformed on 13 October 1939, again as part of the 6th Division, recruited from Victoria. The 17th Brigade fought in the Western Desert Campaign in Libya, the Battle of Greece, the Battle of Wau, the Salamaua-Lae campaign in Papua, and in the Aitape-Wewak campaign in New Guinea.

Units

 * 2/5th Battalion (18 October 1939 – 28 February 1946)
 * 2/6th Battalion (25 October 1939 – 18 February 1946)
 * 2/7th Battalion (25 October 1939 – February 1946)
 * 2/8th Battalion (30 October 1939 – Feb-April 1940) to 19th Brigade