1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion

The 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion (1NGIB) was a battalion of the Australian Army formed in March 1944 in the territory of New Guinea, during World War II, in order to fight against the Japanese. Its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian officers and NCOs. Although formed late in the war the battalion would ultimately serve in a number of the allied campaigns in New Guinea, including during the offensives on New Britain and Bougainville. 1NGIB had an establishment of about 77 Europeans and 550 native soldiers.

The Papuan Infantry Battalion (PIB) along with the 1st and 2nd New Guinea Infantry Battalion were amalgamated to form the Pacific Islands Regiment in November 1944. The 3rd and 4th New Guinea Infantry Battalion joined the regiment in 1945, although 4NGIB was soon disbanded, whilst the 5th New Guinea Infantry Battalion—although authorised—was never raised. The battalion disbanded on June 1946.

Battle honours

 * World War II: South West Pacific 1942–45, Kokoda Trail, Kokoda-Deniki, Nassau Bay, Tambu Bay, Finschhafen, Scarlet Beach, Liberation of Australian New Guinea, Sio-Sepik River, Kaboibus-Kiarivu and Bonis-Porton.

Commanding officers

 * Major W.M. Edwards (1944)
 * Lieutenant Colonel B.G. Dawson (1944–1945)
 * Lieutenant Colonel J.S. Jones (1945)

Decorations

 * 3 Military Medals (MM)
 * 6 Mentioned in Despatches (MID)

Casualties

 * 15 killed, 1 missing, 17 died, 25 wounded.