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GWA-02(60) - Infantry Officer - The 5th Division, 15th Brigade, 60th Battalion
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The 60th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I. It belonged to the 15th Brigade, which formed part of the 5th Division.
Formation
The 60th Battalion was raised in Egypt in February 1916 after the Gallipoli campaign, when the AIF expanded from two infantry divisions to five. The battalion was formed largely from experienced soldiers of the 8th Battalion, with many recruits coming from Victoria.
Service
The battalion served on the Western Front in France and Belgium from 1916 until the end of the war in 1918. It took part in major battles including:
- Fromelles (1916)
- Bullecourt (1917)
- Polygon Wood (1917)
- Villers-Bretonneux (1918)
- The Allied Hundred Days Offensive (1918)
Fromelles
The Battle of Battle of Fromelles was especially devastating for the 60th Battalion. It was the battalion’s first major action and resulted in extremely heavy casualties. The battle became one of the worst 24 hours in Australian military history.
15th Brigade
The 15th Brigade included:
- 57th Battalion
- 58th Battalion
- 59th Battalion
- 60th Battalion
The brigade fought together throughout much of the war under the 5th Division.
5th Division
The 5th Division was commanded for much of the war by James Whiteside McCay. The division served with distinction on the Western Front and suffered heavy casualties across the war.
After the War
The battalion was disbanded in 1919 after returning to Australia. Like many AIF units, its history and honours were later perpetuated by militia units in the interwar years.
Brand: John Jenkins
