2/4th Armoured Regiment
Australian Army, Armoured Corps

Background
The Australian Army, Armoured Corps 2/4th Armoured Regiment (2/4 Armoured Regiment) was formed in November 1942 at Wee Waa in New South Wales in Australia. Formed to replace the 1st Armoured Regiment sent to New Guinea and was constituted from other armoured units. D Squadron from the 2/11th Armoured Car Regiment became the 2/4th's A Squadron; 2nd Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron became the 2/4th's B Squadron; 1st Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron became the 2/4th's C Squadron; and 2/4th became part of the 2nd Armoured Brigade.

Wartime History
In early 1943 moved to Queensland and joined the 3rd Armoured Division at Manumbah, Queensland equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks and some M3 Stuart light tanks. Later, the regiment received Matilda II, Infantry Tank Mark II. During October 1943, the 3rd Armoured Division was disbanded and became part of the independent 4th Armoured Brigade.

In June 1944 moved to Southport on the Gold Coast of Queensland. During August 1944 shipped to Madang in New Guinea and were based with the 4th Armoured Brigade at Mililat where it was divided into "squadron groups" to operate independently and continued training in tropical and jungle conditions. They retained several of M3 Grant medium tanks for use as recovery vehicles and converted at least one into M3 Armoured Recovery Vehicle (Grant ARV II).


During November 1944, C Squadron was embarked aboard liberty ship SS Francis Parkman and shipped to Aitape to support the 6th Division at the Driniumor River then advanced along the north coast of New Guinea. During January 1945 operated from Matapau (Karasin) then advanced over the Hawain River then capture of Wewak (Wewak Point). In the middle of May 1945 supported the assault at Wirui.

In December 1944, B Squadron moved to Torokina on western Bougainville to support the II Australian Cops.

On March 29, 1945 at 9:00am their tanks landed from Landing Craft Tank (LCT) at Toko. That night, Brigadier Field ordered the tanks to the Puriata River. On March 30, 1945 more tanks landed while engineers from 15th Field Company closed the three-ton truck bridge at Combes Crossing to traffic, and by 2:30pm had a "tankable" bridge across the ditch. The tanks were delayed fifteen minutes and the Puriata River had flooded and was too high for the Matilda tanks to ford. The crews got to work and in half the time prescribed had waterproofed their vehicles. By 4:45pm they were ready to cross but the first tank bogged and was abandoned. The other three crossed with the aid of a bulldozer pushing them then advanced to support the 25th Battalion at Slater's Knoll.

At Slater's Knoll, fire support from the tanks saved them from being overrun by a larger Japanese force turned the tide of the battle in favor of the Australians. Afterwards, the tanks supported the advance along the Buin Road and Commando Road and were used to support the infantry by destroying enemy bunkers, searching for mines, patrolling and for fire support.
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During June 1945, the rest of the regiment (less C Squadron) moved to Bougainville supporting the 3rd Division advancing in the southern sector towards Buin. Two Matilda II Tanks were bogged down on the bank of a river near Buin and abandoned. During July 1945 a troop of tanks was sent to the northern sector support the 23rd Brigade on the Bonis Peninsula.

Postwar
In the middle of September 1945, after the surrender of Japanese forces at Rabaul, a tank troop from A Squadron was sent to Rabaul to help guard Japanese Prisoners Of War (POW). On September 19, 1945 they inspected forty tanks and vehicles surrendered by the Japanese Army at Rapopo Airfield. On September 28, 1945 the surrendered tanks were driven from Rapopo to Rabaul by Japanese drivers with Australian commanders. These tanks were retained in case of an emergency or POW riot. Afterwards, the surrendered tanks were abandoned or destroyed. At least two tanks, Type 97 Chi-Ha Shinhoto and Type 97 Te-Ke Tankette were later taken to Australia as war prizes and are today displayed at the Royal Australian Armour Corps Museum (RAACM). During October 1945 B Squadron joins them at Rabaul. By May 1946 the regiment returns to Sydney. By September 4, 1946 the last personnel were discharged and the regiment was disbanded.

Commanding Officers (C.O.)
Arnold Jack Caddy
Donald Allen Cameron
Thomas Mills

Awards
1 DSO; 3 MC; 2 OBE; 3 MM; 7 MID

Battle Honours
Egan's Ridge-Hongorai Ford, Hari River, Hawain River, Hongorai River, Mivo River, Slater's Knoll, Wewak, Wirui Mission

References
Australian War Memorial (AWM) 2/4 Armoured Regiment

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