In January 1942, the 53rd Battalion became known as DARWIN FORCE and six weeks later embarked, not for DARWIN, but to PORT MORESBY, arriving on the 3rd January 1942. The next few months saw demands for work parties not only from the Army, but from the Navy and Air Force as well, plus constant piquet and sundry other duties to such an extent that the Battalion’s defensive and attacking programme was neglected almost to the point of coming to a standstill.
The end of July saw “B” and “C” Companies ordered forward to KOKODA area for training and on the 10th August, they relieved the 39th Battalion at UBERI. By the 20th August, “B” Company had arrived at NAURU and began to patrol the defended forward localities of the 39th Battalion in the direction of DENIKI. The first contact with the enemy was by a patrol led by Lieut. Campbell. Probing patrols along tracks leading to KAILLE, MISSIMA and DENIKI continued until early September, when the Battalion was ordered back to MYOLA.
It is necessary to appreciate that during the rapid advancement by the Japanese at this time, and with their ability to implement speedy encircling tactical moves on contact, there was generally a state of confusion regarding the location of the enemy forces. Such being the situation, the 53rd Battalion suffered a further serious blow when its commanding officer, Lt.-Col. Kenneth WARD, together with Lieut. Logan and Private Foster, were killed when attempting to regain contact with his forward positions.
The 53rd Battalion was part of the famous battle for Isurava involving the 39th Battalion, 2/16 Battalion and 2/16 Battalion. During this battle, the battalion was located on the Kokoda Track near Alola. The Japanese infiltrated the lines of the 2/14 battalion, and upon the withdrawal of the 2/14, the situation for the 53rd Battalion was untenable. In the process, at least 25 soldiers were cut off from their unit during the withdrawal. For the full story there will be a copy published in full on this site at a later date.
A group of 20 were able to escape the Japanese positions and returned to Owers Corner which took over two weeks. Another off-group under Captain Trevor King was also able to avoid capture and headed west, then south, arriving on the coast three weeks later. The War Memorial in Canberra has an Audio interview with Trevor King. (https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C87971)
Early in September, the 53rd Battalion as ordered back to Myola, then Efogi, Templeton’s Crossing and eventually to Port Moresby.
Over the next few days, the battalion was ordered back through Uberi and then on the 12th September was again ordered back, this time to the 30th Infantry Training Battalion, where they were immediately relegated to working parties, guard duties, coast watching duties, and the making of any plans for training was impossible.
Reinforcements for the 39th Battalion were required, so 100 of these men were recalled, re-armed and sent forward to become part of the all-conquering 39th. This militia battalion was to go on and add to its glory in the mountains and again in December at Gona and points west of Gona later on. The 53rd Battalion blended well with their new battalion and fought equally well as did the 53rd personnel who became part of the composite 55/53rd Battalion. This composite battalion proved itself in the fight at Sanananda, Gona and still later at Bougainville. Forty members of the 53rd were posted to the 36th Battalion and served with this battalion with distinction.
On 26th October, at a parade of the battalion, informed members of the unit that it would be amalgamated with the 55th Battalion. The 53rd Battalion at this time had a strength of 17 officers and 225 other ranks. On 25th October officers of the 55th Battalion visited the 53rd Battalion to finalise the amalgamation details. This day saw the completion of exactly one year of service as a battalion and it was a great pity that the battalion was not given the opportunity to show that it could have added to the 53rd Battalion’s proud First World War record and history. After one short period of action, the battalion ceased to exist. The 53rd Australian Battalion lost its identity.
(Extracts taken from the book “That Mob” (written by NX143807 Lieut. F.M. Budden, 55/53 Battalion) with kind permission of his son, Brian Budden.)