The 2/4th Battalion's first drafts of recruits arrived at Ingleburn Camp on 3 November 1939, following the formation its headquarters at Victoria Barracks in Sydney the previous week. Part of the 16th Brigade of the 6th Australian Division, the battalion departed Sydney for service overseas on 10 January 1940. While the battalion was en route for the Middle East Australian infantry brigades were reorganised along British lines, with three battalions instead of four. This meant the 2/4th was eventually transferred to the 19th Brigade, but remained part of the 6th Division.
Arriving in the Middle East on 14 February 1940, the 2/4th trained in Palestine and Egypt in preparation for its first campaign, against the Italians in eastern Libya. It played only a small role at Bardia (3-5 January 1941) but was more active during the battle for Tobruk (21-22 January 1941), and had to fight particularly hard to secure the Wadi Derna (26-30 January). It was the first Australian unit to enter Benghazi, on 6 February, and subsequently garrisoned the town until 22 February.
In early April 1941, the 2/4th, with the rest of the 6th Division, deployed to Greece to resist the anticipated German invasion. It fought a fierce battle at Vevi in northern Greece on 11 and 12 April and then withdrew through a series of rearguard positions until evacuated, by sea, from Megara on 26 April. The battalion landed on Crete the next day and eventually joined the force defending Heraklion airfield. When German paratroops landed on 20 May they were rapidly overcome in the area immediately around the airfield. The paratroops were, however, able to gain a foothold outside the defended area. This, combined with German successes elsewhere on Crete, brought about the evacuation of Heraklion by sea on 29 May.
After a period of training in Palestine, the 2/4th joined the force garrisoning Syria. It completed this duty in mid-January 1942, embarked for home on 12 February, and arrived at Adelaide on 27 March. In June, the 19th Brigade was deployed to defend Darwin and the 2/4th remained there for what became a boring and frustrating year. The brigade rejoined the rest of the 6th Division training in northern Queensland in June 1943 but another 18 months would pass before it saw action again.
The 2/4th landed at Aitape in New Guinea on 2 November 1944 to undertake its only campaign against the Japanese. Its most intense effort took place between April and July. Landed at But, the battalion advanced along the coast, captured Wewak on 10 May, and then swung inland to clear the foothills of the Prince Alexander Range. For his actions during the attack on Wirui Mission on 14 May, Private Edward Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Following the Japanese surrender on 15 August, drafts of 2/4th men began returning to Australia for discharge. The remainder of the battalion itself arrived home on 26 October and disbanded at Chermside in Queensland on 12 November 1945.
Source and more information: Australian War Memorial website.
