26th Brigade (Australia)

26th Brigade
26th Brigade Headquarters landing on Tarakan Island from a LST in May 1945.
Active	1940–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	7th Division (1940–1941) 9th Division (1941–1946)
Engagements	World War II Western Desert Campaign New Guinea campaign Huon Peninsula campaign Tarakan Island
Commanders
Notable commanders	David Whitehead
Insignia
Headquarters unit colour patch 1940–1942
1942–1946

The 26th Brigade was an Australian Army infantry brigade of World War II. Formed in mid-1940, the brigade was assigned to the 7th Division initially, but later transferred to the 9th Division. It was primarily recruited from Victoria and South Australia. After training in Australia, in late 1940, the brigade deployed to the Middle East and subsequently took part in the siege of Tobruk, defending the vital port town between April and October 1941. After being relieved, the brigade undertook garrison duties in Syria in the first half of 1942, before taking part in the First and Second Battles of El Alamein between July and November 1942. After returning to Australia in early 1943, the brigade fought against the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943 and 1944, including the capture of Lae and the Huon Peninsula campaign, and then took part in the fighting on Tarakan in 1945. It was disbanded in early 1946.