17th Brigade (Australia)

17th Brigade
2/5th Battalion troops in action around Khalde, in Syria, July 1941
Active	1917 1939–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	6th Division
Engagements	World War I World War II Western Desert campaign Battle of Greece Battle of Crete Syria–Lebanon campaign Battle of Wau Aitape–Wewak campaign
Insignia
Headquarters unit colour patch

The 17th Brigade was an infantry brigade in the Australian Army. First raised in 1912 as a Militia formation to provide training under the compulsory training scheme, the brigade was later re-raised as part of the First Australian Imperial Force during World War I. Established in 1917 in the United Kingdom, it was broken up and disbanded without seeing action, and its personnel used as reinforcements for other formations. Reformed during World War II, it took part in fighting in Libya, Greece, Crete, Syria in 1941–1942. Following Japan's entry into the war, the Australian government pressed for the 6th Division's return, and the 17th Brigade was subsequently brought back from the Middle East, via Ceylon where they undertook defensive duties until July 1942. Following the brigade's return to Australia, it was deployed to New Guinea for two campaigns: the Salamaua–Lae campaign in 1943 and the Aitape–Wewak campaign in 1944–1945. After the war, the brigade was disbanded in January 1946. Today, its name is perpetuated by the 17th Sustainment Brigade, which was raised as a logistics formation in May 2006.