2/3rd Battalion (Australia)

2/3rd Battalion
Members of the 2/3rd Battalion during a memorial service held for members of the unit who were killed in the Aitape–Wewak campaign
Active	24 October 1939 – 8 February 1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~800–900 men[Note 1]
Part of	16th Brigade, 6th Division
Colours	Brown over green
Engagements	Second World War North African campaign Greece Crete Syrian campaign Kokoda Track campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 2/3rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised for service during the Second World War as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF), it was formed in October 1939 in Sydney and was attached to the 16th Brigade, 6th Division, the first formation raised as part of the 2nd AIF during the war. Deploying to the Middle East in early 1940, it saw action in North Africa, Greece, Crete, and Syria in 1941–1942 before returning to Australia following Japan's entry into the war, and was one of only two Australian infantry battalions to fight against all the major Axis powers of the war: the Germans, Italians, Japanese and Vichy French.

In 1942–1943, the battalion took part in fighting along the Kokoda Track before returning to Australia where it spent over a year training and being rebuilt. In December 1944, the 2/3rd returned to New Guinea to take part in the Aitape–Wewak campaign and remained there until the war ended. Following the end of hostilities, the battalion was disbanded on 8 February 1946 in Brisbane. The battalion's battle honours are perpetuated by the Royal New South Wales Regiment.

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