21st Brigade (Australia)

21st Brigade
21st Brigade troops moving down from the Finisterre Range into the Ramu Valley in November 1943
Active	1912–1921 1940–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~2,500–3,500 personnel
Part of	7th Division
Engagements	World War II Syria-Lebanon campaign New Guinea campaign Battle of Balikpapan (1945)
Commanders
Notable commanders	Jack Stevens Arnold Potts Ivan Dougherty
Insignia
Headquarters unit colour patch

The 21st Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. It was briefly raised in 1912 as a Militia formation providing training as part of the compulsory training scheme. Later, it was re-formed in April 1940 as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, the unit was raised for service during World War II. As part of the 7th Division the brigade's constituent units were raised from volunteers from several Australian states. After rudimentary training in Australia, the brigade deployed for the Middle East in October 1940. Defensive duties were mounted along the Libyan border in early 1941, before the brigade was committed to the Syria-Lebanon campaign, fighting against Vichy French forces. In early 1942, following Japan's entry into the war, the brigade returned to Australia. After a period of defensive duties in Australia, it was deployed to New Guinea and subsequently played a key role in the Kokoda Track campaign, delaying the Japanese advance towards Port Moresby and then joining the pursuit as the Japanese withdrew towards Buna–Gona. In 1943–1944, the brigade took part in the capture of Lae and the Ramu Valley–Finisterre Range campaign. Its final campaign of the war, came in the final months when it took part in the Balikpapan landings. It was disbanded in 1946.