Merauke Force

Merauke Force
A No. 12 Squadron RAAF Vengeance based at Merauke
Active	1942–45
Country	Australia; United States; Netherlands East Indies
Size	Brigade
Garrison/HQ	Merauke

Merauke Force was an Australian-led military force of World War II which was responsible for defending Merauke in Dutch New Guinea from Japanese attack amidst the Pacific War. The force was established in late 1942 and was disbanded at the end of the war. The Japanese attack did not eventuate and the force never saw combat.

History

In mid-1942, Merauke, on the south coast of Dutch New Guinea was one of only a few parts of the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) that had not been occupied by Japanese forces, as the terrain had precluded further exploitation. It was garrisoned by a company of infantry from the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL), equipped with the majority of the heavy weapons available to the KNIL. The strategic location of Merauke on the western flank of Allied forces in Papua led Allied commanders to order the building of an airfield there. On 6 August 1942, a company-sized detachment, Company F, from the US Army's 46th Engineer Battalion arrived to commence construction.

On 31 December 1942, Merauke Force was formed, to reinforce the KNIL garrison. At the time of its establishment the force comprised C Company of the Australian 62nd Infantry Battalion, the 1st NEI Fusilier Company and various Royal Australian Air Force units. C Company, 62nd Infantry Battalion arrived at Merauke to reinforce the NEI company and RAAF on 7 January 1943. The remainder of the 62nd Battalion arrived on 1 February and an artillery battery arrived on 19 March.

No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF ML-KNIL Badge 1943-1946

The Australian force at Merauke was gradually expanded to a full brigade during the first half of 1943, after which Brigadier John Stevenson assumed command. The headquarters of the 11th Brigade arrived on 28 April, and was redesignated Headquarters Merauke Force. B Company, 2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion arrived at Merauke on 2 July and the 31st/51st Infantry Battalion on 6 July. A Company, 26th Infantry Battalion was added to the force between 29 May and 2 August when it was flown into the inland town of Tanahmerah. The 52nd Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment was formed in September from previously independent anti-aircraft batteries. The 62nd Infantry Battalion returned to Australia in February 1944 and was replaced by the 20th Motor Regiment.

The No. 120 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF was formed at RAAF Station Fairbairn in Canberra on 10 December 1943. As a joint Australian-Dutch unit, the Dutch authorities provided all the squadron's aircrew and aircraft while the RAAF provided its ground crew. This arrangement had been previously used for No. 18 (NEI) Squadron and the short-lived No. 119 (NEI) Squadron. It was originally intended that once formed, No. 120 (NEI) Squadron would be deployed to northern Australia and operate alongside No. 18 (NEI) Squadron. However, it was later decided to deploy the unit to Merauke on the south coast of New Guinea, which formed part of the pre-war Netherlands East Indies (NEI).

In April 1944 the Allied forces began to plan an offensive along New Guinea's south coast using elements of Merauke Force. In keeping with this more active role Merauke Force Headquarters was renamed Headquarters 11th Brigade. The 2/9th Field Artillery Regiment arrived at Merauke in March 1944 but the machine gun company returned to Australia in May 1944 as the threat of attack against Merauke declined.

The planned offensive along New Guinea's south coast did not eventuate and it was decided to reduce the force at Merauke in mid-1944. The 11th Brigade Headquarters returned to Australia on 6 August. The 31st/51st Infantry Battalion, A Company, 26th Infantry Battalion and 2/9th Field Artillery Regiment followed in later in August and September. This left the 20th Motor Regiment as the main unit at Merauke and the regiment's headquarters commanded the forces in the region under the designation Headquarters Merauke Area. The 20th Motor Regiment returned to Australia in February 1945 and command of the area passed to the 52nd Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiment. This regiment also returned to Australia on 4 July 1945 when the command of the Merauke region was handed over to the Dutch authorities.

References

• Dexter, David (1961). The New Guinea Offensives. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1 – Army. Volume 6. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 2028994.
• Dod, Karl C. (1966). The Corps of Engineers: The War Against Japan. United States Army in World War II. Washington, DC: Center of Military History. ISBN 978-016001-879-4.
• Ford, Jack (1996). Allies in a Bind: Australia and the Netherlands East Indies in the Second World War (2nd ed.). Loganholme, Queensland: Australian Netherlands Ex-Servicemen and Women's Association. ISBN 0-646-29557-8.
• McCarthy, Dudley (1959). South-West Pacific Area—First Year: Kokoda to Wau. Australia in the War of 1939–45. Series 1 – Army. Vol. Volume V. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. OCLC 3134247. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
• McKenzie-Smith, Graham R. (1995). Australia's Forgotten Army. Volume 2. Defending the Northern Gateways, Northern Territory and Torres Strait 1938 to 1945. Canberra: Grimwade Publications. ISBN 0-646-24404-3.