About This Unit
7 Infantry Battalion AMF
The 7th Battalion (Mount Alexander Regiment) was raised as a Militia unit in Mildura in the presence of many distinguished members of the ‘original’ 7th Battalion AIF and wore its colour patch. It also carried the Battle Honours of its predecessor on its Regimental Colours.
At the commencement of the Second World War, like other Militia units, the 7th volunteered en masse for overseas service but was rejected on the grounds that it was needed for the defence of Australia, Many of its soldiers volunteered for the 2nd AIF and left the unit. The battalion trained many soldiers and spent much time at its camp at Nagambie, near Seymour Victoria. At the outbreak of war the Militia became the training organisation for the fit men in their twenties called-up and called ‘Universal Trainees’. When Japan struck, the battalion dug in in a defensive position as part of the defences of Melbourne. In February 1942 the battalion was moved to Darwin and formed part of its defences until March 1943. In April 1942 the battalion received the designation 7thAustralian Infantry Battalion (AIF) having reached the necessary 75% of its strength being AIF (and thus volunteering for overseas service).
The battalion was moved to the Atherton Tableland in November 1943 and in April sailed for New Guinea, landing at Lae. In April 1945 it was deployed to Bougainville and commenced operations against the Japanese in June. Thirty-five men of the battalion died on active service. The unit was disbanded on 10th May 1946.
Its present day successor is now designated as 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment , an Army Reserve battalion headquartered at Hawthorn, Victoria.
During its service throughout the war the battalion lost 35 men killed on active service, with a further 50 men wounded.
Members of the Battalion were awarded the following decorations.
1 DSO
1 MC
16 MIDs