Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

21st (Army) Field Company RAE

21st Field Company RAE was a Militia Engineer organisation raised in Melbourne in 1940 and mobilised at Geelong on the outbreak of the Pacific War. At the time, they were engaged in the construction of beach and related defensive positions sin support of the 2nd Cavalry Division who had been tasked with the defence ofthe western side of the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

They were deployed at Point Lonsdale and later to Queensland where they were employed construction facilities for the Army's Advance Land HQ at St Lucia from mid 1942.

They moved to New Guinea in late 1942 they were deloyed to Port Moresby and in January 1943, to Oro Bay.

Relieved by US Engineers in April 1943, they returned to Port Moresby until mid 1943 when they were relocated to Milne Bay, in preparation for the attack on Lae. Their Command status was changed and they relocated to Buna in May 1944 before returning to Australia for rest retraining and re-assignment.

The next phase of operations saw preparations for Operation Oboe, based out of Morotai Island where they arrived in May 1945.  21 Field Company came under command of the 7th Division and landed at Balikpapan in July. where their war ended six weeks later and the process of repatriation and de-mobiilisation began.

Source:  'The Unit Guide' Volume 3  - The Australian Army 1939-45 Graham McKenzie-Smith 2018  Big Sky Publishing ISBN 978-1-92567-14-16

We would particularly like to encourage individual historians researchers or members of unit associations to contribute to the development of a more detailed history and photographs pertaining to this unit and its members.

Please contact admin@vwma.org.au (mailto:%20admin@vwma.org.au) for details on how to contribute