31/42nd Battalion Royal Queensland Regiment 

122 Army Cadet Unit is sponsored by B Company of the 31/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment which is headquartered in Townsville. Until recently, the 31st and 42nd Battalions were separate units each with with proud service and traditions dating back to WW1.  Both units were joined in 2008 and the 31/42nd Bn now serves the people of Australia as one unit.     

A Short History of the 42nd Bn 

WWI

The 42nd Bn was formed in 1915 at Thompson's paddock, Enoggera for war service and formed part of the 11th Brigade, 3rd Division, 1st AIF (Australian Imperial Force). The 42nd battalion marched out Thompson's paddock on the 3rd of June 1916 bound for Europe and the bloody battlefields of France. By July 1916 the 42nd had arrived at No 11 Camp, Larkhill, Salisbury Plain.  The next few months were spent preparing body and mind for the carnage of the Western Front.

By christmas 1916, the battalion was in the front line Armentieres and was in and out of action until near the end of the war. The 42nd battalion took part in the battles at Messines, Passchendaele, Broodseinde, Ypres, Ancre, Hamel, Somme, Amiens, Mont St Quentin and the Hindenburg Line.

In 1918 after 4 previous attempts, the 42nd was forcibly disbanded to provide replacements for other Australian units. The 42nd was eventually repatriated to Australia in 1919.  Some facts and figures:

1. KIA, Died of wounds or sickness - 554,
2. Wounded - 1130,
3. Wounded Twice - 254
4. Wounded Three times - 53
5. Wounded Four Times - 13
6. Prisoners of War - 2,
7. Decorations Awarded - 151
8. Battalion Motto - 'cede nullis' (yield to none)
9. Battalion March - 'Colonel bogey'  

WWII 

In 1921 the unit was reformed as a militia unit and became the 42nd Battalion, Capricornia Regiment.  The Battalion continued to train in its militia role until 1939 when the Second World War broke out.  After mobilisation the Battalion became part of the 29th Brigade and in January 1943 the 42nd Australian Infantry Battalion travelled to New Guinea and fought at Buna, Mt Tambu, Bamboo Knoll, Charlie Hill and Salamaua.

In August 1944 the unit returned to Australia and after leave it once again deployed on active service to Bougainville in December where it fought until the end of the war.  Sixty-one members of the Battalion died on active service during World War Two.

In 1960 the Australian Army reorganised along pentropic lines and the 42nd Battalion was absorbed into the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Queensland Regiment (RQR). On the 2nd of August 1965 the 42nd Battalion RQR was re-raised with the headquarters, a rifle company, an administration company and the support company at Rockhampton, a rifle company at Mackay and further rifle company at Gladstone.

Courtesy: http://www.firstaif.info/42

B Coy 31/42 RQR

Bravo Company (B Coy) 31/42 RQR is located in Mackay at Komiatum Barracks and 122 ACU is proud to be associated with and share the same depot as the "Bulldogs".

For information about becoming a part-time soldier in the 31/42nd battalion, phone 1300132624, check out the Defence Force Recruiting website or visit your local recruiter at:

• Komiatum Barracks

• 400 Shakespeare Street

• Mackay Q 4740

• Ph: 07 4944 8500