H.M.A.S. Kanimbla pulling into the wharf loaded with “5 and 2’s”. This was the first ship at the end of World War II to enter Sydney Harbour with returning men of the A.I.F. Most of the 2/33rd men came home on the H.M.A.S. Both or the U.S.S. Amherst Victory, disembarking in Brisbane where the battalion was ultimately disbanded on March 12, 1946.
Lieutenant Colonel Cotton became involved in the local changeover from Military to civilian control, which required delicate handling when separatists wanting to break away from the ruling Dutch tried to take control.
On August 17, two days after the war ended, the battalion started to break up with the return to Australia of the first of the longest serving personnel, the “5 and 2” men.
Among the first to go were originals Major Gordon Bennett, William Crooks and Ray Ross. Crooks and Ross joined the Army on the same day, November 3,1939, served and fought alongside each other for the war and ended their service on the same day. At war’s end both were Warrant Officers Class 2.
They sailed home from Borneo on the HMAS Both, which had previously transported them to and from the war in Papua and New Guinea. The unit and its men passed into history in February, 1946, when the last 102 men embarked on the US liberty ship USS Amherst Victory at Balikpapan. Lieutenant Colonel Cotton stood on the wharf to watch his old unit sail home for disbandment.
They arrived in Brisbane on February 22. His greatest love, the battalion, was disappearing before his eyes. He said later: “After the ship had gone I felt like a lost dog.”
Some of the 25th brigade’s first group of “5 and 2” discharge men being farewelled by Brigadier Eather, Commanding Officer of the 25th Brigade, at Balikpapan a few days prior to war’s end. They included 2/33rd men Sam Newman and Staff-Sergeant Frederick “Bluey” Mothersal. On the same day Brigadier Eather left to become Major-General and G.O.C. 11th Division on New Britain.
In February 1946, the remaining cadre returned to Australia. The battalion was disbanded in Brisbane on March 12, 1946.
William Crooks wrote in The Footsoldiers: “ Of those who served voluntarily in the unit in the second great conflict of this century, most would do it again, as those who went to Korea gave testimony.
“The happy, spirited comradeship, with a faith in one’s mates and in what we were fighting for is continued on Anzac Day, when we uphold traditions set by that great force, the first A.I.F.
“Service at war undoubtedly brought out the best in the men involved and directed by an efficient command structure enabled men to unite in service and sacrifice in a way peacetime life will never know.
“So our unit and its men have passed down the road to history. The bootprints in the dust and in the mud have settled. The sound of young voices raised in song, in talk, giving orders, and at play, have died away. The units’ arms and stores were handed in and the band instruments sold. The disposal stores opened thriving businesses. The jungle greens faded from the streets. The battalion is no more. It now forms part of history.”
In total 3065 men served in the battalion in wartime and 588 after the Japanese surrender. It lost 200 men to all causes including battle casualties, and 363 wounded. At the end of hostilities only six officers and 35 other ranks of the original members remained. Only seven officers and 54 other ranks left had taken part at some stage in all four campaigns, Syria, Owen Stanley, Lae-Ramu Valley and Borneo.
Only one soldier, NX53274 Sergeant John Savage, took part in every day of every campaign throughout the war.
Some of the 25th brigade’s first group of “5 and 2” discharge men being farewelled by Brigadier Eather, Commanding Officer of the 25th Brigade, at Balikpapan a few days prior to war’s end. They included 2/33rd men Sam Newman and Staff-Sergeant Frederick “Bluey” Mothersal. On the same day Brigadier Eather left to become Major-General and G.O.C. 11th Division on New Britain.
Enjoying a swim in Borneo after the Japanese surrender were (left), John Savage, seated ( left to right ) Bob Cooper, Dick Callaway, Allan Sparrow and Snow Digby. Simon Templaer is at the front.
Home at last. Bill Crooks (centre) with his close mate, Ray Ross (left), just off the boat in Brisbane, September, 1945, following the Balikpapan campaign and after nearly six years of war together. They joined the Army on the same day, November 3, 1939. At war’s end they were both Warrant Officers Class 2.