Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 2, New South Wales, VX61247 TRAYNOR, 2/8 Armoured Regiment,

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Overview

Owen Royston TRAYNOR (VX61247) 2/8 Armoured Regiment. second from left, row 7, standing before a squadron of Grant tanks in New South Wales

Historical information

In November 1940 the Australian War Cabinet approved the formation of an armoured division and the 1st Armoured Division was raised in July 1941. The 2/8th Australian Armoured Regiment was raised in Victoria as part of the division's 2nd Armoured Brigade. In September 1942 the 2/8th, along with the 2nd Armoured Brigade, became part of the 3rd Armoured Division.

In April 1943, after over 18 months of training, the 2/8th was sent to New Guinea, where it became part of New Guinea Force, to relieve the 2/6th Armoured Regiment. This was the 2/8th's only operational deployment. Using M3 Stuart light and M3 Grant medium tanks, the 2/8th's main role was to defend Allied airfields against possible attack by Japanese paratroopers. The regiment was headquartered at Port Moresby, where it also had one of its tank squadrons, while the other squadrons were at Milne Bay and Buna. The regiment returned to Australia in February 1944.

Throughout 1944, as the war moved further away from Australia, the 2/8th, was disbanded in May. The regiment's personnel were transferred to the Royal Australian Engineers, where the men's mechanical knowledge and skills were used to reinforce the 41sts, 42nd, and 43rd Landing Craft Companies, and other water transport units. It was with these new units that men from the regiment again served in New Guinea, as well as in New Britian and Bougainville during 1944 and 1945.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-AMWA31798

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict

Width

210 mm

Height or length

160 mm

Contextual Information