2/1 and 2/2 AIF Pioneer Battalions- Background to formation?

Discussion in 'Australian' started by Waddell, Aug 14, 2020.

  1. Waddell

    Waddell Well-Known Member

    I am researching a pioneer of 2/1 Field Pioneer Battalion AIF and am trying to get a better understanding of how the resurrection of Pioneer Battalions came about in the 2nd AIF, and how they differed from the Pioneer Battalions of the 1st AIF. The 2/1 Pioneer Battalion was formed in May 1940 and unit information from the AWM states that two of its sergeants had served in the 1st Pioneer Battalion in the First World War. From that I assume they were to function as they did in the First World War, largely supporting infantry in attacks and carrying out more generalised labour intensive minor engineering tasks as required.

    Where I am getting confused a little is that the 2/1 Pioneer Battalion and its sister 2/2 Pioneer Battalion seem to have been used a lot more as general infantrymen in the Second World War. This could, however, have been due to the situations they found themselves in, at Tobruk and New Guinea in particular.

    Both units had a very healthy battalion association that continues to this day. There newsletters are published in a website- Newsletters

    I came across a letter from September 1972, where an ex-pioneer wrote-

    What the fighting men did not know was that we were a NEW breed, all the pre-conceived ideas had been scrapped and our role was prescribed as a specialist one, modelled somewhat on the lines of the German Panzers and we were destined as a spearhead for the infantry (this was the ultimate insult to them) when they went into the attack. Certainly we would be called upon to work with our hands, but also we were to be trained to use all the equipment that the fighting troops had and we would be taught to use it well’.

    I am a bit intrigued by his comments that they were modelled on the lines of the German Panzers, by which I think he means German pioneer troops. Particularly considering the date of their formation would preclude any particular knowledge of German operations at that stage of the war (?).

    My thoughts are that they were modelled closely upon their First World War predecessors and circumstances led them to be used as shock troops. Oddly this looked like a situation where we didn’t follow British army organisation.

    Any thoughts? Or references?

    Scott
     
    Last edited: Aug 14, 2020

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