62nd Battalion (Australia)

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63rd Battalion
Active	29 December 1942 - May 1944
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Insignia
Unit Colour Patch

The 62nd Battalion was a Australian Infantry Battalion, of Australian Military Forces which was raised on 29 December 1942. It was also known as the Merauke Regiment. It was raised as a Militia unit from the 14th Garrison Battalion, stationed on Thursday Island.

In January 1943, the 62nd sailed to Merauke, in Dutch New Guinea as part of Merauke Force. While defending Merauke’s airstrip and port, the 62nd also patrolled along the coast and surrounding area, provided working parties for building defences around Merauke, corduroying roads, and unloading ships.

In February 1944, the 62nd was replaced by the 20th Motor Regiment and returned to Australia and arrived in Brisbane in March and moved to Mt Stuart, near Townsville. The 62nd was disbanded in May 1944.