52nd Battalion (Australia)

52nd Battalion (Australia)
Troops from the 52nd Battalion in Egypt, March 1916
Active	1916–1918 1921–1930 1936–1942
Country	Australia
Branch	Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~900–1,000 personnel
Part of	13th Brigade, 4th Division 10th Brigade, 3rd Division
Engagements	World War I Western Front World War II
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 52nd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was originally raised in 1916 as part of the Australian Imperial Force for service during World War I. After training in Egypt, the battalion took part in the fighting in the trenches of the Western Front in France and Belgium, including major battles at Mouquet Farm, Messines, Polygon Wood, Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux. In May 1918, the battalion was disbanded to provide reinforcements for other depleted Australian units. After the war, the battalion was re-raised as a part-time unit in Victoria in 1921 and served until 1930 when it was amalgamated with the 37th Battalion to become the 37th/52nd Battalion. In 1936, the battalion was re-formed and during the early part of World War II it undertook garrison duties in Australia before being merged once again with the 37th Battalion in 1942.