61st Australian Infantry Battalion Queensland Cameron Highlanders

The 61st Battalion was re-raised as part of the Militia in Brisbane in 1937. The local Scottish community was keen to have its own regiment and lobbied for the 61st to be linked with Queenland’s own local Cameron Highlanders. The result was the 61st Battalion Queensland Cameron Highlanders.  In WWII, the battalion joined the 7th Brigade, and took up garrison duty around Caloundra and Townsville before deploying to Milne Bay in 1942.  The battalion served elsewhere in New Guinea, Papua and finally in Bougainville, including at the battles of Pearl Ridge and Slater’s Knoll.  The 7th Brigade suffered 48 men killed or wounded. The 61st battalion disbanded on 2 February 1946.