page_title: 2/27th Battalion (Australia)
section_title: Syria and Lebanon
hierarchical_section_title: 2/27th Battalion (Australia) / History / Syria and Lebanon
caption_attribution_description: English: AWM 004612: A Company of the 2/27th Battalion at bayonet practice in Palestine, 12 December 1940
context_page_description: The 2/27th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army during World War II. Raised in May 1940 as part of the 7th Division from volunteers from the state of South Australia, the battalion was assigned to the 21st Brigade. After completing training in Australia, the 2/27th deployed to the Middle East in November 1940, and in early 1941 undertook defensive duties in the Western Desert. The battalion's first combat experience came against the Vichy French during the short Syria–Lebanon campaign during which it fought major engagements around Sidon and Damour. At the conclusion of the fighting in Syria, the battalion remained in the area as part of the Allied occupation force until early 1942 when it was returned to Australia to fight against the Japanese.
  From September 1942 until early 1943, the 2/27th took part in the Kokoda Track campaign and then the Battle of Buna–Gona, before being withdrawn to Australia where it was rebuilt. In August 1943, the 2/27th returned to New Guinea and subsequently took part in the Finisterre Range campaign, leading the 21st Brigade's effort to capture Shaggy Ridge, remaining there until early 1944.
context_section_description: After completing its training in Palestine, the 2/27th Battalion was moved to  Egypt–Libya border in April 1941. There, along with the rest of the 21st Brigade, they undertook defensive duties, occupying defensive positions around Mersa Matruh and Maaten Bagush in anticipation of the German and Italian advance. The battalion remained there until April, and although they were not directly involved in ground combat, they experienced their first attacks by German aircraft. They were subsequently returned to Palestine ahead of the battalion's first combat assignment, the invasion of Syria and Lebanon, which began in early June. During the subsequent fighting against Vichy forces, the 2/27th took part in the drive up the Lebanon coast, taking part in several engagements including fighting around Adloun on 11 June and Miye-ou-miye on 13–14 June as part of the capture of Sidon, which fell on 15 June. The following month, the battalion also took part in the Battle of Damour. After five weeks of fighting an armistice was signed on 12 July. Following the surrender of Vichy forces, the unit undertook garrison duties around Hammana, near Beirut, and Bakhaoun in the Tripoli sector, as part of the Allied occupation force, remaining there until January 1942. At the end of the campaign, Moten was decorated and promoted; he was replaced as commander of the 2/27th by Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Cooper.
  Following Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the Australian government began pressing for some of the AIF forces in the Middle East to be returned to Australia, to help defend against the Japanese advance in the Pacific. In late January 1942, the 2/27th embarked from Egypt aboard the Ile de France, sailing once again via Bombay. There, the battalion was transferred to the City of London. During the voyage, there were plans to divert the convoy to Java, to reinforce the Australian and Dutch forces there against the Japanese, but the deteriorating situation there resulted in the convoy being re-routed. After a port-call in Colombo, the convoy reached Fremantle on 15 March for a brief shore leave before proceeding on to Port Adelaide, where the 2/27th disembarked. Following a brief period of leave, the 21st Brigade concentrated in Queensland – the 2/27th being based around Caloundra – where, over the course of several months, they were prepared for deployment to the Pacific theatre.
caption: 2/27th Battalion at bayonet practice in Palestine, December 1940
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