2 / 7th Commando Squadron ( Australia ) The 2 / 7th Commando Company was one of 12 independent companies or commando squadrons raised by the Australian Army during the Second World War . Raised in May 1942 , as the 2 / 7th Independent Company , the 2 / 7th served in New Guinea in 1943 before being redesignated as the 2 / 7th Commando Squadron when it was amalgamated with two other commando squadrons to become part of the 2 / 6th Cavalry ( Commando ) Regiment . Later at the end of 1944 , it was sent to New Guinea again , where it took part in Aitape – Wewak campaign . Following the end of the war the squadron was returned to Australia and disbanded early in 1946 . History . Formation . In late 1940 the Australian Army began considering the issue of raising independent companies or commando units for the conduct of irregular warfare . Based upon proposals and advice from the British Military Mission in Australia , in March 1941 the Army began training company - sized units that would act independently of higher command to carry out tasks such as raiding , sabotage , and subversion . As the war progressed the role that these independent companies would fulfill evolved towards guerrilla operations such as stay - behind , long range penetration and reconnaissance . In this regard between 1941 and 1942 eight independent companies were raised . The 2 / 7th Independent Company was one of these units , and was formed in May 1942 , undertaking training at the Guerrilla Warfare School at Wilsons Promontory , Victoria . New Guinea 1942 – 43 . Following the completion of its training , the company was deployed to New Guinea in late 1942 , landing at Port Moresby . From there it was flown to Wau in January 1943 , where it was used to reinforce elements of the 6th Division and units Kanga Force . Between January and April , the company operated in conjunction with 2 / 3rd and 2 / 5th Independent Companies , performing mainly a traditional infantry role . During this time they conducted a number of patrols and were involved in a very successful ambush on a large force of Japanese , resulting in a high number of enemy casualties . Later , they were directly involved with the defence of Wau , before helping to push the Japanese back to Mubo , where they conducted small scale harassment raids . The 2 / 7th ' s commanding officer , Major Thomas MacAdie , was awarded a Distinguished Service Order for his gallantry and leadership during this phase of the campaign . In April they were relieved by the 2 / 7th Battalion . They had served in the Wau area for seven months and were in need of rest , however , as there were no other troops available , on 29 May 1943 the 2 / 7th Independent Company was flown to Bena Bena where they became part of Bena Force . Bena Force had originally been dispatched to the isolated airfield in January consisting of only a handful of men from the 2 / 7th Battalion , with the task of defending it against the advancing Japanese , harassing the enemy in the area and denying them freedom of movement , however , in May as Japanese air attacks on Bena increased it became necessary to reinforce the small garrison . As such the depleted 2 / 7th Independent Company was sent to Bena , under the command of Major MacAdie , bringing the garrison up to roughly four hundred men . During June and July , observation posts were established in the region , patrols were sent out and infrastructure was built with the help of labour supplied by the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit ( ANGAU ) . Later , during August and September , as attacks increased on the garrison and the 2 / 2nd Independent Company arrived to reinforce Bena Force , patrols were sent out through the Ramu Valley in order to observe the main approaches to Bena Bena . In October , following a re - organisation of Australian forces in New Guinea in preparation for the coming offensive at Lae , the 2 / 7th was temporarily placed under the command of the 7th Division . Following this , the company began patrolling operations along the Faria , Iogi and Evapia rivers , until they were finally relieved by the 2 / 6th Cavalry ( Commando ) Squadron in the second week of November . The 2 / 7th then returned to Dumpu , before embarking at Port Moresby for the return to Australia , having been deployed on active service for the best part of a year . Reorganisation 1943 – 45 . While the 2 / 7th Independent Company had been involved in the campaign in New Guinea , there had been a significant re - organisation of the way in which the Independent Companies were administered and organised . This was due to an army - wide reorganisation as the Australian Army shifted its strategic focus away from the Middle East and began to concentrate on the Pacific . As a result of this reorganisation , the 2 / 7th Independent Company was renamed the 2 / 7th Cavalry Commando Squadron ( later just commando squadron ) and was absorbed into the 2 / 6th Cavalry ( Commando ) Regiment , along with the newly formed 2 / 9th and 2 / 10th Commando Squadrons . Together , these units were attached to the 6th Division , to conduct long range patrol and reconnaissance operations . Following their return from New Guinea , the newly formed 2 / 7th Commando Squadron concentrated on the Atherton Tablelands , Queensland , with the rest of the 2 / 6th Cavalry ( Commando ) Regiment . Throughout the rest of 1943 and most of 1944 , the 2 / 7th carried out garrison duties and participated in exercises and training with the rest of the 6th Division . The squadron ' s last contribution to the Second World War came during the Aitape - Wewak campaign . Aitape – Wewak 1945 . Early in 1945 , the 6th Division relieved the American garrison at Aitape , with a view to renewing offensive operations in the area . The 2 / 6th Cavalry Commando Regiment was the first Australian fighting unit to arrive at Aitape , and as it waited for the rest of the division to arrive , having left Brisbane on 22 October 1944 , the regiment relieved the American outpost at Babiang and began to assist the ANGAU patrols in the area . Once they had concentrated fully by November , the 6th Division began its advance eastwards towards the Japanese base at Wewak , in order to destroy the remnants of the Japanese 18th Army . Prior to this , however , the 2 / 7th Commando Squadron conducted preliminary patrols in order to gather information on topography and enemy dispositions in the region . The Australian advance began in December and by this time , the 2 / 7th had been moved to Tong , where it had been given the tasks of maintaining a base , control the surrounding area and conduct patrols to the south . Now under the command of Major Goode , the squadron operated in support of the 17th Brigade , and had men stationed at Yourang and Kumbun . During this time there were a number of clashes with the enemy , most notably on 11th and 13 December , as the squadron established its control over the area , resulting in a number of Japanese killed in action . Once it had been relieved by 17th Brigade , the squadron conducted a number of reconnaissance patrols south of the Torriccelli Ranges , around the Dandriwad and Danmap Rivers , and then later once it had moved to the Yasuar Mission , patrolling along the Muam River . Throughout February the 2 / 7th began to push into enemy territory , moving along the Atop River and establishing bases at Kaumala , and at House Copper . Finally , at the end of March , the 2 / 7th was relieved and returned to Aitape . The following month , the 2 / 7th was transported by landing craft to But , where they were to act as reserve for the 16th Brigade ' s advance to the Hawain River . While here , they were based at Banak and conducted a number of patrols in the surrounding area . As the campaign progressed into May , the 2 / 7th was transferred to the command of the 19th Brigade , which at the time was advancing on Wewak , with its limit of exploitation being the Brandi River . As it became clear that the Japanese were attempting to abandon their positions , the 2 / 7th were ordered to advance in a wide circle and capture the Sauri villages , where it was believed that the Japanese had established a strong rearguard to act as a blocking force . The 2 / 7th advanced up the Waringe River with a strength of 156 men , supported by mortar and artillery , and over the course of two days proceeded to clear the enemy from the high ground along which they would launch their assault on the villages . On 11 May , two troops from the 2 / 7th launched their assault , advancing along a spur that led to Walanter where they encountered a well - established enemy position . This position was assaulted and the objective taken over the course of two and a half hours , with the assistance of close support from artillery and flamethrowers to overcome the enemy resistance . The 2 / 7th were then relieved by elements of the 2 / 8th Battalion at Sauri , before receiving orders to concentrate with the rest of the 2 / 6th Commando Regiment in the area around Brandi Plantation . By the start of June they began " mopping up " operations , firstly at Dove Bay and then at Karawop , before they were sent to Boiken in July , where they relieved the 2 / 10th Commando Squadron , which had been patrolling the area around the Dagua and Hawain Rivers in an attempt to deal with the Japanese raiding parties that were still operating in the area . The 2 / 7th were still in Boiken when Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945 . They were disbanded approximately six months later , early in 1946 , after the last members were returned to Australia and demobilised . During the course of its service , the squadron lost 30 men killed in action or died on active service .