25th Brigade (Australia)

25th Brigade (Australia)
Men from the 2/25th Battalion cross the Brown River during a patrol in October 1942
Active	1940–1946
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	~3,500 men
Part of	7th Division
Engagements	Second World War Syria–Lebanon campaign New Guinea campaign Borneo campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Kenneth Eather
Insignia
Headquarters unit colour patch

The 25th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army that served during the Second World War. Raised in July 1940 and consisting of three infantry battalions, the 25th Brigade initially served in the United Kingdom, where it formed part of the garrison tasked with defending against a possible German invasion. In 1941, the brigade was redeployed to the Middle East where it took part in the Syria–Lebanon campaign fighting several actions around Merdjayoun and Jezzine.

Following Japan's entry into the war, the 25th Brigade was transferred back to Australia and subsequently took part in the fighting in New Guinea. Throughout 1942–1943, the brigade fought in the final stages of the Kokoda Track campaign and around Buna–Gona. Later, they took part in the fighting around Lae and Shaggy Ridge, before being withdrawn to Australia for a long period of rest and reorganisation. In 1945, the 25th Brigade was committed to the Borneo campaign, carrying out an amphibious landing at Balikpapan in July 1945 before being disbanded in 1946.