Description

Title: Purple over Green – The History of the 2/2nd Australian Infantry Battalion, 1939 – 1945

Author: Wick, Stan

Condition: Very Good +

Edition: 1st Edition

Publication Date: 1977

ISBN: 0855810211

Cover: Hard Cover with Dust Jacket – 454 pages

Comments: The history of the 2/2nd Battalion from 1939 to 1945.

This is the story of a great fighting unit of the Second Australian Imperial Force in World War II; how it came into being, the campaigns and battles in which it fought over six long years against the Italians in the North African desert, the Germans in the mountains of Northern Greece, and finally against the Japanese in the mountainous rain forests and coastal jungles of New Guinea.  Above all, it is the story of the men who fought in its ranks, so many who paid the supreme sacrifice.  The foreword is written by Lieut Col Chilton, one of the four Battalion Commanding Officers, who at the time the book was published was the last surviving Commanding Officer. 

 Lt Col Hilton took over command of the battalion from Lieut Col Wootten, and commanded the Battalion for the next year during its campaigns in Libya, Greece and Syria.  Lieut Col Chilton describes this time as being ‘Without doubt the great experience of my life’.  The author NX19826 Stan WICK states in his preface, “In attempting to write the history of the 2/2 Australian Infantry Battalion, I have tried to make the book readable for the average citizen, so that it presents an interesting story in itself and does not get bogged down in too much military detail.” 

The 2/2 Battalion led the advance of the Australian infantry into Libya in December 1940 – at war’s end in August 1945, it was still in action in northern New Guinea. Throughout those years it never failed to live up to its motto “Nulli Secundus” – “Second to None” – truly one of Australia’s outstanding fighting units.  Those of us who served in its ranks are indeed privileged.

Lists KIA, WIA, POW by the various theatres the battalion served in.  Also lists the citations to those members awarded gallantry decorations.

Includes Nominal Roll