About This Unit
22 Independent Brigade Group Ordnance Workshop
Source McKenzie-Smith 'The Unit Guide' Vol5 pp5.586
Originally established as 10 Recovery Section of the 2nd/4th Army Field Workshop, and formed at Balcombe in Victoria in January 1941, it was attached to 22 Infantry Brigade Group and embarked for Malaya in February 1941, comprising 2 officers and 70 men.
After establishing their Workshop at Port Dickson, the then moved to Malacca in April. They subsequently moved to the 8 Infantry Division base area at Johore Bahru in October.
THe HQ and the main componenet of 2nd/4th Field Workshop had not deployed to Malaya so the various elements that were there, were amalgamated and renamed in November to the 22 Infantry Brigade Group Ordnance Workshop.
They withdrew into Singapore as the Japanese advanced down the Peninsula in January 1942. THeir members were dispersed as ad-hoc reinforcements on Singapore, and surrendered on 15 February 1942. Indivuduals were sent to various POW areas including Sandakan among others where large numbers perished in the notorious Death March late in the war.
Source McKenzie-Smith 'The Unit Guide' Vol 5 pp5.586/5.587 Army Ordnance Corps / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Engineer Units
Compiled October 2024 by Steve Larkins