About This Unit
The 17th Brigade was formed in England, on the Salisbury Plain, as part of what was intended to become the 6th Australian Division on 25 April 1917. The formation did not see any action and was disbanded on 26 September 1917, probably as a result of slowing enlistments and attrition in the extant 5 AIF Divisions.
On 14 May 1917 Captain Nelson Frederick Wellington (later Colonel DSO MC) of the 21st Battalion AIF, was detached from General Staff Officer 3 (GSO3) 2nd Australian Division to be Brigade Major 17th Infantry Brigade. His service record shows he returned to 2nd Division on 28 December 1917.
Colonel William Walker Watson's service record shows him posted from 24th Battalion promoted to Temporary COlonel to assume command of the Brigade vice Brig Paton. He did do until the Brigade was disbanded in September 1917.
Units:
62nd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
63rd Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 May 1917)
65th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
66th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
67th Battalion (25 April 1917 – 16 September 1917)
70th Battalion (17 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
17th Machine Gun Company (1 June 1917 – 20 August 1917)
17th Light Trench Mortar Battery (28 May 1917 – 16 September 1917)
Commanders
Brigadier General John Paton (25 April 1917 – 19 July 1917)
Colonel William Watson (19 July 1917 – 26 September 1917)
Source: Wikipedia and individual service records
Steve Larkins Mar 2018