Pioneers

Pioneer battalions performed construction tasks in the forward area not requiring the special equipment of engineers, such as constructing trenches and dugouts although they occasionally acted in the engineer role on tasks such as the construction of bridges. They had a large proportion of tradesmen and were organised the same as infantry battalions. In a pinch they could and did serve as infantry in the front line.

Pioneer Battalions

These were formed one per division in 1916.

1st Pioneer Battalion (New South Wales) [First Division]
Formed in Egypt 10 March 1916 and assigned to First Division.
Egypt, Sinai, Western Front

2nd Pioneer Battalion (Western Australia) [Second Division]
Formed in Egypt 10 March 1916 and assigned to Second Division.
Egypt, Sinai, Western Front

3rd Pioneer Battalion (Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia) [Third Division]
Formed in Victoria March 1916 and assigned to Third Division. Departed Melbourne Wandilla 6 June 1916
England, Western Front

4th Pioneer Battalion (Queensland) [Fourth Division]
Formed in Egypt 10 March 1916 and assigned to Fourth Division.
Egypt, Western Front

5th Pioneer Battalion (South Australia) [Fifth Division]
Formed in Egypt 10 March 1916 and assigned to Fifth Division.
Egypt, Western Front

6th Pioneer Battalion [Sixth Division]
Formed in England 1917 and assigned to Sixth Division. Disbanded 26 September 1917.
England

Pioneer Training Battalion [1st Training Brigade]
Formed Fovant, England, 8 August 1916.
England

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Page created by Ross Mallett
ross@metva.com.au
Last update 28 June 2010