2/19th Battalion (Australia)

The 2/19th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. It was raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) in May 1940, and was assigned to the 22nd Brigade, which was part of the 8th Division.

Following initial training in Australia, the 2/19th was sent to Malaya in mid-1941 as part of Australia's contribution to the defence of the region against possible Japanese aggression. When the Japanese invaded in December 1941, the battalion saw heavy action during the Battle of Muar in January 1942, suffering heavy casualties.

Following the Allied defeat, the survivors of the 2/19th Battalion were captured and became prisoners of war (POWs). They endured harsh conditions in Japanese POW camps in Malaya, Singapore, Thailand, and elsewhere, many working on projects such as the Burma-Thailand Railway. A significant proportion of the battalion died in captivity due to disease, starvation, and mistreatment.

Following the end of the war in 1945, the surviving members of the 2/19th Battalion were repatriated to Australia and the unit was subsequently disbanded. The battalion is remembered for its service in Malaya and the sacrifices made by its members as POWs. Their experiences have been documented in various historical accounts and serve as a poignant reminder of the hardships endured during the Second World War.