Active 1942–44 Branch Australian Army Size ~ 900 personnel | Country Australia Type Infantry | |
Role Direct and indirect fire support | ||
The 7th Machine Gun Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army that was raised for service during World War II. A Militia unit, it was formed in 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Terry Farrell through the amalgamation of the machine gun companies of six infantry battalions: the 3rd, 36th, 39th, 49th, 53rd and 55th. Equipped with Vickers medium machine guns, it subsequently deployed to New Guinea where they were assigned in support of the 7th Brigade, taking part in the Battle of Wau – with two companies being attached to the 7th from the 2/1st Machine Gun Battalion – being flown in to provide protection to the airfield there in late January and early February 1943. It later served around Milne Bay, before the battalion was disbanded in 1944.