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Purple Devils History 2/6 Australian Commando Sqn WW2

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The Purple Devils: A History of 2/6 Australian Commando Squadron
by S. Trigellis-Smith - new book

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PURPLE DEVILS

This WW2 Book is a military History of the 2/6 Australian Commando Squadron also known as 6th Independant Company - the famous Purple Double Diamonds
Their operations included Kokoda Track Buna Marham Ramu Balikpapan.

Australia raised 12 Independent Companies between July 1941 and January 1944. The first eight companies were trained at Number Seven Guerrilla Warfare School, Wilson's Promontory in Victoria. In 1943 there was a name change and the Independent Company became known as the Commando Squadron although the title Commando never sat comfortably with the old Independent Company members. The reference to Double Diamonds comes from the distinctive shape of the units arm patch which resembles two diamonds on edge.
The Independent Company was a complete and powerful fighting unit with his own signals, engineers and medical officer. It's armaments had a high proportion of automatic weapons, bren guns, Thompson submachine guns, sniper and grenade launching rifles and the 2 inch mortar. The engineers, were well-versed in the use of explosives in the field.

Raised in May 1942, 2/6 Independent Company trained at the Guerrilla Warfare School on Wilson's Promontory, Victoria. Allotted the distinctive Double Diamond colour patch of all Independent Companies, its unit colour was purple, hence the title "The Purple Devils".In 1943 the name was changed to Cavalry Commando Squadron again soon after to Commando Squadron.

The men were experts in long-range patrolling and reconnaissance and spent much of their time in small groups operating in territory effectively under enemy control.

Four major campaigns were undertaken between 1942 and 1945: operating on the flanks of the Kokoda Track, at Buna with the Americans, in the Markham-Ramu Valleys with 7th Division and finally at Balikpapan in Borneo.

Not only did the men have to contend with the enemy forces and the inhospitable country, but also the lack of supplies and the isolation, much of the time out of touch with main forces and entirely dependent on their own resources.