Woodside Barracks
Encyclopedia
Woodside Barracks is an Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...

 base located in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...

 at Woodside
Woodside, South Australia
Woodside is a town in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. The town is between Balhannah and Lobethal, from the state capital, Adelaide. Amenities include a swimming pool, , second hand store, grocery store, tennis club, bowls club and playing fields. The Johnston family of Oakbank...

.

History

The base was established in 1927, and known as Woodside Camp. It consisted of 162 hectares and was located 27 kilometres (16.8 mi) east of Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...

, South Australia. The camp was used for the training of light horse and infantry units of the Citizens Military Force (CMF). With the outbreak of the Second World War, barracks buildings were constructed to accommodate up to four infantry battalions. The 2/10th, 2/43rd
2/43rd Battalion (Australia)
The 2/43rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised in July 1940 in South Australia as part of the 24th Brigade, the unit saw service in the Middle East in 1941–42, taking part in the fighting at Tobruk and El Alamein before returning to Australia early in 1943. In 1943–44...

 and 2/48th
2/48th Battalion (Australia)
The 2/48th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army which served during the Second World War. Raised in Adelaide in South Australia in August 1940, the battalion formed part of the 26th Brigade and was initially assigned to the 7th Division, although it was later transferred to...

 battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...

 were formed at the camp. The base also provided training facilities for several CMF units and provided temporary accommodation for elements of the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...

's 32nd Infantry Division when it first arrived in Australia in May 1942. The camp was converted into a refugee reception camp in 1949 and could house up to 3000 people. After being vacated the camp was again pressed into military service.

Woodside Barracks is currently home to the 16th Air Defence Regiment
16th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
The 16th Air Defence Regiment is the youngest regiment of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery. As the Australian Defence Force's only Ground Based Air Defence unit the Regiment is responsible for protecting a wide range of military assets during wartime, ranging from Army units in the field...

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