2/9th Field Regiment (Australia)  The 2/9th Field Regiment was an Australian Army artillery regiment formed as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force in July 1940 for operations during World War II. Assigned to the 1st Australian Corps, the regiment was sent to the Middle East in mid-1941, and served in Palestine, Egypt, and Syria before returning to Australia in 1942. It undertook defensive duties in south-east Queensland before deploying north to Merauke, in Dutch New Guinea, and Cape York. It returned to Australia in October 1944 and sent to the Atherton Tablelands to carry out training as it waited for further deployment. This never came and the regiment was disbanded in late 1945. The 2/9th was formed in July 1940, as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force, the regiment was raised at Holsworthy, New South Wales, from men largely drawn from that state. Its first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel G.R.L Adams, and it was initially assigned to the 8th Division. Upon establishment, the regiment initially consisted of two batteries – the 17th and 18th – but was expanded to three in October 1941 with the addition of 59th Battery, while the regiment was deployed to Syria. Two of the regiment's troops were equipped with 4.5-inch howitzers. The remainder of the regiment used Ordnance QF 25-pounders, although the regiment's initial training took place on Ordnance QF 18-pounders and some of these vintage guns were used by the regiment later in the war while undertaking garrison duties in Dutch New Guinea. The regiment concentrated at Ingleburn in September, but later moved back to Holsworthy. After a reorganisation of the 2nd AIF, and the creation of the 9th Division, in November 1940, the regiment subsequently became part of the corps artillery of the 1st Australian Corps. At this time, the regiment was redesignated as the "2/9th Army Field Regiment". Training was undertaken at Holsworthy before the regiment embarked for the Middle East in April 1941. After concentrating in Palestine in May, the regiment was redeployed to Alexandria, in Egypt, and was used to support British troops on alert to defend against a possible German airborne invasion in the wake of Battle of Crete. The following month, the regiment was deployed to the Syria–Lebanon campaign where it was largely used to support British forces from the 23rd Infantry Brigade around Merdjayoun, although the regiment's two 4.5-inch howitzer troops supported the Australian 7th Division.