 The 2 / 4th Machine Gun Battalion was one of four machine gun battalions raised as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force ( 2nd AIF ) for service overseas during the Second World War . Motorised infantry units , equipped with wheeled motor vehicles and tracked carriers , the machine gun battalions were formed to provide a greater level of fire support than that ordinarily available within infantry battalions . Developed by the British Army , the concept had its genesis in the Australian Army during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 , when the machine guns assigned to the infantry battalions — initially two and then four — had been grouped together and co @-@ ordinated at brigade level , to help compensate for the lack of artillery support . On the Western Front , the concept had evolved through the establishment of machine gun companies in 1916 and finally , in 1918 , to the establishment of machine gun battalions . Similar formations had also been established among the Australian Light Horse units serving in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign . During the inter @-@ war years , the machine gun battalions had been deemed unnecessary . They were not re @-@ raised when the Army was reorganised in 1921 but in 1937 , as the Australian Army looked to expand owing to fears of war in Europe , four such units were formed within the part @-@ time Militia , by converting light horse units and motorising them . Several other Militia machine gun battalions were also raised as new units later after the Second World War began . These were formed by consolidating the machine gun companies assigned to a number of infantry battalions , and other light horse units were also converted into the role for use as garrison forces . Within the 2nd AIF — Australia 's overseas expeditionary force — the decision was made to raise four machine gun battalions as corps troops that were usually allocated at a rate of one per division ; several of the Militia units were also later designated Australian Imperial Force units , after the majority of their personnel volunteered for overseas service . This meant that they could be deployed outside of Australian territory even though they were not 2nd AIF units . 
 The 2 / 4th Machine Gun Battalion was one of four machine gun battalions raised as part of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force ( 2nd AIF ) for service overseas during the Second World War . Motorised infantry units , equipped with wheeled motor vehicles and tracked carriers , the machine gun battalions <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>were</mark></a> formed to provide a greater level of fire support than that ordinarily available within infantry battalions . Developed by the British Army , the concept had its genesis in the Australian Army during the Gallipoli Campaign in 1915 , when the machine guns assigned to the infantry battalions — initially two and then four — <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> been grouped together and <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>co</mark></a> @-@ ordinated at brigade level , to help compensate for the lack of artillery support . On the Western Front , the concept <a href='been_done' title='4'><mark>had</mark></a> evolved through the establishment of machine gun companies in 1916 and finally , in 1918 , to the establishment of machine gun battalions . Similar formations <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> also been established among the Australian Light Horse units serving in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign . During the inter @-@ war years , the machine gun battalions <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> been deemed unnecessary . They <a href='negative_concord' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='8'><mark>not</mark></a>re @-@ raised when the Army was reorganised in 1921 but in 1937 , as the Australian Army looked to expand owing to fears of war in Europe , four such units <a href='uninflect' title='9'><mark>were</mark></a> formed within the part @-@ time Militia , by converting light horse units and motorising them . Several other Militia machine gun battalions <a href='uninflect' title='10'><mark>were</mark></a> also raised as new units later after the Second World War began . These <a href='uninflect' title='11'><mark>were</mark></a> formed by consolidating the machine gun companies assigned to a number of infantry battalions , and other light horse units <a href='uninflect' title='12'><mark>were</mark></a> also converted into the role for use as garrison forces . Within the 2nd AIF — Australia <a href='null_genetive' title='13'><mark>'s</mark></a>overseas expeditionary force — the decision was made to raise four machine gun battalions as corps troops <a href='null_relcl' title='14'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='15'><mark>were</mark></a> usually allocated at a rate of one per division ; several of the Militia units <a href='uninflect' title='16'><mark>were</mark></a> also later designated Australian Imperial Force units , after the majority of their personnel volunteered for overseas service . This meant that they could be deployed outside of Australian territory even though they <a href='negative_concord' title='17'><mark>were</mark></a> <a href='negative_concord' title='18'><mark>not</mark></a>2nd AIF units . 
Da 2 / 4th Machine Gun Battalion was one of 4 machine gun battalions raised as part of the alll volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force ( 2nd AIF ) fir service overseas durin tdaSecond World War . Motorised infantry units , equipped w/ wheeled motor vehicles and tracked carriers , thdaachine gun battalions was formed to provide a greater level of fire support than that ordinarily available within infantry battalions . Developed by the British Army , the concept had its genesis in the Australian Army during thedallipoli Campaign in 1915 , when the machine guns assigned to the infantry battalions — initially 2 and then four — done been grouped together and coed @-@ ordinated at brigade level , to help compensate for the lack of artillery support . On the Western Front , the concept done evolved thru the establishment of machine gun companies in 1916 and finally , in 1918 , to the establishment of machine gun battalions . Similar formations done also been established among the Australian Light Horse units serving in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign . During the inter @-@ war yrs , the dahine gun battalions done been deemed unnecessary . They ain't re @-@ raised when the Ada was reorganised in 1921 but in 1937 , as the Australian Army looked to expand owing to fears of war in Europe , four such units was formed within the pada@-@ time Militia , by converting light horse units and motorising em . Several other Militia machine gun battalions was also raised as new units later after the Second World War began . These was formed by consolidating the machine gun companies assigned to a number of infantry battalions , and other light horse units was also converted into the roldaor use as garrison forces . Within the 2nd da — Australia  overseas expeditionary force — the decision was made to raise four machine gun battalions as corps troops was usually allocated at a rate of one per division ; several of the Militdaunits was also later designated Australian Imperial Force units , after the majority of their personnel volunteered for overseas service . This meant that they could b deployed outside of Australian territory even though they ain't 2nd AIF units .