WESTERN COMMAND CHINESE LABOUR COMPANY
7 AUSTRALIAN LABOUR COMPANY (CHINESE)
7 AUSTRALIAN EMPLOYMENT COMPANY
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

Western Command raised a new unit called Western Command Chinese Labour Company on 23 March 1942 which comprised a large number of refugee Chinese seamen living in the Quarantine Station at Woodman Point in Western Australia. In April 1942, the unit became 7 Australian Labour Company Chinese. On 13 April 1942, there were 411 Chinese and 15 Europeans attached to 7 Australian Labour Company Chinese. The men worked on the Fremantle wharves and the construction of camp sites and then relocated to Claremont in May 1942 to work on the railways.

Australian Army Labour units, whether AIF or AMF were under the direct control of the Q.M.G. and Staff Officers (for Labour) in L. of C. Areas and Sub-Areas with the exception of "X" Labour Platoon which was 11 L. of C. Sub-Area troops.

They were renamed to 7 Australian Employment Company in September 1942. In November 1942, Headquarters and two Platoons moved to Mount Isa in western Queensland leaving two platoons in WA  at Narrogin and Harvey which became known as 7 Australian Employment Company (WA Detachment).

In January 1943, the two Platoons at Mount Isa sent a Detachment to Larrimah in the Northern Territory. Two Detachments were sent from 7 Australian Employment Company (WA Detachment) to Exmouth and Yanrey. The WA Detachment left WA in July 1943 headed for Redbank in south east Queensland.

In August 1943, 3 Platoon left Mount Isa to join the Detachment at Larrimah. They were disbanded in Brisbane on 12 February 1944.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Graham McKenzie-Smith and Brenda Ney for their assistance with this web page.

REFERENCES

"The Unit Guide - The Australian Army 1939 - 1945" by Graham McKenzie-Smith AM

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 24 April 2021

This page last updated 24 April 2021