- Compiled by Neville Browning The 16th Bn Machine-gun Section on Blackboy Hill, Western Australia The outstanding history of the Western Australian 16th Battalion begins with the Great War. Late in 1914 the Australian Government decided to raise another force to supplement the 1st Division already in training. The new unit was to be known as the 4th Brigade and commanded by Colonel John Monash.www.starwon.com.au/~skip