 Following the outbreak of World War II, four machine gun battalions were raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, each assigned at divisional level.Several more units were raised within the Militia including the 6th and 7th Machine Gun Battalions, which served in New Guinea, and several more light horse regiments were also converted for garrison duties, including the 14th, 19th, 25th and 26th.For its part, the 5th Machine Gun Battalion was re-raised in August/September 1942 amidst the backdrop of the Japanese advance in the Pacific and fighting in New Guinea.