In 1943 Westralia was converted into a Landing Ship, Infantry. In this role, Westralia had a capacity of 933 soldiers, and was used primarily to transport units of the United States Army and Marine Corps. The ship arrived at Manus on 7th April 1945 befoe reaching Morotai on the 19th. The 2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion embarked for attack on Tarakan Island, Borneo. On 1 May – After preliminary bombardment by two cruisers and six destroyers ,troops of 26th Australian Infantry Brigade were landed. After the end of the war, Westralia was one of the ships at Ambon on 22 September 1945 for the surrender and occupation of the island where the 164 survivors of Gull Force prisoners had already been taken off on 10 September. She was later used for the repatriation of Australian troops, before being paid off in September 1946. The ship earned five battle honours for her wartime service: Silver frame containing black and white image of a ship at seaGold coloured plaque attached top right "HMAS Westralia" - 2/24th AUST INF BATT TARAKAN ISLAND BORNEO 1ST MAY, 1945hmas westralia, 2/24th aust inf battalion

The banner depicts the original Unit motto and colour patch - white over red diamond - of the 24th Battalion which was raised in a hurry from a surplus of recruits at Broadmeadows Camp in Victoria. The battalion was formed during the first week of May 1915 ,and sailed from Melbourne at the end of that week. On September 4, 1915 the Battalion went ashore at Gallipoli and spent the next 16 weeks sharing duty in the Lone Pine trenches with the 23rd Battalion. in March 1916 the Battalion proceeded to France. It took part in its first major offensive around Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in July and August 1917. When patrolling no-man's land the men of the 24th adopted a unique form of snow camouflage - large white nighties bought in Amiens. The Battalion left the front line for the last time on 6 October 1918 and disbanded in May 1919. Victoria's 2/24th Infantry Battalion was raised in Wangaratta in July 1940 and were deployed to the middle east. After extensive fighting at Tobruk and El Alamein bettween July and November 1942 the Unit adopted a T shaped colour patch. After formation, the 2/24th battalion was moved to Wangaratta, where it remained until its training facilities were ready in Bonegilla prior to overseas deployment to the middle east. Because of its time in Wangaratta, it became colloquially known as "Wangaratta's Own" and later received the Freedom of the City.Two clear perspex sheets containing green banner with white over red diamond shape, gold coloured writing and fringe below with metal plaque.24th Aust Inf Bn. (AIF) 1939-45 I HOLD FAST Plaque - No 1 Banner Presented to The Wangaratta Club by the 24th Aust Inf Bn (AIF) 1939-45 on 15-9-84 banner, 24th australian infantry battalion, white over red diamond, unit colour patch