The battalion consisted of 64 medium machine guns, and took part in the final stages of the war, seeing action during the Allied defensive operations during the German spring offensive and then the Allied Hundred Days Offensive, which finally brought an end to the war.

[2][3][4] The battalion's first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Iven Mackay, and he led them through their first battle at Hazebrouck during the German spring offensive.

[8] The establishment of machine gun battalions within the AIF was the final step in the evolution of the organisation of direct fire support during the war.

At the end of the Gallipoli Campaign, the AIF was reorganised, and the machine gun sections within each infantry battalion had been consolidated into companies assigned at brigade level.

During the final stages of the war, the machine gun battalions proved highly effective, providing both direct and indirect fire support during attacks.

Following the outbreak of World War II, four machine gun battalions were eventually raised as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force, each assigned at divisional level.

[10][12] The 5th Machine Gun Battalion was also re-raised and undertook garrison duties as part of Torres Strait Force.