The 32nd Battalion was raised on 9 August 1915 in Mitcham, South Australia, for overseas service with the all-volunteer Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

[5] After completing basic training, the battalion left Australia in November aboard the transport HMAT Geelong,[6] bound for Egypt.

[3] It arrived amidst the aftermath of the failed Gallipoli campaign, which saw a reorganisation and expansion of the AIF in preparation for its dispatch to France and Belgium to take part in the fighting against the Germans along the Western Front.

[3] The following month, after spending a short period in the Armentières sector,[8] the battalion was committed to the front for the first time on 16 July 1916.

[9] During that fighting it suffered 718 casualties—a third of the battalion's total casualties for the entire war—which equalled roughly 90 percent of its effective strength.

[10] After spending a bitter winter undertaking defensive duties on the Somme,[10] during early 1917 the battalion took part in the operations in pursuit of the German forces as they withdrew towards the Hindenburg Line, but found itself in a flank protection role during the Second Battle of Bullecourt in May.

During this offensive the 32nd Battalion took part in operations in the Peronne area throughout August and September as the Allies sought to breach the Hindenburg Line,[15] fighting its final engagement of the war between 29 September and 1 October 1918 as part of a joint Australian and American attack along the St Quentin Canal.

The same year, the battalion motto, Audax Pro Patria, was approved and it formed an alliance with the Leicestershire Regiment.

[17] In early 1943, the 14th/32nd Battalion carried out amphibious warfare training in Queensland before being deployed to the Buna–Gona area in New Guinea in July.

On 18 March 1945, the battalion took part in its only major battle of the war when it launched an assault on Bacon Hill and captured it.

[17] In April 1945, the 14th/32nd Battalion was withdrawn to Australia in preparation for involvement in future operations but, in July, the decision was made to disband the unit as the end of the war became apparent.

Members of the battalion received the following decorations for their service: one DSO, one OBE, two MCs, one British Empire Medal, one DCM, one MM and seven MIDs.