australian_army world war australian_army largest service australian military world war army main expeditionary force formed august initial strength men following britain declaration war germany separate hastily raised man landed near german new_guinea september obtained surrender german garrison days later provided occupation forces duration war addition small military forces based pre war permanent forces time maintained australia defend country attack initially consisted infantry division light horse brigade contingent departed australia ship egypt november formed australian infantry division fought gallipoli campaign april december reinforced second division later raised light horse brigades evacuated egypt expanded infantry divisions forming committed fighting france belgium western march mounted divisions remained middle_east fight turkish forces later combined divisions france belgium operations playing significant role defeat german_army end war gained reputation highly effective military force following armistice november process began australian personnel repatriated late australians enlisted war served overseas sustained approximately casualties killed died wounds casualty rate highest war background founded january march colonial soldiers consisting professional soldiers paid militia unpaid volunteers transferred new australian_army units continued administered colonial acts major general sir commander appointed commander defence act brought state units piece legislation significantly prevented raising standing infantry units allowing establishment permanent administrative staff headquarters garrison artillery fortress engineers submarine mining engineers service medical ordnance units stipulated force maintained voluntary serve outside australia effectively established pre ensuring australian_army primarily consist time militia volunteer forces supported small permanent force limited filling staff training garrison roles equally ensured force sent overseas voluntary basis despite significant force increasingly seen dysfunctional inadequate suffering perceived institutional problems structure command administration limited financial resources poor training time led government decide adopt entirely new military system significant changes followed report lord following inspection local forces established train staff officers system universal national service began boys aged cadets men aged serving reforms process raising large civilian militia defend country feared attack japan force based conscription intended complete resources devoted plan greatly exceeded allocated preparations raise expeditionary force serve outside australia total peace time force citizen soldiers war time establishment raised include infantry battalions later increased light horse regiments subsequently raised field batteries seven batteries total guns field engineer companies seven communication companies support troops force organised brigades divisional headquarters raised envisioned divisions formed required infantry planned organised brigades later battalions light horse initially form seven brigades later field artillery organised brigades field batteries attached light horse brigades batteries small permanent force men operate support new scheme entailed reorganisation military districts 1st military district based queensland 2nd new_south_wales 3rd victoria 4th south_australia 5th western_australia 6th tasmania new_guinea initially later incorporated 1st military district steps taken expand network coastal defences provide protection raids japanese german warships prior world war defences manned companies australian strength men september government officially approved formation australian military air arm australia nations outside europe begin develop capability initially modest established victoria flying training begin immediately class pilots accepted flight raised 3rd military district july following britain declaration war august outbreak world war australia members british_empire automatically involved prime minister stating august empire war australia days brigadier general staff officer major completed plans creation white proposed expeditionary force men including australians new cook subsequently approved proposal increased offer men serve destination desired british government august london acceptance force asked sent soon possible recruiting offices opened august end volunteers accepted despite strict physical fitness guidelines additional british request assistance august australian government prepared expeditionary force known australian naval military expeditionary force destroy german wireless stations organisation despite progress incomplete numbering approximately men units raised stage august prior outbreak war units called guard key infrastructure essential points man coastal forts harbour defences militia fortress companies assisted permanent artillery engineers manning defence electric lights port jackson coastal defence batteries activated hours declaration war germany took place melbourne time august morning allied shots war fired garrison fort located opening examination battery fired shell bows german cargo ship ship failed stop accordance pre war plans mines ready laid protect risk attack considered sufficient justify establishment minefields ongoing maintenance initial man garrison artillery commanding officers militia units directed begin preparations raise infantry division light horse division home defence tasks end august government judged force size unnecessary given australia distant war zones instead decided maintain small number infantry battalions light horse regiments active duty time end home defence force comprised members rifle club volunteers despite fears sabotage uprisings german australians domestic threat skeleton garrisons maintained coastal forts personnel manning forbidden enlist ban lifted april presence german commerce australian waters caused february april occurred april reason june home service troops active duty australia alongside regular soldiers enlisted war australian naval military expeditionary force began forming following request british government august comprised battalion infantry men enlisted sydney known plus naval sailors serve infantry battalion militia queensland based dispatched garrison thursday island contributed volunteers force command colonel departed sydney august aboard halted new_zealand force escorted battlecruiser cruiser french cruiser occupied august moved port met queensland contingent aboard transport force sailed german new_guinea september left refused work soldiers kennedy regiment left port holmes felt trained equipped committed fighting expected following capture german possessions region september provided occupation forces duration war holmes returned australia early enlisted men replaced known specially enlisted service tropics start war australia military forces focused time militia small number regular personnel engineers generally assigned task coastal defence provisions defence act sending overseas outbreak war realised totally separate volunteer force need raised began forming shortly outbreak war officially coming august formation consisted 1st division 1st australian 1st division subsequently fought alongside combined new_zealand april december reinforced later raised light horse brigades evacuated egypt expanded infantry divisions committed fighting france belgium western march mounted divisions remained middle_east fight turkish forces palestine serving contrast static trench warfare developed europe troops middle_east experienced fluid form warfare involving manoeuvre combined arms tactics continuing grow war eventually consisted infantry divisions mounted divisions mixture units start infantry brigades making 1st division joined sole new_zealand infantry brigade form new_zealand formed egypt sent gallipoli august reinforce 1st division artillery having partially completed training gallipoli infantry underwent major expansion formed australia sent france new_zealand broken new_zealand elements forming original australian infantry brigades 1st 4th split half form brigades form 4th ensured battalions new divisions core experienced soldiers organised divisions subsequently deployed western 6th division commenced forming england february deployed france broken september year provide reinforcements divisions november australian divisions merged gallipoli campaign light horse brigades fought alongside infantry divisions march formed egypt named contained mounted brigade new_zealand likewise formed february originally named contained british 5th division consisted mounted light horse brigades consisted regiments following expansion august divisions formed consisted included number australian british new_zealand companies included consisted operational squadrons nos training squadrons nos women served mainly australian addition number specialist units raised including companies motor transport units railway ordnance workshops service units hospitals specialist medical dental units small armoured unit raised volunteer force duration war australia introduce conscription war south_africa system compulsory training introduced home service australian law extend overseas service australia conscription expand defeated october december preserving volunteer status stretching reserves end war ultimately voluntary system recruitment proved unable sustain force structure failing provide sufficient replacements heavy casualties sustained requiring number units disbanded end war infantry battalion originated geographical region men recruited area new_south_wales victoria populous states filled battalions brigades outer states queensland south australia western_australia tasmania combined assemble battalion light horse artillery recruited territorial basis hastily deployed contingent essentially suffered widespread equipment shortages early largely inexperienced force small percentage members having previous combat experience officers non commissioned personnel previously served pre war permanent time forces significant proportion enlisted personnel received basic military instruction australia compulsory training scheme predominantly fighting force based infantry battalions light horse regiments high proportion close combat troops support personnel eventually included large number logistics administrative units capable meeting force needs circumstances provided support nearby allied units division included range combat support service units including artillery machine gun mortar engineer pioneer signals medical administrative units corps troops included light horse army artillery regardless mainly relied british_army medium heavy artillery support weapons systems necessary combined arms warfare developed later war including aircraft tanks operationally placed disposal british administered separate national force australian government responsibility promotion pay clothing equipment feeding personnel administered separately home based army australia parallel system set deal non operational matters including record keeping finance ordnance personnel issues separate conditions service rules promotion graduation list officers responsibility initially fell bridges addition duties commander administrative headquarters later set cairo egypt following australian infantry divisions western relocated london additional responsibilities included liaison melbourne whilst tasked command australian troops britain training headquarters established salisbury end war gained reputation trained highly effective military force enduring years costly fighting western playing significant role final allied victory albeit smaller wider british_empire war effort like dominion divisions canada new_zealand australians viewed best british forces france operations exploits gallipoli western subsequently central national mythology commemorating celebrating entrenched tradition following world war forming remembrance war soldiers served known colloquially time paramount australian campaigns occupation german new_guinea following outbreak war australian forces moved quickly reduce threat shipping posed proximity germany australian naval military expeditionary force man volunteer force separate consisting infantry battalion plus naval sailors rapidly formed command colonel objectives force wireless stations german new_guinea force reached september occupied day encountering brief resistance german native defenders fighting german new_guinea surrendered september australian losses light including killed fighting gallipoli period rudimentary training australia contingent departed ship single convoy albany november originally bound england undergo training prior employment western australians instead sent british controlled egypt order pre turkish attack strategically important suez_canal view opening aiming knock turkey war british decided stage amphibious gallipoli following period training reorganisation australians included british indian french forces committed campaign combined australian commanded british general subsequently landed gallipoli peninsula april promising transform war successful ill conceived shortly landing blood stalemate developed ultimately lasted months allied commanders decided evacuate troops having achieved campaign objectives australian casualties totalled including killed egypt palestine withdrawal gallipoli australians returned egypt underwent major expansion infantry began france mounted infantry units remained middle_east fight turks australian troops saw action major battles playing pivotal role fighting turkish troops threatening british control egypt australians saw combat combined british forces successfully primitive pro turkish islamic sect heavy casualties subsequently saw considerable action august turks eventually pushed following victory british forces went offensive pace advance governed speed railway water pipeline constructed suez_canal captured january small turkish garrisons eliminated february advance entered palestine initial unsuccessful attempt capture march second equally unsuccessful attempt launched april assault occurred october november time took battle complete success british line capturing turkish soldiers critical moment capture day australian 4th charged miles turkish trenches overrun australians capturing wells securing valuable water contained prisoners loss killed wounded later australian troops assisted pushing turkish forces palestine took actions jerusalem turkish government surrendered october units light horse subsequently help nationalist revolt egypt efficiency brutality suffered number fatalities process total australian battle casualties campaign including dead western infantry divisions saw action france belgium leaving egypt march subsequently took positions quiet sector south april half years participated major battles western earning formidable reputation spared disastrous day battle weeks australian divisions committed positioned left flank action july suffering casualties single day entered line july assaulting time relieved 2nd division july suffered casualties attacked august casualties totalling men time withdrawn suffered casualties days march 2nd pursued germans capturing town april assaulted disastrous battle losing casualties captured april 1st 2nd divisions counter attacked near forced abandon town took second battle beginning succeeded taking sections holding relieved finally 5th division relieved 1st remaining line battle ended mid combined efforts cost australian casualties june british corps launched operation flanders order eliminate south attack commenced million pounds explosives placed underneath ridge destroying german trenches advance virtually unopposed despite strong german day succeeded australian casualties included nearly men took belgium campaign capture september november individual actions took place road wood course weeks fighting australians suffered casualties march german_army launched effort win war divisions mile allies fell 3rd rushed south offensive lasted months divisions france engaged attempt stem tide late germans pushed miles paris time australians fought commander lieutenant general successfully combined arms including aircraft artillery armour attack time german offensive ground halt mid july brief followed australians undertook series raids known peaceful allies soon launched offensive days offensive ultimately ending war beginning august offensive included australian divisions striking combined arms techniques developed earlier significant gains known black day german_army offensive continued months second battle australian corps fought actions final engagement war october actions successful australian divisions suffered considerable casualties september average strength infantry battalions percent authorised strength withdrawn rest reorganisation following engagement subsequently line armistice declared november artillery units continued support british american units november maintained flying operations end war total australian casualties western numbered including died men wounded approximately taken prisoners war theatres small numbers personnel served theatres australian troops 1st provided communications british forces participated number battles including march september year following russian revolution collapsed leaving open special force known commander formed hand picked british officers organise remaining russian forces civilians ready fight turkish forces australian officers served party captain instrumental protecting thousands refugees australian nurses staffed british hospitals india leadership position chief general staff established responsible maintaining war organisation army preparing defensive plans training examination officers collection interpretation intelligence addition incumbent sat military member responsible minister defence administration colonel appointed replacing brigadier general route britain war broken bridges occupied organising took organisation service new_guinea bridges departed overseas took responsibility training reinforcements originally formed commanded bridges commanded 1st division bridges death gallipoli australian government appointed boer war veteran replace bridges command british lieutenant general sir commander british troops egypt objected bypassing communicating directly australia australian government failed support deferred lieutenant general commander australian sent egypt command 2nd division representations australian government act commander australian government transfer bridges authority temporary basis september officially confirmed commander september september commanding western colonel appointed temporary replacing chief responsibility overseeing expansion training establishment australia provide reinforcements units overseas raising training 2nd division colonel took january following period ill health relieved command division returned australia resuming post october remained position position role primarily dealing politicians australia providing reinforcements overseas lieutenant general regular officer commanded 1st formation later australian command corps took command later given command formation november australian took command corps despite promoted command retained command time divisional commanders australian officers vast majority brigade commands held australian officers result policy appointing officers exclusively enlisted personnel later adopted majority company battalion commanders risen ranks number british staff officers attached headquarters predecessors shortage suitably trained australian officers equipment weaponry equipment australian_army british_army prior outbreak world war years prior war basic defence industries established australia production uniforms boots small arms explosives ammunition despite majority equipment initially issued came british_army stocks australian production able increased meet demand resulted rapid military expansion start war included items water bottles bits spurs provided local government manufacturer australia relatively limited industrial base war ultimately able supply majority army simple requirements remainder complex equipment purchased suppliers britain war equipment changed tactics evolved generally followed british developments standard issued rifle inch short magazine lee factory constructed local production limited rifles year proved insufficient result initially equipped stocks held production increased rifles year end number later supplied new_zealand forces ammunition supplied factories australia new_zealand britain speed initially raised meant suffered range equipment shortages especially artillery unable prior landing gallipoli later impacted conduct campaign artillery unable manufactured australia additional weapons able obtained britain short term time overcome additional divisions raised australian field artillery expanded equipped british_army depots arrival france pre war australian_army uniform formed basis worn adopted broad hat rising sun badge pattern light horsemen leather load carriage equipment large pack issued marching order issued long sword bayonet rifles manufactured hand grenades rifle grenades short supply gallipoli necessitating use improvised jam tin grenades grenade discharge cup issued fitting muzzle rifle projection mills bomb machine guns initially included small number maxim vickers medium machine guns subsequently included lewis light machine gun issued greater numbers war continued increase firepower available infantry response tactical problems trench warfare light horse units underwent similar process issued hotchkiss guns replace lewis guns early light trench mortar issued infantry replace range trench smaller trench mortars whilst battery brigade level provide organic indirect fire support addition individual soldiers range personnel weapons including knives clubs pistols western pattern sniper rifles sights light horsemen carried initially considered mounted infantry adopted cavalry swords late artillery included pounders equipped field batteries inch batteries inch inch equipped heavy siege batteries inch heavy mortar equipped heavy trench mortar battery medium trench mortar batteries equipped inch medium mortar later inch mortar light horse units supported british indian artillery main mount light horse draught horses artillery wheeled transport mounts transport pack animals training doctrine australian_army copied british_army doctrine existed semi officially form pre war planning largely seen australian army focus defending continent invasion relatively small force result future war thought likely highly mobile contrast offensive focus british european time despite influence local professional military debate result emphasis whilst recognition problems posed increasing firepower result continued development small arms artillery technology considered little requirement direct assault static defensive positions given room manoeuvre afforded australian continent order compatible british forces pre war agreements ensured australian_army units organised trained equipped accordance british_army doctrine establishment tables despite efforts compulsory training scheme years war men served previous military experience hastily equipped received rudimentary training prior departure days formation stop men went ashore day beach rocky ground bush terrain tactical manoeuvres able practice maintaining contact dense jungle skill later proved important fighting force remaining week training limited unlikely adequately prepared force seriously tested ultimately lack training end costly german resistance proved limited fighting day resulting fewer dozen australian casualties early stages formation training rudimentary performed mainly unit level formal schools volunteers proceeded straight recruiting stations assigned units process established arrival makeshift camps recruits received basic training drill officers non commissioned officers trained instructors appointed mainly previous service time forces units training took place period weeks spent little day live firing departing overseas following initial force middle_east training undertaken desert organised training provided australia rushed individual training consolidated progressed quickly collective training battalion brigade level training exercises marches drill practices followed standard exercises limited lacked realism meaning commanders benefit handling troops battlefield conditions soldiers received training compulsory training scheme served volunteers time forces war members british_army numbers limited contrast majority officers initially appointed previous military experience largely service pre war militia little formal officer training addition small junior officers trained permanent force numbers small outbreak war class graduated early order join placed mainly staff positions small numbers graduates january means commissioned ranks enlisted personnel initial senior officers members pre war military substantial experience managing brigade sized larger units field training exercises scale rarely conducted outbreak hostilities inexperience contributed tactical mistakes casualties transferred european battlefield training system greatly improved efforts formal training organisation curriculum consisting weeks basic training established egypt expanded early brigade established training battalion formations later sent united_kingdom absorbed large system depots established branch including infantry engineers artillery signals medical logistics completing initial instruction depots australia united_kingdom soldiers posted theatre base depots received advanced training posted reinforcements operational units like british_army sought rapidly pass lessons learned war progressed widely transmitted regularly updated training documents experience gained combat improved skills surviving officers men trained led force coming terms conditions played development new combined arms tactics offensive operations occurred defence employed patrolling trench raids tactics dominate man land manner ultimately developed tactical doctrine following deployment reinforcement system replace reinforcements received training australia sailing drafts joining assigned units provide officer reinforcements series officer schools established australia officer training eventually concentrated school near schools produced large number officers eventually closed concerns graduates inexperienced replacement officers drawn ranks deployed units candidates attended british officer training units theatre schools established france february issue training taken seriously schools established training initially weeks duration increased months deteriorated war given precedence manpower resources size force increased high proportion volunteered overseas service officers train recruits camp facilities equipment assigned expeditionary force greatly disrupted training activities units conducting camps late required undertake periods training active service october approximately called short period compulsory training ahead conscription close collapse best members transferred remaining personnel largely attempts revive months war initially successful german spring offensive began march led concerns japan attack australia response regular training camps militia units reinstated scheme set reserve force manned returned veterans attracted volunteers received training war units went camp began process involvement occupation german turkish territory limited prime minister requested early exceptions squadron participated occupation 7th light horse regiment sent occupy gallipoli peninsula weeks new_zealand regiment time armistice soldiers france england middle_east plus nurses india transported home australians decided delay departure instead joined british_army serving russian civil war officially australian government refused contribute forces campaign troops france men returned home come basis process overseen britain cairo soldiers undertook government funded training civilian awaiting australia australian soldiers remained england september senior australian commander repatriated december transport organised troops departed london april officially ceased exist april july military hospitals australia passed civilian hands volunteer force units end war australia time military force subsequently reorganised replicate divisional structure numerical designations units identities battle honours remained australian_army disbanded later forming basis royal_australian_air_force following end hostilities november role german colonies new_guinea primarily civil administration continued provide garrison half years military government continued australia received mandate govern territory despite having seen action following initial seizure colony years followed climate range tropical diseases malaria resulted dozens fatalities deployment concluded interrupted japanese occupation australian administration lasted gained independence war exposed deficiencies australia pre war military system emphasised creation large time militia despite considerable effort resources expended raising war major threat australia emerged expeditionary force volunteers raised scratch order fight overseas war senior military officers advised range legislative organizational reforms perceived success war general community military matters distrust funding constraints inter war years meant largely adopted government established instead similar system remained place world war resulted inefficient army system require raising separate volunteer force serve overseas outbreak hostilities casualties total men enlisted army war men sent overseas serve men served sustained approximately casualties killed died wounds represented total casualty rate percent highest war men captured majority casualties occurred infantry sustained casualty rate percent artillery percent light horse percent incurred significant losses
Australian Army during World War I