1st main expeditionary force australian_army world war formed august following britain declaration war germany initially strength infantry division light horse brigade infantry division subsequently fought gallipoli april december reinforced second division later raised light horse brigades evacuated egypt expanded infantry divisions committed fighting france belgium western march sixth infantry division partially raised united_kingdom broken reinforcements following heavy casualties western mounted divisions remained middle_east fight turkish forces palestine volunteer force end war gained reputation trained highly effective military force playing significant role final allied victory reputation came heavy cost casualty rate highest war included consisted combat training squadrons deployed united_kingdom western middle_east war war evolved royal_australian_air_force remainder 1st disbanded war achievements soldiers known colloquially central national mythology legend generally known time today referred 1st distinguish raised world war formation 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 australian government pledged supply men organised infantry division light horse brigade plus supporting units service british desired subsequently began forming shortly outbreak war brain child brigadier general later major general chief staff major white officially coming august word imperial chosen reflect duty australians nation empire initially intended service europe separate man force known australian naval military expeditionary force formed task capturing german new_guinea addition small military forces maintained australia defend country attack formation consisted infantry division 1st colonel australian born officer previous time military service 2nd colonel irish born australian politician minister defence 3rd colonel british regular officer australian_army war 1st commanded colonel australian regular divisional artillery commanded colonel initial response recruits good september decision raise 2nd 3rd light horse brigades commanded colonel prominent melbourne civil engineer businessman continued grow war eventually numbering infantry divisions mounted divisions mixture units operated british war effort units generally organised lines comparable british_army formations small differences structures british australian units especially regards infantry divisions support units 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 medical administrative etc exceeded fact partially accounted high percentage casualties later sustained eventually included large number logistics administrative units capable meeting force needs circumstances provided support nearby allied units mainly relied british_army medium heavy artillery support weapons systems necessary combined arms warfare developed later war including aircraft tanks organisation command 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 promoted major general took command 1st division november major general wounded australian born officer command division commander command australian passed british officer lieutenant general commander resumed command assumed command formation egypt early swapped designations march officially confirmed commander september september commanding western retained overall responsibility units middle_east practice fell left egypt commanded later promoted lieutenant general subsequently commanded australian command corps later given command formation november australian lieutenant general took command corps despite promoted command retained command time divisional commanders australian officers exception commander british_army officer australian_army war joined australia august vast majority brigade commands held australian officers number british staff officers attached headquarters predecessors shortage suitably trained australian officers structure infantry divisions organisation closely followed british_army divisional structure remained relatively unchanged war war following infantry divisions raised broken seeing combat new_zealand division comprised infantry brigades brigade contained battalions later reduced australian battalions initially included rifle companies reduced expanded companies january conform organisation british infantry battalions battalion contained men divisional structure evolved course war formation included range combat support service units including artillery machine gun mortar engineer pioneer signals medical administrative units brigade included light trench mortar battery division included pioneer battalion machine gun battalion field artillery brigades divisional trench mortar brigade companies engineers divisional signals company divisional train consisting service corps companies salvage company field section mobile section changes reflective wider adaption tactical innovation adoption new weapons technology occurred 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 create new battalions form brigades new brigades 12th 15th form 4th ensured battalions new divisions core experienced soldiers 6th division commenced forming england february deployed france broken september year provide reinforcements divisions australian infantry regiments british sense battalions identified number 1st 60th 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 regional associations remained war battalion developed strong regimental identity pioneer battalions 1st 5th formed march recruited machine gun battalions 1st 5th formed march brigade divisional machine gun companies personnel states manpower crisis following battle divisions sustained casualties plans follow british reorganisation reduce brigades battalions british regimental system traumatic regimental identity survived disbanding single battalion australian system disbanding battalion meant extinction unit september decision seven battalions 19th 21st 25th 37th 42nd 54th 60th led series disbandment ranks refused report new battalions mutiny charges carried death penalty enemy instead charged mutiny charged absent leave doomed battalions eventually permitted remain forthcoming battle following survivors voluntarily disbanded motivated mainly soldiers loyalty battalions artillery underwent significant expansion war 1st division embarked november pounder field guns australia able provide division batteries heavy guns included establishment lack equipment shortages unable prior landing gallipoli provided high angled fire required rough terrain 2nd division formed july complement artillery december government offered form division basis artillery provided britain time overcome australian field artillery expanding field brigades end majority heavy artillery units supporting australian divisions british australian heavy batteries raised regular australian 54th equipped inch 55th inch mounted divisions following mounted divisions raised 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 light horse brigade consisted regiments regiment included squadrons troops machine gun section initial strength regiment men establishment changed war machine gun sections regiment concentrated squadrons brigade level like infantry light horse regiments raised territorial basis state identified numerically 1st 15th corps following corps level formations raised australian corps corps australian corps desert mounted corps australian formed preparation commanded initially corps consisted new_zealand mounted brigades australian 1st deployed gallipoli april mounted formations terrain considered unsuitable brigades deployed 2nd 3rd light horse brigades reinforcements later campaign continued corps reinforced began arriving august february reorganised egypt following evacuation gallipoli subsequent expansion included australian 1st later transferred july replaced initially employed egypt defence suez_canal transferred western march included australian 4th forming egypt transferred france july november australian divisions merged british new_zealand elements corps largest corps fielded british_empire france providing percent manning peak numbered men corps troops raised included 13th light horse regiment army artillery brigades corps included battalion majority australian light horse remained middle_east subsequently served egypt palestine syria august column expanded consisted included number australian british new_zealand companies contrast static trench warfare developed europe troops middle_east experienced fluid form warfare involving manoeuvre combined arms tactics 1st included soon outbreak war aircraft sent assist capturing german colonies north east new_guinea colonies surrendered quickly planes operational flights occur half flight called assist protecting british oil interests iraq corps later saw action egypt palestine western remainder world war end war squadrons nos seen operational service training squadrons nos established total officers ranks served remained australian_army disbanded later forming basis royal_australian_air_force specialist units addition number specialist units raised including australian companies arriving western undertook mining counter mining operations alongside british canadian new_zealand companies initially operating following year operated section november 1st took canadians hill subsequently playing key role june german offensive march companies served infantry later supported allied advance traps mines mechanical boring company supplied electric power units area motor transport units formed required gallipoli sent western units serve motor transport rejoined reached western australia formed railway operating companies served western specialist ordnance units included ammunition mobile workshops units formed late war service units included supply columns ammunition sub parks field depot units hospitals specialist medical dental units formed australia overseas number depots small armoured unit raised 1st armoured car section formed australia fought equipped model served palestine 1st light car patrol companies raised egypt patrol formed fought palestine converted light horse 14th 15th light horse regiments administration 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 headquarters subordinate units entirely independent british_army allowed force self sustaining fields generally followed british administrative policy procedures including awarding imperial honours awards weaponry equipment weaponry equipment australian_army british_army prior outbreak world war war equipment changed tactics evolved generally followed british developments standard issued rifle inch short magazine lee 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 personnel recruitment enlisted defence act 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 total men enlisted army war representing percent white male population aged men sent overseas serve approximately percent served born united_kingdom marginally proportion australian population occurred australia people recruited overseas indigenous australians officially barred october restrictions altered allow called half join estimates number indigenous australians served differ considerably believed women served mainly australian recruitment process managed military districts outset planned recruit half initial commitment personnel australia time forces volunteers initially recruited designated regimental areas creating units units home service militia early stages men selected toughest criterion army world war believed roughly percent men applied rejected medical grounds enlist men aged years age believed men old young managed enlist feet inches chest measurement inches strict requirements lifted later war need replacements grew casualties initial volunteers high original soldiers survive end war end volunteers accepted allowing second contingent depart december reinforcements sent rate men month landing subsequently resulted significant increase men recruited july level reached remained high late early gradual decline occurred news gallipoli increased recruitment fighting similar effect monthly totals dropping june august significant losses coupled failure volunteer system provide sufficient replacements resulted referendum conscription defeated narrow margin increase september october december fell lowest total year exceeded march heavy losses resulted second referendum conscription defeated greater margin recruitment continued decline reaching low december monthly fell early peaked remained relatively steady albeit reduced previous periods slightly increasing october prior armistice november ultimately voluntary system recruitment proved unable sustain force structure failing provide sufficient replacements heavy casualties sustained requiring number units disbanded end war decided allow men enlisted return australia home leave manpower shortage experienced regardless year war long serving force citizen army professional like pre war british_army containing men years service including despite heavy casualties suffered gallipoli western men enlisted battle hardened experienced result fact partially explains important role subsequently played final defeat german_army pay soldiers highest paid war pay private set shillings day additional deferred paid discharge result earned bob day tourists married men required shillings day separation added reflecting progressive nature australian industrial social policy era rate pay intended equal average worker including rations accommodation higher soldiers militia contrast new_zealand soldiers received shillings british initially paid later increased junior officers paid rate higher british_army senior officers paid considerably counterparts training early stages formation prior gallipoli 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 camps established state including queensland brighton tasmania western australia units training took place period weeks 5th battalion 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 established served volunteers time forces war members british_army numbers limited cases quality training received limited original intention half initial intake consist soldiers currently serving militia ultimately come fruition original intake prior military experience compulsory training volunteers terms officers situation better example 1st division initial officers 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 result majority company battalion commanders risen ranks 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 gallipoli campaign 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 following deployment reinforcement system replace reinforcements received training australia camps country sailing drafts consisting officers ranks joining assigned units initially drafts assigned specific units prior departure recruited area unit assigned later war drafts sent general reinforcements assigned unit required drafts gallipoli continued late early units reinforcement drafts 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 discipline war gained reputation british officers indifference military authority away battlefield leave included reputation refusing salute officers sloppy dress lack respect military rank leave public reportedly widespread egypt number personnel involved civil disturbances riots red light district cairo period australians appear represented british_empire personnel convicted court martial disciplinary offences western especially absence leave partially explained refusal australian government follow british_army practice applying death penalty unlike new_zealand canada high proportion line personnel instead australian soldiers received prison sentences including hard labour life imprisonment offences including assault theft minor offences included defiance authority examples australian soldiers involved looting practice widespread stresses prolonged combat contributed high units especially france heavy fighting april october following war portrayed harmless australia working class culture influenced approximately quarters volunteers members working class high proportion trade soldiers frequently applied attitudes industrial relations army war incidents soldiers refused undertake tasks considered protested actual perceived officers actions similar strikes soldiers taken pre employment men seeing protests occurred planned disbandment battalions similar tactics employed industrial disputes judged frequent use industrial action led improved conditions soldiers contributed having strict military culture common british_army uniforms insignia pre war australian_army uniform formed basis worn adopted broad hat rising sun badge peak caps initially worn infantry light horsemen wore distinctive hats standard worn arms steel helmets gas masks issued use infantry western loose fitting pocket service dress jacket worn knee tan ankle boots heavy worn cold weather uniform soup colour buttons prevent shine personnel wore shoulder title bearing word australia rank insignia followed british_army pattern worn upper arms shoulders officers identical hat collar worn units initially distinguished small metal letters shoulder officers system adopted worn upper arm soldier jacket wound stripes gold authorised worn denote wound received distinguishing included brass letter worn colour patch men nurses served gallipoli blue representing year overseas service red represent year war uniforms worn similar rest officers wore double jacket worn pre war wings worn left breast colour patch standard rising sun worn operations gallipoli contingent departed ship single convoy albany november originally bound england undergo training prior employment western australians subsequently sent british controlled egypt 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 uprising 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 running 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 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 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 disbandment 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 australians awarded victoria_cross reputation came heavy cost sustaining 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 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 legacy war portrayed glowing terms legend soldiers depicted good men little time military life strict discipline fought fiercely battle australian soldiers seen self reliant wartime official correspondent post war official historian central development stereotype believed character achievements reflected unique nature rural australians frequently exaggerated democratic nature force proportion soldiers rural areas journalism war perceived qualities seen unique product harsh australian environment bush notions built concept men bush excellent natural soldiers prevalent australian culture war achievements especially gallipoli campaign frequently portrayed having marked birth australia nation performance seen proof character australians passed test war exploits gallipoli western subsequently central national mythology years followed including volunteer status quality factors resulted success military formation exclusively australian modern armies recognising importance small unit identity group maintaining morale qualities arguably defined australian soldier claimed new canadians having exhibited soldiers whilst undoubtedly soldiers german british american armies exhibited traits known different terms foundations performance likely military based discipline training leadership sound doctrine volunteer status seen explain military performance means unique regard status little difference artillery machine gun fire wire obstacles modern industrial warfare rate equally individual skill morale proved important sound tactics effective fire movement ultimately making difference australians allied armies embracing tactical innovations new technologies integrated weapon systems relied provided british_army commemorating celebrating entrenched tradition following world war forming remembrance war soldiers served known colloquially time paramount australian raised following outbreak world war seen traditions predecessor perceptions evolved time 1950s 1960s social critics began associate legend popular discontent concerning vietnam war conscription mid-1960s led people reject historians increasingly questioned views concerning leading realistic nuanced assessments force historians continue stress achievements state representative australia legend grew popularity 1980s 1990s adopted new australian nationalism portrayed uniquely australian force fought people wars sacrificed british military campaigns little importance australia depiction controversial rejected historians oxford companion australian military history judges unclear popular perceptions australia military history evolve clear legend remain important national myth time come
First Australian Imperial Force