australian_army world war australian_army largest service australian military world war prior outbreak war australian_army split small time larger time militia following outbreak war september prime minister announced members militia called training strong expeditionary force designated second formed overseas service conscription introduced october militia strength members volunteered australian_army subsequently important contribution allied campaigns mediterranean middle_east north_africa fighting germans italians later fighting japanese late following japanese surrender australian_army units deployed occupation forces army contributed troops japan army considerably expanded early response japanese threat australia year army strength peaked infantry divisions armoured divisions august army strength men force larger australia population economy sustain strength reduced second half year militia units able serve outside australian territory january defence act passed army reduced members october free manpower industry end army strength set infantry divisions armoured brigades reductions ordered august june australian_army generally long standing policy british designed equipment equipment australia united_states countries introduced service war later years pre war doctrine focused conventional warfare european environment army doctrine jungle warfare prior early army developed jungle warfare doctrine adapting pre war field service regulations meet conditions demands combat world war led changes composition army units success german units invasions poland france convinced australian defence planners army required armoured units began raised units suitable jungle warfare disbanded conditions led army convert combat divisions jungle divisions early fewer heavy weapons vehicles organisation proved moderately successful divisions strengthened campaigns process began immediately end hostilities august finally completed february total personnel enlisted australian_army war figure represented percent population nearly men ultimately served overseas percent total force serving line areas proportion population australian_army ultimately largest allied armies world war casualties included killed action died wounds wounded killed died prisoners war non battle casualties operational areas significant included killed wounded injured addition army suffered substantial number casualties non operational areas soldiers killed wounded injured background prior outbreak war australian_army consisted small time larger time militia inter war years combination economic resulted limited defence spending following election government conscription abolished place new system introduced militia maintained time voluntary basis size army remained small militia rapidly expanded threat war grew soldiers militia september increased supported time soldiers main responsibility largely administer train militia expansion little impact improving readiness australian forces outbreak war provisions defence act restricted pre war army service australia territories including new_guinea result australia entered war new volunteer force required fight europe outside australia immediate region similarly world war volunteer raised served distinction gallipoli middle_east western 1920s australia defence thinking dominated singapore strategy centred establishment major naval base singapore use naval forces respond future japanese aggression region maritime strategy resulted defence budget focused building ran order support british_royal_navy spent ran australian_army munitions industry received fledgling royal_australian_air_force raaf strategy met significant political opposition sections regular army including prominent officers particular argued war likely break pacific time britain involved crisis europe unable send sufficient resources singapore contended singapore vulnerable especially attack land air argued balanced policy building army raaf relying ran 1930s australian_army organisation equipment doctrine similar world war militia organised infantry horse mounted cavalry divisions fixed coastal fortifications positioned strategic ports army recognised threat war japan little prepare jungle warfare pre war planning conflict taking place main population centres australia eastern isolated attacks strategic points western_australia army followed trends british_army late 1930s unable obtain date equipment needed properly implement new british doctrines organisations lack resources result limited defence expenditures militia provided pool experienced officers soldiers expand army event war course war militia soldiers volunteered overseas service army adopted title encompass categories service militia permanent forces wartime required rapid expansion army war personnel enlisted militia figure represented percent australia population seven million highest allied armies world war subsequently important contribution allied campaigns mediterranean middle_east north_africa fighting germans italians forces later fighting japanese late primarily conjunction forces united_states nearly men served overseas percent total force serving line areas organisation origin australia entered world war september september prime minister announced members militia called training strong expeditionary force designated formed overseas service like predecessor second volunteer force formed establishing entirely new units cases units drew recruits geographical areas units given numerical designations albeit prefix october conscription introduced militia strength members volunteered january unmarried men turning required report examined potential service substantial proportion men granted medical grounds suffer financial forced enter military remainder liable months training followed ongoing reserve service effect arrangement creation different armies different conditions service volunteer militia volunteer situation resulted administrative structural problems existed war bitter professional rivalry men forces later provision allow militia units transfer sufficient numbers personnel volunteered serve terms service required percent unit war establishment percent actual strength volunteer allowed battalions early problem adopt british australian organisation british_army process new weapons new organisation required new equipment available australia decided organise unit raised 6th division elements old organisation new consequently raised infantry division personnel initially comprised man infantry battalions consisting rifle companies battalion headquarters regimental aid post headquarters company support sections including signals mortars carriers pioneers anti aircraft administration artillery support provided field regiments attached brigade level anti tank regiment attached divisional level divisional cavalry regiment equipped armoured vehicles corps troops included machine gun battalion engineer logistics communication units infantry divisions formed 7th division february 8th division june establishment divisions reduced new battalion organisation size australian division reduced approximately men surplus battalions 6th division 7th division changes included addition light anti aircraft regiment divisional level reorganisation divisional artillery battery regiments consisting guns battery regiments guns corps headquarters designated corps formed march support units final division formed established july built core armoured brigades consisting tank equipped armoured regiments supported cavalry armoured cars engineers artillery units raised irregular warfare commando companies corps support service units raised war provide combat logistical support forces australia pacific army command administrative arrangements start war based system military districts existed federation albeit number modifications australia divided military districts largely state territory reported responsible administration army regular members consisting deputy adjutant general chief intelligence chief general staff chief ordnance civilian finance member addition number members overall control minister defence 1st military district encompassed queensland 2nd included new_south_wales 3rd primarily based victoria 4th included south_australia 5th included western_australia 6th encompassed forces tasmania designated 7th military district 8th military district later activated port command forces new_guinea following outbreak world war regional command structure subsequently adopted redesignated queensland southern states new_south_wales victoria tasmania amalgamated early years war structure proved effective operations overseas threat war japan grew commands military districts came greater pressure activation militia time duty japan entry war late compounded situation response army command structure reorganised early western australia remained unchanged queensland new south wales victoria tasmania south australia redesignated redesignated july functions assumed commander military forces general sir requirements manpower equipment constrained militia early years war outbreak pacific war main army units australia militia infantry divisions 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th divisions militia cavalry divisions 1st 1st armoured division time volunteer force men based available local defence addition early garrison force personnel veterans world war organised garrison battalions coastal defence battalions companies internal security tasks including guarding prisoner war camps time percent militia units time duty remainder periodically undertaking month long militia poorly armed insufficient equipment issued units response japanese threat following outbreak pacific war capture 8th division malaya condition militia pressing concern largely having ignored middle ranking senior officers subsequently posted militia units formations experience army forced units militia divisions combat ready sent areas believed greatest threat attack battalions amalgamated later separated reformed disbanded altogether defence act passed militia units able serve outside australian territory january major formation army considerably expanded early response japanese threat australia year army strength peaked infantry divisions 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 9th 10th 11th 12th divisions armoured divisions 1st 2nd 3rd organised second armies support service units august army strength men force proved larger australia population industry sustain late number personnel needed inducted month good losses caused sickness combat larger numbers eligible service allocation high proportion australia limited supply manpower military expansion munitions industry key sectors economy army large majority personnel employed arms corps undertaking combat combat support roles heavily reliant allies logistical support required personnel support arms ordnance transport functional self sufficient organisation situation acute time men serving arms corps infantry cavalry armour ordnance slowly addressed army size reduced units disbanded militia arms corps units september outnumbered militia having members compared reductions came october army strength reduced men free manpower work industry end army strength set infantry divisions armoured brigades reductions ordered august june support arms grown considerably proportion total force august ordnance electrical mechanical engineers totalled men artillery reduced half previous strength infantry cavalry armoured corps personnel numbered men engineers signals medical services remained albeit smaller army regardless end war remained largest allied armies proportion population second soviet_union reduced size finally disbanded august conflict continued past august size army reduced divisions new_guinea secured divisions garrison duties brigade group available british led operations remaining division invasion japan demands combat world war led changes composition army units success german units invasions poland france convinced australian defence planners army required armoured units began raised 1st armoured division formed militia cavalry divisions converted armoured divisions formed provide support infantry large armoured units suitable jungle warfare disbanded conditions led army convert combat divisions jungle divisions early reducing authorised strength division men infantry battalion shed personnel support elements anti aircraft carrier removed consolidated divisional level heavy weapons vehicles reduced conditions organisation designed proved moderately successful result divisions strengthened campaigns returning artillery anti tank units removed creation jungle divisions represented time australian_army history adopted organisation specifically conditions forces fight previously force structure heavily influenced british_army decision adopt organisation suit local conditions reflected growing maturity independence resulted adoption tier force structure formations designated jungle warfare remained previous scales equipment manning ultimately structure better suited operations australia longer able japanese result burden fighting increasingly fell formations organised remainder army relegated garrison duties army raised anti aircraft coastal defence units war pre war coastal defences greatly expanded new batteries built near major ports australia new_guinea response threat japanese attack australia limited capacity produce anti aircraft guns bulk equipment come britain development defences initially hampered lack available equipment coastal defence system reached peak size army anti aircraft guns outbreak war high priority given expanding air defences major cities important industrial military facilities anti aircraft batteries place major cities key towns northern australia expansion artillery general coastal defence anti aircraft units particular meant june members army units gradually took responsibility manning fixed coastal anti aircraft defences threat attack australian mainland relied major allies provide support primarily raising combat units support arms times conflict consequently services relatively remained years war british units provided line communication services north_africa early campaigns army needed raise extensive support units support combat formations pacific following japanese entry war result growth support arms services proved dramatic including capabilities australian_army minimal previous experience maintaining units included terminal formations beach groups responsible loading unloading ships food petroleum storage distribution units farm units grew food troops remote areas addition australia national support base located rear major cities south east country significant expansion army transport capabilities required supplies men field force based northern australia new_guinea road transport units raised supplies australia eventually operated fleet air maintenance companies formed load supply aircraft women services prior world war female branch army reserve formation served overseas world war following outbreak war chief served staff director general medical services major general war nurses australian permitted serve overseas volunteered women served major theatres army fought total killed active service majority died early fighting malaya singapore nurses killed march branch consisting volunteers originally coordinated redesignated december employed military hospitals australia overseas end war returning civilian control shortages manpower led establishment august members filled wide range roles allow army male soldiers fighting units mainly worked clerical administrative positions auxiliary roles drivers served anti aircraft batteries operating radars guns sought members posted overseas early onwards agree result women joined served outside australia reduced size following war finally disbanded june colonel commanded september total women served army making percent force campaigns north_africa years world war australia military strategy closely aligned united_kingdom imperial defence policy singapore strategy seemingly need large scale land forces pacific key component policy consequently australian military units deployed overseas sent mediterranean middle_east formed integral commonwealth forces area infantry divisions dispatched middle_east subsequently heavily involved fighting followed addition force sent north_africa brigades 18th 25th stationed britain june january formed british mobile reserve responded german landings australian_army forestry group served britain australian_army saw action successful commonwealth offensive north_africa conducted december february 6th division fully equipped completed training december relieved given task capturing italian fortresses bypassed british 7th armoured division advance january division went action fortress manned larger force australian infantry quickly penetrated italian defensive lines support british tanks artillery majority defenders surrendered january australians took prisoners followed success assaulting fortress january securing day taking italians prisoner australians pushed west coast road captured february later month withdrawn deployment greece replaced 9th division took garrison duties week march german led force launched offensive allied forces area rapidly forced withdraw egypt formed rear guard withdrawal april ordered defend important port town months sustained australian destroyers mediterranean_fleet ensuing siege reinforced 7th brigade british artillery armoured regiments fortifications aggressive patrolling artillery contain defeat repeated german armoured infantry attacks september october request relieved bulk withdrawn 13th battalion forced remain siege lifted december convoy evacuating attacked defence cost australian units involved casualties including killed taken prisoner greece crete lebanon early corps headquarters took ill fated allied expedition defend greece german invasion corps commander lieutenant general prime minister regarded operation risky agreed australian involvement british government provided deliberately understated chance defeat allied force deployed greece smaller german force region defence country compromised inconsistencies greek allied plans australian troops arrived greece march manned defensive positions north country alongside british new_zealand greek units outnumbered allied force able halt germans invaded april forced retreat australians allied units conducted fighting withdrawal initial positions evacuated southern greece april australian warships formed force protected evacuation embarked hundreds soldiers greek ports 6th division suffered heavy casualties campaign men killed captured 6th division returned egypt 19th provisional infantry battalions landed crete formed key island defences 19th brigade initially successful holding positions german landed gradually forced retreat key airfields lost allies evacuated island garrison approximately australians including entire 7th battalion evacuated taken prisoner result heavy casualties 6th division required substantial reinforcements equipment ready combat reinforced formed key allied ground forces syria lebanon campaign fought french forces june july close air support raaf royal_air_force australian force entered lebanon june advanced coast road valley little resistance expected forces mounted strong defence good use mountainous terrain allied attack reinforcements brought australian corps headquarters took command operation june changes enabled allies french forces 7th division entered july loss british breakthrough syria led commander seek armistice campaign ended july second half concentrated syria lebanon undertook garrison duties strength rebuilt ahead operations middle_east following outbreak war pacific elements corps including 6th 7th divisions returned australia early counter perceived japanese threat australia australian government agreed requests britain united_states temporarily retain middle_east exchange deployment additional troops australia britain support proposal expand raaf squadrons government intend play major role active fighting sent reinforcements axis forces defeated commonwealth force libya advanced north west egypt june stand kilometres west alexandria railway siding brought forward reinforce position lead elements division arrived july assigned northerly section commonwealth defensive line position 9th division subsequently played significant role battle helping halt axis advance casualties heavy 28th battalion forced surrender july surrounded german armour capturing following battle division remained northern end line launched attacks early september october raaf squadrons area took second battle lengthy period preparation launched major offensive october involved heaviest fighting battle advance coast area succeeded drawing away german forces heavily reinforced 2nd decisively break axis lines night november suffered high number casualties battle pursuit retreating axis forces battle requested division returned australia possible provide reinforcements sustain agreed british governments late november left egypt australia january ending involvement war north_africa malaya singapore emphasis placed cooperation britain relatively australian military units stationed australia measures taken improve australia defences war japan proved inadequate 8th division subsequently dispatched singapore february plans militia battalion stationed battalion allocated garrison brigade dispersed july deployed order protect airfield sections sent central new act observers december australian_army pacific consisted 8th division stationed malaya partially trained equipped divisions australia including 1st armoured division keeping singapore strategy high proportion australian forces asia concentrated malaya threat japan increased outbreak war australian forces malaya consisted brigade groups 8th division 22nd 27th brigades command major general raaf squadrons warships following japanese invasion december 8th division attached units assigned responsibility defence south malaya result action mid january japanese reached state having pushed british indian units defending northern parts peninsula time division brigades split 22nd having deployed east coast 27th west division engagement came west coast january japanese fifth army able commonwealth positions bennett forces command weak assigned crucial coastal sector stronger australian brigades deployed threatened areas commonwealth forces achieved number local tactical victories notably unable slow japanese advance suffered heavy casualties japanese remaining commonwealth units withdrew singapore night january following 8th division deployed defend singapore north west coast casualties suffered division units half strength replacements received draft replacements sent late january barely trained having little weeks training australia dispatched assigned larger normal defend beaches ill suited defence 22nd 27th brigades spread thin ground large gaps lines commander singapore fortress lieutenant general believed japanese land north east coast island deployed near strength british 18th division defend sector february japanese landed australian sector 8th division forced positions days heavy fighting subsequent landing took place division unable turn subsequently withdrew centre island fighting commonwealth forces pushed narrow perimeter urban area singapore surrendered forces february australians able escape following capitulation australians taken prisoner bennett managed having left island night surrender handing command division later justified actions saying gained understanding defeat japanese needed return australia pass knowledge post war inquiries found leaving command loss quarter australia overseas soldiers failure singapore strategy permitted accept sending aid britain stunned country fall singapore raised fears japanese invasion australian mainland government concerned army ability respond large forces australia contained inexperienced units lacked mobility response brought middle_east australian prime minister appealed united_states assistance japanese forces advanced burma india early british prime minister winston_churchill attempted divert 6th 7th divisions route australia refused movement compromise 16th 17th brigades 6th division disembarked ceylon formed island garrison returned australia august australia contribution pre war plans defend japanese aggression focused defence malaya singapore small australian forces deployed defend islands north australia role forces defend strategic airfields launch attacks australian mainland detachments stationed solomon islands report japanese operations start pacific war strategic port town defended force comprised 22nd battalion reinforced coastal artillery poorly equipped raaf bomber squadron regarded inadequate australian military possible reinforce japanese south seas force landed january outnumbered australian force swiftly defeated survivors surrendered weeks battle members survived war murdered japanese february australian soldiers civilian prisoners killed ship carrying japan transport sunk submarine july troops dispatched darwin weeks pacific war reinforced battalions 8th division brigade 23rd sent force island force defend strategic locations japanese attack 2nd sent violation portugal neutrality force defeated japanese landing january surrendered february australian prisoners subsequently killed japanese troops series mass executions february force defeated japanese landed february surrendered australian waged guerrilla campaign japanese february lead japanese invasion java force land based aircraft attacked darwin february time darwin important base allied warships staging point shipping supplies reinforcements japanese attack successful resulted deaths civilians military personnel non australian allied seamen heavy damage town port facilities strong army unit australian warships aircraft number raaf squadrons participated unsuccessful defence java japanese invaded island march army force elements 7th division formed american british dutch australian command land forces java saw little action surrendered march dutch forces island began following conquest main aircraft carrier force raided indian_ocean attacking ceylon early april australian_army brigades stationed ceylon time raid placed alert repel potential invasion action japan rapid advance south unexpected perceived threat invasion led major expansion australian military army strength infantry divisions armoured divisions hundreds units thousands australians ineligible service military responded threat attack joining auxiliary organisations modelled respectively australia population industrial base sufficient maintain forces threat invasion passed army progressively reduced size despite australian fears japanese intended invade australian mainland invasion considered february judged japanese military capabilities planning preparations undertaken instead march japanese military adopted strategy australia united_states capturing new_guinea fiji plan frustrated japanese defeat postponed indefinitely battles ended threat australia australian government continued warn invasion possible series japanese air raids northern australia occurred main defence provided raaf allied fighters number australian_army anti aircraft batteries involved dealing threat australian military reinforced units recalled middle_east expansion militia raaf united_states military units arrived australia great numbers deployed new_guinea april command australian forces consolidated american commander general halting japanese allies moved offensive late pace advance accelerating australian military mainly relegated subsidiary roles holding operations continued conduct large scale operations end war larger proportion forces deployed final months conflict time campaign japanese forces landed mainland new_guinea march invaded secure bases defence important base developing response australian new guinea volunteer rifles established observation posts japanese 5th successfully raided june battle coral sea frustrated japanese plan capture port amphibious landing attempted capture town landing south seas force north coast advancing overland track cross rugged track campaign began july japanese began advance opposed ill prepared militia brigade designated force force successful delaying unable halt late august early september australian forces bay inflicted notable land defeat war japanese japanese landed unit capture allies established area brigades australian troops militia 7th 18th designated force supported raaf fighter squadrons army engineers launched counter attack outnumbered lacking supplies suffering heavy casualties japanese forced withdraw victory helped raise allied morale especially track japanese continued progress august august battalions 7th division reinforced remnants japanese continued advance september reached village near port weeks exhausting fighting heavy losses japanese troops kilometres port supply problems advance impossible japanese began fear allied counter landing following hands forces decided support fronts new_guinea subsequently ordered withdraw troops track issue decided australian forces heavily reinforced 7th division 21st 25th brigades supported native recruited australian new guinea administrative unit forcibly carry supplies evacuate wounded personnel australians pursued japanese track early november forced small north coast australian forces attacked japanese late november allied force consisted exhausted 7th division inexperienced ill trained short artillery supplies lack supporting weapons insistence rapid advance allied tactics battle centred infantry assaults japanese fortifications resulted heavy casualties area secured january fighting australian personnel captured japanese troops murdered response remainder war australian soldiers generally attempt capture japanese personnel aggressively sought kill japanese opponents including surrendered following defeats japanese withdrew defensive perimeter territory new_guinea fighting australian_army increasingly developed tactical superiority japanese jungle warfare campaign led significant reform composition australian_army campaign restriction banning militia personnel serving outside australian territory hampered military planning caused tensions militia late early overcame opposition extending geographic boundaries serve include necessary legislation passed january deploying militia easier ultimately brigade 11th dispatched outside australian territory deployed south coast dutch west force new_guinea halting japanese advance allied forces went offensive australian forces played key role offensive designated particular oversaw series highly successful operations north east tip new_guinea high point australia experience operational level command war successful defence began advancing april advance mounted divert attention main objectives proceeded slowly late june reinforced staged amphibious landing south town eventually captured september early september australian led forces mounted movement capture september 9th division amphibious landing east town began advancing west following day parachute regiment unopposed parachute drop west airborne forces secured 7th division flown began advancing east race capture race won captured town september japanese forces suffered heavy losses campaign able escape north fall 9th division given task capturing 20th brigade landed near strategic harbour september secured area japanese responded 20th division overland area remainder gradually brought reinforce 20th brigade expected counter attack japanese mounted strong attack mid october defeated heavy fighting second half november 9th division captured hills inland dug japanese forces following defeat 20th division retreated coast pursuit 9th division secured coastal region peninsula 7th division drove japanese inland range campaign began september 6th independent company air landed company defeated larger japanese force secured fly division 21st 25th brigades aggressive patrolling australians forced japanese positions extremely rugged terrain january division began attack key position ridge taken end month raaf playing key supporting role following success japanese withdrew range australian troops linked american patrols april secured april advance philippines australian military role south west pacific decreased forces took responsibility main allied effort region half decided agreement size military decreased release manpower war related industries important supplying britain forces pacific australia main role allied war effort point forward supplying allied countries food materials manufactured goods needed defeat japan result policy size army reduced late onwards offensive force infantry divisions militia divisions maintained end war early army divisions withdrawn training rehabilitation new battalions australian led new_guinea troops formed organised troops earlier seen action alongside australian units new_guinea campaign largely replaced australian_army battalions disbanded year australian government offered corps use came proposals liberation islands army prolonged period relative inactivity led public concern australians believed offensive operations politically embarrassing government helped look new areas military impacted army morale allies advanced japan army increasingly relegated second string roles despite having fought weight war new_guinea late australian government committed australian_army brigades replace army divisions conducting defensive roles area new_guinea order free american units operations philippines units largely conducted static defence positions australian replacements mounted offensive operations designed destroy remaining japanese forces areas value campaigns controversial time remains day australian government authorised operations primarily political military reasons believed keeping army involved war australia greater influence post war peace conferences australian territories enhance australia influence region critics campaigns author argue unnecessary lives australian soldiers involved japanese forces isolated ineffective 5th division replaced 40th infantry division october november continued campaign goals protecting allied bases large japanese force island area late november 5th division established bases closer japanese perimeter began aggressive patrols supported division conducted amphibious landings open bay wide bay base early defeated small japanese garrisons areas april japanese confined fortified positions australian force aggressive patrolling suffered fatalities wounded campaign war found japanese force strong higher allied intelligence estimated remained continued campaign replaced army october december corps consisted 23rd brigade garrisoned neighbouring islands supported raaf united_states marine_corps air units maintained defensive posture australians conducted offensive operations aimed destroying japanese force japanese split fought separate northern central southern portions island main focus japanese base south north centre island largely suspended australian operations continued end war large japanese forces remained north island assigned responsibility completing destruction japanese eighteenth army large japanese force remaining australian portion new_guinea supported raaf squadrons ran warships division reinforced militia armoured units began arriving october late australians launched offensive east 17th brigade advanced inland remainder division moved coast suffered heavy casualties previous fighting disease mounted strong resistance inflicted significant casualties 6th division advance hampered supply difficulties bad weather australians secured coastal area early captured small force landed east town end war eighteenth army forced designated stand area campaign cost australian lives japanese died taken prisoner borneo campaign borneo campaign major allied campaign series amphibious assaults july australian corps lieutenant general attacked japanese forces occupying island allied naval air forces centred 7th fleet admiral australian played important roles campaign goals campaign capture borneo support led invasion japan british led liberation malaya planned place later agree proposal extend offensive include liberation java july decision release 6th division operation contributed going ahead campaign opened landed small island east coast borneo secure island base support planned landings expected weeks secure open intensive fighting island lasted june opened june result operation generally considered worthwhile phase began june conducted simultaneous assaults north west coast quickly secured japanese garrison held week secured 24th brigade landed 20th brigade advanced western coast borneo south brigades rapidly advanced weak japanese resistance north west borneo liberated end war campaign assisted indigenous fighters guerrilla war japanese forces support australian special forces final stage campaign capture central east coast borneo operation opposed believed unnecessary went ahead orders day preliminary air naval bombardment 7th division landed near town july surrounds secured heavy fighting july continued end war isolated pockets japanese resistance remained capture large scale land operation conducted world war borneo campaign criticised australia time subsequent years pointless waste soldiers lives achieve number objectives increasing isolation significant japanese forces occupying main capturing major oil supplies freeing allied prisoners war held deteriorating conditions post war years prior end war august australian military preparing contribute forces invasion japan australia participation operation involved elements services fighting commonwealth forces planned form new 10th division existing personnel form british canadian new_zealand units corps organisation identical army corps participated invasion japanese home island scheduled march planning operations japan ceased august japan surrendered following atomic bombings hiroshima nagasaki japanese field commanders subsequently surrendered allied forces australian forces accepted surrender japanese opponents ceremonies conducted locations borneo following surrender australian_army faced number immediate operational administrative issues including need maintain security areas occupied administration surrendered japanese forces areas organising return approximately soldiers including prisoners war australia discharge bulk soldiers serving army raising occupation force service japan australian_army units deployed occupation forces following japanese surrender terms agreement reached admiral head australia responsible providing occupation forces borneo east including western new_guinea pre war australian british territories eastern new_guinea pacific australian forces borneo remain place relieved british dutch units late corps responsible borneo eastern army disarmed japanese forces pre war british australian territories new_guinea surrender documents signed 7th 9th divisions took control borneo forces dispatched darwin key islands eastern british forces western took fighting indonesian nationalists australians careful involved sought hand control occupation zones quickly possible relations australian troops generally good decision load dutch ships carrying military supplies bound australian occupation troops left february australian_army contributed troops japan volunteers force recruited late assigned new infantry battalions battalion formed volunteers 7th division battalion men 6th division personnel units grouped october brigade departure japan delayed february inter allied negotiations eventually took responsibility enforcing terms japanese surrender infantry battalions raised occupation duties designated 1st 2nd 3rd battalions 34th brigade 1st brigade returned australia december forming basis post war regular army time australian army contribution occupation japan reduced single strength battalion australian forces remained september ceased operations time majority units committed fighting korean following outbreak korean war june leadership war began army change time senior officers active list bennett held appointment seven years came chief general staff major general adjutant general major general sir major general general major general commander commander 2nd division years age bennett serving regular soldiers considered command 6th division second posts selected prime minister promoted lieutenant general october subsequently appointed general officer commanding corps following raising march appointed succeed command 6th division assumed command newly formed senior regular officers included men like joined army world war officers held senior commands war seldom active ones distinct group regular officers graduates opened number included officers fought world war reached rank major promotion prospects restricted remained majors years left army join british indian armies raaf return civilian life group determined prove lead troops battle regular officers attended training courses exchange british_army important early years war close cooperation armies wars enjoyed better promotion prospects major promoted rank lieutenant colonel young serve world war commissioned promoted lieutenant colonel ordered commands 6th division given regular officers political adversaries outspoken opposition singapore strategy appointments went like later militia officers rose prominence brigade division commanders distinguished records officers like hammer challenge regular officers contention special claim senior command ability start war majority battalion commands went older commanded battalions served war went average age battalion commanders declined years old prevalence regular officers senior positions rose held half senior appointments remained represented unit commands infantry battalion commanded regular officer following outbreak war japan senior officers distinguished records middle_east recalled australia lead militia formations fill important staff posts army expanded following year army reached greatest extent size limited number senior appointments senior officers required faced public political criticism shelved senior officers career prospects junior officer affected particularly infantry officers promoted substantive rank lieutenant colonel months engineers supporting arms return divisions australia middle_east coincided arrival large numbers american troops including 32nd april took command australian forces newly formed supreme commander appointed commander chief march following promotion general setting role suspended july commander chief reported directly subsequently given command theatre australian forces bulk allied forces practice political reasons ensured commanded australian forces limited number australian staff officers posted general headquarters remained remainder war equipment australian_army generally long standing policy british designed equipment equipment australia united_states countries introduced service war later years pre war defence policies favoured ran received majority defence spending interwar period result war came army equipment world war vintage australian factories capable producing small arms equipment replaced new factories required produce latest weapons equipment motor vehicles motor vehicles suitable military use purchased militia 6th division division war establishment training february treasury urged war cabinet slow orders motor vehicles save shipping space sending middle_east wheat war australian infantry units largely equipped british designed australian small arms support weapons standard rifle iii manufactured small quantities lee rifle canada new_guinea rifles provided branches australian military order free rifles infantry units american semi automatic rifles issued australian infantry units attached army formations new_guinea direct fire support provided mixture machine guns including vickers machine gun produced utilised specialised machine gun battalions later medium machine gun infantry battalions gun replaced standard automatic rifle early years war infantry battalions utilised section level manufacture australia started improve rates fire american thompson gun introduced eventually replaced australian designed british designed australian modified gun infantry equipped grenades boys anti tank rifle standard infantry anti tank weapon start war replaced heavier support weapons infantry battalions war included inch mortar inch mortar infantry battalions equipped converted tropical warfare establishment organic carrier consolidated companies assigned divisional level man pack introduced january obtain cabinet approval spend construct plant manufacture pounder field guns pounder anti tank guns pounder available quantity units australia far_east equipped old pounder units middle_east operated pounder pounder bored pounder ammunition received british pounders old inch saw service 10th field regiment employing support collection captured italian guns known bush artillery employed rendered obsolete pounder available quantity eventually manufactured australia special light weight version known short pounder developed jungle warfare requirement portable field piece mountainous jungle led use inch new_guinea campaign american employed experience western desert campaign soon showed pounder deal german tanks superseded pounder began coming assembly lines australia july turn replaced pounder manufactured ordnance factory anti aircraft artillery equipped swedish designed gun manufactured australia british inch gun medium artillery included american british inch gun need tanks equip armoured units led war cabinet approve manufacture sentinel tank delivered time manufacture ceased july action tanks sourced overseas quantity light tanks received september shipment british tanks arrived july proved suitable type jungle warfare flame variant produced eventually saw action borneo campaign numerous tank australian_army lee equipped armoured divisions unlike action australian scout car known produced interim measure adequate supplies canadian armoured car available australian_army operated amphibious australian_army developed landing craft development australian version vehicle carried army personnel working alongside prototypes constructed launched initial version known found small larger metre developed australian version developed manufactured ford brisbane later operational experience demonstrated need larger landing craft iii enlarged version ford engines twice cargo capacity produced army ordered type similar capacity ford engines delivered end war arrived time service new_guinea number operational units stepped production equipment shortages thing past army equipment actually needed example total pounders required combat training total hand additionally total pounder pounder anti tank guns required army inch anti aircraft guns needed combat training pieces available similar existed small arms required system situation relation gun carriers marked vehicles actually required decreased requirements mobility vehicles jungle warfare training doctrine australian_army pre war doctrine focused conventional warfare european environment doctrine supporting training common commonwealth countries following outbreak war army continued focus preparing units fight europe north_africa far single greatest difficulty training early war years shortage equipment critical shortages instructors decision form 1st armoured division created requirement large numbers highly skilled personnel officers men required skills small pre war army serving divisional cavalry regiments created march moved problem militia lack continuity training war began men called month additional training increased months additional training officers non commissioned officers trained days camp days soldiers day training given days additional training completed training undertook days allowed individual training prevented proper unit training july fully trained soldiers completed days training liable months additional training year new recruits liable months time war cabinet provided intensive training time militia units exceed percent unit strength training militia hampered early war years lack small arms particularly evacuation australia dispatched reserve stock rifles britain effort help replace equipment lost british_army amidst concerns invasion united_kingdom fall france army focus conventional warfare late lieutenant colonel british officer arrived australia small specialist staff conduct training unconventional warfare school known infantry training centre opened victoria described isolated area high rugged heavily mountains valleys swiftly running streams swamps 1st 2nd nucleus 4th raised october training discontinued outbreak war japan school reopened training fourth company completed independent companies later redesignated commando squadrons eventually raised including 1st destroyed early war war progressed flank protection reconnaissance roles unconventional warfare australian_army doctrine jungle warfare prior lessons passed officers escaped malaya singapore incorporated training memorandum year units returned north_africa undertook training jungle tactics going action militia units initially faced japanese new_guinea suffered inadequate training led suffering heavy casualties order able troops new_guinea rapidly process allow realistic training large formations jungle mountainous malaria free terrain decided establish training staging area november eventually accommodation provided troops divisions returned tours duty new_guinea sent anti malaria treatment men went leave returned training conducted staging departing early army developed jungle warfare doctrine adapting pre war field service regulations meet conditions south west pacific army line combat formations reorganised trained accordance doctrine year jungle warfare school opened november reinforcements combat units subsequently passed school joining unit consisted reinforcement training centre training centre tactical school establishment training centre closed time training programs included greater cooperation army combat arms services combined training centre known opened september adjacent port new_south_wales central establishment training beach parties small boat crews july established queensland nearby units combined training raaf ran carried near preparation amphibious operations allies advanced australian_army began training december training subsequently formed march reached strength january warned action number times including possible rescue prisoners war held fighting war participated singapore army possessed comprehensive schools system schools kinds training courses conducted soldiers selected officers trained officer units country end war units produced officers regular officers continued trained number shortened courses months years duration run unlike newly commissioned sent original unit posted vacancy schools included recruit training thorough culminated jungle training course turned reinforcements month 29th brigade received young reinforcements shortly embarking commander later remarked training thorough reacted conditions battle prisoners war nearly australians taken prisoner axis war bulk members australian_army fighting middle_east greece australian soldiers taken prisoner german italian forces men captured crete mainland greece members captured retreat early siege fighting near like western allied australians held permanent camps italy germany generally treated accordance geneva conventions war neared end germans moved prisoners interior country prevent liberated advancing allied armies movements forced marches harsh weather resulted deaths war drew close unit designated united_kingdom established near england provide accommodation support released august australian europe embarked ships bound australia australian prisoners suffered higher death rate german italian captivity counterparts world war lower rate suffered japanese members captured japanese months men members 8th division captured singapore members sent java early taken prisoner captivity treated harshly resulting high death rate australians held camps endured long ships australian died japanese captivity victim deliberate disease hundreds murdered guards burma thai railway notorious prisoner war experiences australians worked times alongside thousands allied japanese nearly australians died thousands australian sent japanese home islands worked factories mines generally harsh conditions held camps borneo suffered highest death rates percent died australian british prisoners borneo survived killed series death marches overall australian prisoners taken japanese survived captivity majority deaths caused disease treatment prompted australians remain hostile japan war australian authorities investigated abuses allied country zone responsibility war guards believed prisoners tried australian administered war crimes trials process began immediately end hostilities partially commenced early end war strength australian_army men approximately half serving overseas plan action august day japan surrendered undertaken phases finally completed february time total soldiers discharged process largely proceeded smoothly soldiers felt slow widespread dissatisfaction men continuing serve war ended speed hampered requirement continue maintain security areas occupied lack sufficient shipping administrative workload entailed limited facilities use process second disbanded june temporary organisation known established end war included members army time duty departure previous defence policy australian government decided small peace time regular force raised provide trained time force capable deployed australia overseas national emergency subsequently established september militia guise established july provide time volunteer force able provide basis expansion wartime casualties course fighting australian_army sustained approximately battle casualties bulk second included killed action died wounds wounded killed died captivity survived prisoners war non battle casualties included killed wounded injured operational areas killed wounded injured non operational areas large number non battle casualties significant illustrating toll sickness disease took army
Australian Army during World War II