The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia
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Australian War
Memorial. Via Wikipedia
Under Australian law, militia forces could be used only within Australian territory. Forces sent to fight elsewhere on behalf of the British Empire consisted of volunteers, and when fully trained, they were among the best infantry of the Second World War.
1 Australian Imperial Force fought in the First World War
in
Europe. The volunteer force assembled for Imperial service in the
Second World
War was designed as 2 Australian Imperial Force.
The following table lists only those formations in the Pacific
Theater when war broke out in the Pacific. There were, in addition,
three other divisions (6, 7, and 9) already
deployed to the Middle East. All would eventually be recalled to
Australia to fight against the Japanese.
| 2 Australian Imperial Force (Blamey) | In the Middle East | |||
| 8 Division (Bennett; at Johore) | Training for the Middle East, but diverted (less 23 Brigade) to Malaya when war appeared imminent. | |||
| 22 Brigade (at Mersing) | ||||
| 23 Brigade (at Darwin) | ||||
| Gull Force | 1700 men; built around 21 Battalion. Preparing to deploy to Ambon. | |||
| Lark Force (at Rabaul) | 1390 men; built around 22 Battalion. | |||
| Sparrow Force | 1700 men; built around 40 Battalion. Preparing to deploy to Kupang. | |||
| 27 Brigade (at Kluang) | ||||
| 1
Armored
Division (at Melbourne)
|
A training cadre preparing for deployment to the Middle East, where it would receive its tanks. | |||
References
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007-2008 by Kent G. Budge. Index
