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- 2nd Australian Division during the Great War -


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World War 1 One ww1 wwII greatwar great 1914 1918 first battalion regiment

2nd Australian Division



   2nd Australian Division sailed for Egypt in May and June 1915. By August they had been joined there by new artillery units from Australia and other ancillary units largely improvised from the reserves in Egypt. They were formed into the 2nd Australian Division. In August 1915 the Division reinforced the garrison at Gallipoli. Thereafter the Division fought in many of the major actions of the war.

1915

  • Gallipoli campaign

1916

The Division sailed for France on 13th of March 1916. It then remained in France and Flanders for the rest of the war. The Division then took part in the following battles and engagements:

  • The Battle of Pozieres including the fighting for Mouquet Farm - Somme

1917

  • Operations on the Ancre including the capture of the Thilloys and Irles
  • During the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the Division captured Bapaume
  • The Arras Offensive, in which the Division fought the German attack on Lagnicourt and in the Battle of Bullecourt
  • The Battle of the Menin Road - Third Battle of Ypres
  • The Battle of Polygon Wood - Third Battle of Ypres
  • The Battle of Broodseinde - Third Battle of Ypres
  • The Battle of Poelcapelle - Third Battle of Ypres
  • The Second Battle of Passchendaele - Third Battle of Ypres

1918

The Australian Divisions were not affected by the restructuring of the army to having three brigades per Division, that took place in the British Divisions in February 1918.

  • The Battle of the Avre
  • The Capture of Hamel
  • The Second Battle of Bapaume in which the Division captured Mont St Quentin
  • The Battle of the St Quentin Canal - Hindenburg Line
  • The Battle of Beaurevoir in which the Division captured Montbrehain - Hindenburg Line

The Division was not selected to advance into Germany. Demobilisation commenced in early 1919 and by March 1919 the Division merged with 5th Australian Division.

The Divisional Order of Battle of the 2nd Australian Division

5th Australian Brigade

  • 17th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 18th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 19th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 20th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 5th Australian Machine Gun Company formed February 1916, left to move into 2nd Australian MG Battalion February 1918
  • 5th Australian Trench Mortar Battery formed April 1916

6th Australian Brigade

  • 21st Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 22nd Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 23rd Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 24th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 6th Australian Machine Gun Company formed February 1916, left to move into 2nd Australian MG Battalion February 1918
  • 6th Australian Trench Mortar Battery formed April 1916

7th Australian Brigade

  • 25th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 26th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 27th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 28th Btn, Australian Imperial Force
  • 7th Australian Machine Gun Company formed February 1916, left to move into 2nd Australian MG Battalion February 1918
  • 7th Australian Trench Mortar Battery formed April 1916

Divisional Troops

  • 2nd Australian Pioneer Btn formed in Egypt in March 1916
  • 22nd Australian Machine Gun Company joined March 1917, left to move into 2nd Australian MG Battalion February 1918
  • 2nd Australian Machine Gun Battalion formed February 1918
  • 2nd Australian Divisional Train ASC formed in Egypt in August 1915, later titled 745, 746, 747 and 848 Companies
  • 2nd Australian Mobile Veterinary Section AVC formed in Egypt in August 1915
  • 2nd Australian Divisional Employment Company joined January 1917

Divisional Mounted Troops - under direct command of Divisional HQ

  • 13th Australian Light Horse joined July 1915, broken up February 1916
  • 2nd Australian Cyclist Company formed in Egypt, left May 1916

Divisional Artillery

  • 4th Australian Brigade, RFA
  • 5th Australian Brigade, RFA
  • 6th Australian Brigade, RFA
  • 22 Australian (Howitzer) Brigade, RFA formed in Egypt, absorbed by May 1916
  • 2nd Australian Divisional Ammunition Column
  • 1st Australian Heavy Battery RGA formed at Gallipoli in November 1915, disbanded in December
  • V.2.A Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA formed June 1916, left February 1918
  • X.2.A, Y.2.A and Z.2.A Medium Mortar Batteries RFA formed June 1916; in February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each

Royal Engineers

  • 5th Australian Field Company formed in Egypt in July 1915, renumbered 8th and left February 1916
  • 6th Australian Field Company joined from Australia in February 1916
  • 7th Australian Field Company joined from Australia in February 1916
  • 2nd Australian Divisional Signals Company

Royal Army Medical Corps

  • 5th Australian Field Ambulance formed in Egypt in August 1915
  • 6th Australian Field Ambulance formed in Egypt in August 1915
  • 7th Australian Field Ambulance formed in Egypt in August 1915


2nd Apr 1916 Advance Party  location map

6th Apr 1916 Reliefs

7th Apr 1916 Reliefs

9th Apr 1916 Reliefs

11th Apr 1916 Exchange  location map

May 1916 Fatigues

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

3rd of November 1916 Orders  location map

4th of November 1916 Reliefs

6th of November 1916 Intelligence  location map

7th of November 1916   location map

12th of November 1916   location map

14th of November 1916   location map

14th Nov 1916 Attack Made  location map

16th of November 1916   location map

21st of January 1917 

24th of January 1917 

28th of January 1917   location map

9th Nov 1917 Reliefs

12th Nov 1917 Reliefs  location map

26th Mar 1918 Fighting Withdrawal  location map

1st of April 1918 Reliefs Complete

1st Apr 1918 Reliefs  location map

2nd April 1918 More Reliefs  location map

3rd of April 1918 Taking Over Command  location map

4th of April 1918 Hostile Shelling  location map

15th of April 1918 A Quiet Day  location map

18th Sep 1918 Machine Gun Barrage

2nd of October 1918   location map

2nd of October 1918   location map

2nd of October 1918 Orders  location map

12th of October 1918 Orders  location map

If you can provide any additional information, please add it here.



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Those known to have served with

2nd Australian Division

during the Great War 1914-1918.

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