The 7th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. The 7th Division was raised from regular army units and new, all-volunteer infantry brigades, from April 1940 onwards. The Australian Army Emblem The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km (over 11 miles) into the air. ... The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) was the name given to the volunteer units of the Australian Army in World War II. The 2nd AIF was formed, from 1939 onwards, to fight overseas: most army units were Militia (reserve) units and under Australian law at the time, Militia troops... An army comprises all of a nations land-based military forces or a specific large military force. ...

Structure

Main divisional units (with state of origin, where applicable)

Infantry units

• 18th Australian Infantry Brigade – from 6th Division in 1941.
  • 2/9th Australian Infantry Battalion, Queensland (Qld)
  • 2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion, South Australia(SA)
  • 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion, Western Australia (WA)
  • 2/12th Australian Infantry Battalion Qld/Tasmania (Tas.)

• 19th Australian Infantry Brigade – formed from 6th Division battalions; back to 6th Div., 1940.

• 20th Australian Infantry Brigade – to 9th Division in 1941.
  • 2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion, New South Wales (NSW)
  • 2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion, Qld
  • 2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

• 21st Australian Infantry Brigade
  • 2/14th Australian Infantry Battalion, Victoria (Vic.)
  • 2/16th Australian Infantry Battalion, WA
  • 2/27th Australian Infantry Battalion, SA

• 25th Australian Infantry Brigade - from 9th Division, 1941.
  • 2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion, Qld (from 24th Bde, 9th Div., 1940)
  • 2/31st Australian Infantry Battalion, Qld
  • 2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion, Vic. (to 24th Bde, 9th Div., 1940)
  • 2/33rd Australian Infantry Battalion, NSW

• Artillery regiments
  • 2/4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA)
  • 2/5th Field Regiment, RAA
  • 2/6th Field Regiment, RAA
  • 2/2nd Anti-Tank Regiment, RAA

• Other units
  • 2/2nd Australian Machine-Gun Regiment
  • 2/2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion, Vic.
  • 7th Australian Divisional Cavalry
  • Engineer companies
    • 2/4th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE), NSW
    • 2/5th Field Company, RAE, NSW
    • 2/6th Field Company, RAE, NSW
    • 2/2nd Field Park Company, RAE, WA

Corps level units attached to the division The most well-known 6th Division in the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) during World War II. (The 6th Division name was previously used for a short-lived World War I unit, formed from First Australian Imperial Force troops in England, in... Motto: Audax at Fidelis (Bold but Faithful) Nickname: Sunshine State/Smart State Other Australian states and territories Capital Brisbane Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: United for the Common Wealth Nickname: Festival State Other Australian states and territories Capital Adelaide Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Nickname: The Apple Isle Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Governor Premier Const. ... The most well-known 6th Division in the Australian Army was a unit in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) during World War II. (The 6th Division name was previously used for a short-lived World War I unit, formed from First Australian Imperial Force troops in England, in... My God, I wish we had [the] 9th Australian Division with us this morning. Major-General Francis de Guingaund, Chief of Staff, Allied Land-force Headquarters Europe, D-Day, 1944. ... Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Nickname: Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Governor Premier Const. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Nickname: Garden State Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Government Governor Premier Const. ... My God, I wish we had [the] 9th Australian Division with us this morning. Major-General Francis de Guingaund, Chief of Staff, Allied Land-force Headquarters Europe, D-Day, 1944. ... This article is about a military unit. ...

• Corps Troops Artillery
  • 2/9th Army Field Regiment, RAA (originally 8th Division)
  • 2/11th Army Field Regiment, RAA (originally 8th Division)
  • 2/13th Army Field Regiment, RAA (converted from 2/1st Medium Reg. RAA, Oct. 1940.)
  • 2/1st Survey Regiment, RAA
• 1st Australian Anti-Aircraft Brigade
  • 2/1st Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RAA
  • 2/2nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RAA
  • 2/3rd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RAA

• Corps Troops Engineers
  • General engineer units
    • 2/7th Army Field Company, RAE, Qld
    • 2/8th Army Field Company, RAE, Vic.
    • 2/9th Army Field Company, RAE, Tas./Vic.
    • 2/3rd Corps Field Park Company, RAE, SA
  • Base and Lines of Communications Units
    • HQ Railway Group
    • 1st Railway Construction Company, RAE
    • 2nd Railway Construction Company, RAE
    • 3rd Railway Construction Company, RAE
    • 1st Railway Survey Company, RAE
    • HQ Forestry Group
    • 1st Forestry Companies, RAE
    • 2nd Forestry Companies, RAE
    • 3rd Forestry Companies, RAE

The 8th Division of the Australian Army was formed to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force. ...

Commanders

Maj. Gen. John Lavarack, February 1940 - October 1942
Maj. Gen. George Vasey, October 1942 - 1944
Maj. Gen. Edward Milford, 1944-46

History

The 7th Division left Australia for the Middle East in October 1940. It was then sent to North Africa and the 18th Brigade played a successful defensive role in the Siege of Tobruk, from May 1941. Meanwhile, the rest of the 7th Division formed the backbone of the Allied invasion of Lebanon and Syria; with British, Indian and Free French forces, the 7th defeated Vichy French land forces in the Middle East. Lieutenant Arthur Roden Cutler won the Victoria Cross (VC) for his exploits in late June and early July in the Merdjayoun-Damour area, and was later seriously wounded. Corporal Jim Gordon also won a VC in the campaign. Siege of Tobruk Conflict World War II Date March 31, 1941 – November 27, 1941 Place Tobruk, Libya Result Allied victory The Siege of Tobruk was a lengthy confrontation between Axis and Allied forces in the North African Campaign of World War II. See also Afrika Korps Desert Rats Rats of... The Free French Forces (Forces Françaises Libres in French) were French fighters who decided to go on fighting against Germany after the Fall of France and German occupation and to fight against Vichy France in World War II. General Charles de Gaulle was a member of the French Cabinet in... Vichy France (French: now called Régime de Vichy or Vichy; called itself at the time État Français, or French State) was the French state of 1940-1944 which was a puppet government under Nazi influence, as opposed to the Free French Forces, based first in London and later in Algiers. ... Arthur Roden Cutler Sir (Arthur) Roden Cutler (VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE) (May 24, 1916 - February 22, Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Victoria Cross, Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. ... James Heather Gordon was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ...

The Pacific War

In December 1941, as Japanese forces advanced rapidly in South East Asia, it was decided that the 6th and 7th Divisions were needed to defend Australia. Elements of the 7th Division were diverted to Java, and fought bravely alongside Dutch forces there, but were soon overwhelmed. The bulk of the division went straight to New Guinea. The 21st Brigade under Brig. Arnold Potts reinforced the reservists of the 39th (Militia) Battalion, fighting a rearguard action on the Kokoda Track. Simultaneously, the 18th Brigade, with a Militia brigade, Royal Australian Air Force planes and ground staff, and a US engineer regiment, successfully defended an airbase at the eastern tip of New Guinea from a major assault by Japanese marines - the Battle of Milne Bay was the first outright defeat of Japanese land forces in World War II. Corporal John French who was killed at Milne Bay, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross (VC). Meanwhile, the Kokoda Track campaign had become a vicious, see-sawing battle, featuring fierce fighting around Kokoda itself and at Isurava where Private Bruce Kingsbury won a posthumous VC on August 29. The 25th Brigade relieved the 21st, and Australian forces began to gain ground. The Pacific War, which is known in Japan as the Greater East Asia War and in China as the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (kang-Ri zhanzheng, literally Resist Japan War), occurred in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in Asia. ... Location of Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is a subregion of Asia. ... Map of Java Java (Indonesian: Jawa) is an island of Indonesia, and the site of its capital city, Jakarta. ... Brigadier Arnold William Potts DSO MC (16 September 1896 - 1 January 1968) was an Australian grazier, served in World War I, and led 21st Brigade of the Second AIF during its desperate, heroic and ultimately successful defence of the Kokoda Trail duringWorld War II. First World War Second World War... Following the federation of Australia in 1901, the six colonial militias were merged to form a national reserve army. ... The 39th Militia Battalions deeds are well known in Australia but the actual battalion itself is largely forgotten. ... Kokoda Track Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date July 1942 – January 1943 Place New Guinea Result Australian victory The Kokoda Track or Kokoda Trail campaign was part of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign consisted of a series of battles fought from July 1942 to January... The RAAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force, with the central circle replaced by a Kangaroo, a symbol of Australia. ... The Japanese Special Naval Landing Forces (SNLF), (海軍陸戦隊 Tokubetsu Rikusentai) were the marine troops of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was only part of the IJN Land Forces. ... Battle of Milne Bay Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date August 25, 1942 – September 5, 1942 Place Milne Bay, New Guinea Result Allied victory The Battle of Milne Bay was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II. Japanese marines attacked the Australian base at Milne Bay... John French has been the name of two famous soldiers: Field Marshal John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres was the commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I, during 1914-15. ... Victoria Cross, Source: Veterans Affairs Canada The Victoria Cross (official post-nominal letters VC) is the highest award for valour that can be awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces of any rank in any service and civilians under military command. ... Bruce Steel Kingsbury (8 January 1918–29 August 1942) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ...

The 21st Brigade returned for the Battle of Buna-Gona in late 1942, in which Australian and US forces suffered very high casualties, while capturing the main Japanese beachheads on the north coast of New Guinea. During 1943-44, the whole 7th Division fought extensive and often bloody mopping-up operations against Japanese forces in the north east of New Guinea. The division was flown to the Ramu Valley and Markham Valley. Beginning at Nadzab - where Private Richard Kelliher won a VC - they successfully advanced to Lae and Madang. Another hard campaign, in the mountains of the Finisterre Ranges followed, including the intense battle at Shaggy Ridge. Battle of Buna-Gona Conflict World War II, Pacific War Date November 16, 1942 – January 22, 1943 Place New Guinea Result Allied victory The Battle of Buna-Gona was a battle in the Pacific campaign of World War II. On November 16, 1942, Australian and United States forces began to... Photo submitted by Neil Hutton Richard Kelliher was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ...

Later in 1944, the 7th Division returned to Australia and retrained in north Queensland. In July 1945, the whole division, with the Militia's 1st Armoured Regiment, was deployed in the Borneo campaign, and undertook the amphibious assault on the Japanese stronghold of Balikpapan, in Sarawak. Fighting continued until the war ended in August. The 7th Division, like most of the 2nd AIF, was disbanded during 1946. The Borneo campaign of 1945 was the last major Allied campaign in the South West Pacific Area, during World War II. In a series of amphibious assaults between May 1 and July 21, the Australian I Corps, under General Leslie Morshead, attacked Japanese forces occupying the island. ... Amphibious Assault is an electronic music project by Fallon Bowman. ... Landscape of Balikpapan City Balikpapan is a city (population 309,234 as of 1990) on the island of Borneo, in Indonesia. ... Map of Sarawak in East Malaysia Sarawak (Jawi:سراواك) is one of the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. ...