3rd Armoured Division (Australia)
Australian 3rd Armoured Division | |
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The 3rd Armoured Division was an armoured unit of the Australian Army during World War II. Originally raised in 1921 as the 1st Cavalry Division, the formation had been converted into a motor division in early 1942, before adopting the armoured designation in November 1942. A Militia formation, the division undertook garrison duties in New South Wales and then Queensland and did not see combat before being disbanded in late 1943 and early 1944.
History
The 3rd Armoured Division was first raised as the 1st Cavalry Division.[1] In 1921, following the demobilisation of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that had been raised during World War I, Australia's part time military force, the Citizens Force, was reorganised to perpetuate the AIF's numerical designations.[2] At this time, the 1st Cavalry Division was raised alongside a second cavalry division and four infantry divisions. At this time, the 1st Cavalry Division consisted of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades. The 1st was based in Queensland, while the other two were formed in New South Wales.[3] The division's headquarters was in New South Wales.[4]
At the outbreak of the war, the 1st Cavalry Division was allocated to the defence of coastal New South Wales. As part of defensive measures, the
The 2nd Cavalry Brigade's headquarters moved to Gloucester in February 1942, assuming responsibility for the defence of Stroud and Dungog as well as Coffs Harbour and Armidale. As the mechanisation process began, several light horse regiments converted into motor regiments, and the division was redesignated as the 1st Motor Division in March 1942, with its two cavalry brigades being converted to motor brigades. There were plans to raise a third brigade for the division at this stage, designated the 7th Motor Brigade, but this was not completed.[1]
After divisional headquarters moved to Rutherford, the 12th and 15th Motor Regiments joined the division around Coffs Harbour and Grafton, while the 2nd Motor Brigade moved to Dungog, tasked with the defence of Newcastle. The following month, the division's support troops also moved to a concentration area west of Newcastle. The 2nd Infantry Division took over responsibility for the Newcastle area in May, after which the headquarters of the 4th Motor Brigade was converted into the
Another move occurred in July for the divisional headquarters when it was re-established at
The division began moving to
Composition
Order of battle upon formation
Upon establishment as an armoured formation, the division's main elements were:[6][10]
- Divisional Headquarters
- 12th Armoured Car Regiment
- 3rd Armoured Divisional Signals
- 2nd Armoured Brigade
- 1st Motor Brigade
- 5th Motor Regiment
- 11th Motor Regiment
- 16th Motor Regiment
- Divisional Engineers
- Divisional Artillery
- 21st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
- 231st & 232nd Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries, Royal Australian Artillery
- 5th & 5th Anti Tank Batteries, Royal Australian Artillery
- Divisional Medical, Service and Administration Troops
Order of battle upon disbandment
At the time of its disbandment, the main elements of the 3rd Armoured Division were:[11][12]
- Divisional Headquarters
- 12th Armoured Car Regiment
- 3rd Armoured Divisional Signals
- 2nd Armoured Brigade
- 2/4th Armoured Regiment
- 13th Armoured Regiment
- 20th Motor Regiment
- Division Engineers
- Divisional Artillery
- 21st/22nd Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
- 122nd Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery
- 5th & 5th Anti Tank Batteries, Royal Australian Artillery
- Divisional Medical, Service and Administration Troops
Commanding officers
During World War II, the division was commanded by the following officers:[13][14][15]
- Major General John Richardson
- Major General Horace Robertson
- Major General William Steele
- Major General William Locke
- Major General William Bridgeford
See also
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2053.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 125.
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 91.
- ^ Palazzo 2001, p. 101.
- ^ a b c McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2054.
- ^ a b Hopkins 1978, p. 326.
- ^ a b Hopkins 1978, pp. 125–130.
- ^ Handel 2003, pp. 151–159.
- ^ Hopkins 1978, pp. 126 & 327–328.
- ^ "AWM52 1/5/35/1: 3rd Armoured Division: November – December 1942". Unit war diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ Hopkins 1978, p. 327.
- ^ "AWM52 1/5/35/3: 3rd Armoured Division: April – September 1943". Unit war diaries. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
- ^ "3rd Armoured Division: Appointments". Orders of Battle. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ "1st Motor Division: Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 28 October 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "1st Cavalry Division: Appointments". Orders of Battle. Retrieved 28 October 2018.[permanent dead link]
Bibliography
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
- Handel, Paul (2003). Dust, Sand & Jungle: A History of Australian Armour During Training and Operations, 1927–1948. Puckapunyal, Victoria: RAAC Memorial and Army Tank Museum. ISBN 1-876439-75-0.
- ISBN 0-642-99407-2.
- McKenzie-Smith, Graham (2018). The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939–1945, Volume 2. Warriewood, New South Wales: Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 978-1-925675-146.
- Palazzo, Albert (2001). The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation 1901–2001. Melbourne, Victoria: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195515-07-2.