First Australian Army

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First Army
Unit colour patch

The First Australian Army was a

Aitape, in New Guinea, on New Britain and Bougainville, and around Madang. The formation was disbanded in February 1946, when it was redesignated as the 8th Military District
.

History

The First Australian Army's headquarters was formed at

1st Motor.[4]

HQ First Australian Army controlled the 5th Infantry Division in

Eastern Command) defending New South Wales. When the 1st Australian Corps was sent to New Guinea in August 1942 and became known as New Guinea Force, the 2nd Australian Corps moved to Esk, Queensland, and New South Wales came under the Second Australian Army. Two US infantry divisions – the 32nd and 41st – were also assigned to the First Australian Army for periods during this time, having been moved north and transferred from the Second Australian Army earlier in the year; nevertheless, these divisions were transferred to the US I Corps from September 1942, and were increasingly divorced from the First Australian Army's control, with this separation being formalised in February 1943 when the US Sixth Army headquarters was established in Brisbane.[5]

Infantry wading ashore from a landing craft
Australian troops land at Open Bay, New Britain, May 1945

During 1942 and 1943, the units under the formation's command varied, and by August 1943, they controlled the

Murgon, and the 2nd Australian Corps on the Atherton Tablelands, around Barrine, in Queensland.[6] In late 1943, the First Australian Army consisted of 90,784 troops, with a further 41,871 personnel assigned to the Queensland line of communication area within the army's assigned boundary. These troops came under the First Army for operational purposes, but were administered separately by Land Headquarters.[7]

Upon formation, the First Australian Army's role had been focused on defending against a possible Japanese invasion, and assumed the main operational responsibility for this over the Second Army, which over time became focused mainly on training and lesser command roles.

Mareeba, Queensland, to prepare for a more active role as Australian troops began relieving US troops in New Guinea to free them up for redeployment to the Philippines. While the main elements of the First Australian Army had been deployed forward to Mareeba, the formation had maintained a rear headquarters at Chermside, Queensland. This headquarters administered several minor units in Brisbane until September 1944, when they came under the control of the Second Australian Army. At this time the army's rear headquarters rejoined headquarters main at Mareeba.[9]

In October 1944, the main element of the army's headquarters moved under Lieutenant General

Aitape.[10] Here they controlled the 2nd Australian Corps on Bougainville, the 5th Infantry Division on New Britain, the 6th Infantry Division at Aitape and the 8th Infantry Brigade at Madang.[9] On Bougainville, New Britain and around Aitape, the Australians undertook limited offensive operations. This saw them secure the northern part of the island up to the Bonis Peninsula, and advance south on Bougainville towards the main Japanese strong hold around Buin, while on New Britain they were able to establish a line across the base of the Gazelle Peninsula, isolating Rabaul. In northern New Guinea, they advanced from Aitape and by the end of the war had secured Wewak.[11]

Meanwhile, a rear headquarters was left behind at Mareeba, where it assumed control of all forces not assigned for operations in the upcoming

Borneo Campaign, while the 1st Australian Corps was placed under direct command of Land Headquarters for the operation. The rear headquarters remained in existence until January 1945, when the 11th Division's headquarters assumed its duties.[9] The HQ First Australian Army was disbanded in February 1946 when it was redesignated as the 8th Military District.[1]

Order of Battle

Upon formation in April 1942, the First Australian Army consisted of the following formations:[4][12]

In October 1944, the First Australian Army's deployed units consisted of the following formations:[13]

Commanders

The First Australian Army was commanded by the following officers during the war:[14]

References

  1. ^ a b Harris, Ted. "Australian Military Forces, 1921–1949". Digger History. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2017.
  3. ^ Dexter 1961, p. 25.
  4. ^ a b McCarthy 1959, p. 26.
  5. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, pp. 2019–2020.
  6. ^ Dexter 1961, p. 280.
  7. ^ Long 1963, pp. 602–603.
  8. ^ Long 1963, p. 604.
  9. ^ a b c McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2019.
  10. ^ Long 1963, pp. 23 & 25.
  11. ^ Keogh 1965, pp. 400–424.
  12. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, p. 2018.
  13. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, pp. 2019 & 2026.
  14. ^ McKenzie-Smith 2018, pp. 2017–2019.
  15. ^ "AWM52 1/3/1/4 – First Army Headquarters war diary: June – July 1944, October – November 1945" (PDF). Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  16. ^ The Army List of Officers of the Australian Military Forces 1950.

Bibliography

External links
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