II ANZAC Corps
II ANZAC Corps | |
---|---|
Active | 1916–1917 |
Country | Australia New Zealand |
Allegiance | British Empire |
Type | Corps |
Size | 3 infantry divisions and support elements |
Engagements | World War I |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | Alexander Godley |
The II ANZAC Corps (Second Anzac Corps) was an Australian and New Zealand
First World War army corps. Formed in early 1916 in Egypt in the wake of the failed Gallipoli campaign, it initially consisted of two Australian divisions, and was sent to the Western Front in mid-1916. It then took part in the fighting in France and Belgium throughout 1916 and 1917, during which time it consisted of New Zealand, Australian and British divisions. In November 1917, the corps was subsumed in to the Australian Corps, which concentrated all five Australian infantry divisions. After this, the corps was reformed as the British XXII Corps
.
History
The corps was formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganization of the
William Birdwood. This corps, along with the I ANZAC Corps, replaced the original Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC),[1] following the expansion of the Australian and New Zealand forces in preparation for their deployment to the Western Front.[2]
General
II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment.[4]
In July 1916, following the arrival of II Anzac in France, the Australian 4th Division was swapped for the
Battle of Fromelles.[6]
In June 1917, the corps took part in the
Australian 3rd Division and the British 25th Division.[5] The Australian 4th Division was also attached to the corps as reinforcements and was to mount a follow-up attack after the assault by the other three divisions.[5]
Upon the formation of the Australian Corps in December 1917, which contained all five Australian divisions, II Anzac was reformed as the British XXII Corps.[7] The only Australian troops that remained with the corps were the mounted troops.[8]
Structure
Order of Battle, December 1915:[9]
- 4th Australian Division
- 5th Australian Division
Order of Battle, July 1916:[citation needed]
- New Zealand Division
- 5th Australian Division
Order of Battle, June 1917:[5]
- New Zealand Division
- 3rd Australian Division
- 25th British Division
See also
Notes
- ^ "The ANZAC Acronym". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ Grey 2008, pp. 99–100.
- ^ Grey 2008, p. 100.
- ^ Bou 2010, p. 151.
- ^ a b c d "ANZACs in France". Australian Battlefields of World War 1 – France. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Battles of the Somme (1916)". Archived from the original on 9 August 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "The British Corps of 1914–1918". Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "II ANZAC (XXII Corps) Mounted Regiment". First World War, 1914–1918 units. Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2010.
- ^ "Australian and New Zealand Army Corps". Department of Veterans' Affairs. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
References
- Bou, Jean (2010). Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm. Port Melbourne, Victoria: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521197083.
- ISBN 978-0-521-69791-0.
Further reading
- Fleming, Robert (2012). The Australian Army in World War I. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1849086325.