Australian First Army
Encyclopedia
The name First Army was applied to at least two different Australian Army
formations during World War II
, both of them associated with Lieutenant General John Lavarack
. In 1939, the name was used for a "skeleton", Militia
formation based at Toowoomba
, Queensland
and comprising the 4th Division, 3rd Armoured Division
, and the Torres Strait Force
. As a Militia unit, the Army was reserved for home defence, and was therefore distinct from the Second Australian Imperial Force
(AIF), raised to fight overseas. However, as was normal for the Australian Army at the time, unit names, formations and commanders above the battalion
level were soon in a state of flux.
Following the beginning of the Pacific War
, the threat of invasion by Japan
, and the appointment of General Thomas Blamey
as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, a major re-organisation took place, in April 1942. Lavarack was by now commanding I Corps
, an AIF formation which was returning from the Middle East
and North Africa
. The First Army name was re-assigned to a formation built around I Corps, expanded above corps
-size with the addition of Militia units. The Army's initial area of responsibility was the defence of Queensland
and northern New South Wales
. (The Second Army
was responsible for south-eastern Australia and the other components of Australia's defences were: III Corps
(in Western Australia
), the Northern Territory Force
and New Guinea Force
.)
In 1944–45, under Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee
, the First Army was based at Lae
in the Australian territory of New Guinea
. After a bar on the overseas deployment of Militia was relaxed, the First Army controlled many of the units which fought in the South West Pacific Theatre. The First Army was disbanded in March 1946.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
formations during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, both of them associated with Lieutenant General John Lavarack
John Lavarack
Lieutenant General Sir John Dudley Lavarack KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO was an Australian soldier who was Governor of Queensland from 1 October 1946 to 4 December 1957, the first Australian-born governor of that state....
. In 1939, the name was used for a "skeleton", Militia
Australian Army Reserve
The Australian Army Reserve is a collective name given to the reserve units of the Australian Army. Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and, unofficially, the...
formation based at Toowoomba
Toowoomba, Queensland
Toowoomba is a city in Southern Queensland, Australia. It is located west of Queensland's capital city, Brisbane. With an estimated district population of 128,600, Toowoomba is Australia's second largest inland city and its largest non-capital inland city...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and comprising the 4th Division, 3rd Armoured Division
Australian 3rd Armoured Division
The Australian 3rd Armoured Division was an armoured unit of the Australian Army that was established on 15 November 1942 by redesignating the 1st Motor Division . As an armoured division the 3rd Armoured was equipped with M3 Grant medium tanks and M3 Stuart light tanks...
, and the Torres Strait Force
Torres Strait Force
Torres Strait Force was a military command unit of the Australian Army during the Second World War. Reporting directly to the First Army and consisting of infantry, artillery, anti-aircraft, engineers, medical and logistics units, it was responsible for the defence of the islands of the Torres...
. As a Militia unit, the Army was reserved for home defence, and was therefore distinct from the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
(AIF), raised to fight overseas. However, as was normal for the Australian Army at the time, unit names, formations and commanders above the battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
level were soon in a state of flux.
Following the beginning of the Pacific War
Pacific War
The Pacific War, also sometimes called the Asia-Pacific War refers broadly to the parts of World War II that took place in the Pacific Ocean, its islands, and in East Asia, then called the Far East...
, the threat of invasion by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and the appointment of General Thomas Blamey
Thomas Blamey
Field Marshal Sir Thomas Albert Blamey GBE, KCB, CMG, DSO, ED was an Australian general of the First and Second World Wars, and the only Australian to date to attain the rank of field marshal....
as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, a major re-organisation took place, in April 1942. Lavarack was by now commanding I Corps
Australian I Corps
I Corps of the Australian Army was its main frontline corps during World War II. Various Australian and other Allied divisions came under its control at different times. In 1940–42, the corps was based in the Mediterranean Theatre...
, an AIF formation which was returning from the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. The First Army name was re-assigned to a formation built around I Corps, expanded above corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
-size with the addition of Militia units. The Army's initial area of responsibility was the defence of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and northern New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. (The Second Army
Second Army (Australia)
The Australian Second Army was a field army of the Australian Army, during World War II. It was created in April 1942, when the commander of Allied land forces in the South West Pacific Area, General Thomas Blamey, gave it responsibility for land forces in the Australia's most populous areas:...
was responsible for south-eastern Australia and the other components of Australia's defences were: III Corps
Australian III Corps
III Corps was an Australian Army unit during World War II. It was responsible for the defence of Western Australia in 1942-45.The founding unit of the corps was a West Australian-formed Militia unit, the 13th Brigade...
(in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
), the Northern Territory Force
Northern Territory Force
Northern Territory Force was an Australian Army force responsible for protecting the Northern Territory during World War II. Most units assigned to the Northern Territory Force were based near Darwin and were responsible for defending the important naval and air bases in and around the town against...
and New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force
New Guinea Force was a military command unit for Australian, territory of Papua and territory of New Guinea troops serving in the New Guinea campaign during World War II. Formed in April 1942 it was responsible for planning and directing all operations within the territory up until October 1944,...
.)
In 1944–45, under Lieutenant General Vernon Sturdee
Vernon Sturdee
Lieutenant General Sir Vernon Ashton Hobart Sturdee KBE, CB, DSO was an Australian Army commander who served two terms as Chief of the General Staff...
, the First Army was based at Lae
Lae
Lae, the capital of Morobe Province, is the second-largest city in Papua New Guinea. It is located at the start of the Highlands Highway which is the main land transport corridor from the Highlands region to the coast...
in the Australian territory of New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. After a bar on the overseas deployment of Militia was relaxed, the First Army controlled many of the units which fought in the South West Pacific Theatre. The First Army was disbanded in March 1946.