Australian 6th Division
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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 1917. The division was broken-up as replacements several months later, before it saw action.) Because Militia (reserve) units were barred from serving overseas, the 2nd AIF's 6th Division was formed with regular army units and new, all-volunteer infantry brigades, from September 28, 1939.
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Structure
Infantry units (and state of origin)
- 16th Australian Infantry Brigade, New South Wales (NSW)
- 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/2nd Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/3rd Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion
- 17th Australian Infantry Brigade, Victoria (Vic.)
- 2/5th Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/6th Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/7th Australian Infantry Battalion
- 2/8th Australian Infantry Battalion
- 18th Australian Infantry Brigade (to 7th 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 other 6th Div. brigades, 1940)
- 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion (NSW)
- 2/8th Australian Infantry Battalion (Vic.)
- 2/11th Australian Infantry Battalion (WA)
- Artillery regiments
- 2/1st Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (RAA), NSW
- 2/2nd Field Regiment, RAA, Vic.
- 2/3rd Field Regiment, RAA, NSW/SA/WA/Northern Territory (NT)
- 2/5th Field Regiment, RAA, Qld/Tas. (Became 2/1st Anti-Tank Regiment, 1940.)
- Other units
- 2/1st Australian Machine-Gun Regiment
- 2/1st Australian Pioneer Battalion
- 6th Australian Divisional Cavalry
- Engineer companies
- 2/1st Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) (NSW)
- 2/2nd Field Company, RAE (Vic.)
- 2/3rd Field Company, RAE (Tas./WA/SA)
- 2/1st Field Park Company, RAE (Qld)
Commanders
Maj. Gen. Thomas Blamey (13 October 1939 - 3 April 1940)
Maj. Gen. Iven Mackay (4 April 1940 - 13 August 1941)
Maj. Gen. Edmund Herring (14 August 1941 - 30 April 1942)
Maj. Gen. George Vasey (14 September 1942 - 14 March 1943)
Maj. Gen. Jack Stevens (15 March 1943 - 26 July 1945)
Maj. Gen. Horace Robertson (26 July 1945 - 30 November 1945).
History
The 6th Division first saw action in late 1940, against Italian and German forces in North Africa, including the advance to Benghazi.
Greece and the Middle East
In 1941, the division took part in the ill-fated Allied expedition to Greece, including the Battle of Crete. More than 3,000 members of the Division — mostly from the 19th Brigade, especially the 2/11th Battalion — could not be evacuated, and were taken prisoner in this campaign. A great deal of equipment was also lost. Almost immediately, however, the 17th Brigade was detached to take part in the successful attack on Vichy French forces in Lebanon and Syria.
The Pacific War
After war with Japan broke out, the 16th Brigade and 17th Brigade were at first sent to Ceylon. In late 1942 the 16th Brigade and other elements of the division were sent to New Guinea, initially to reinforce and relieve Militia (reserve) and 7th Division units on the Kokoda Track. With other Australian and US forces, the 16th Brigade and associated units re-took the north coast of New Guinea in the Battle of Buna-Gona.
During 1943, the 17th Brigade and other elements of the division took part in the Wau, Mubo, Markham Valley and Salamaua campaigns.
The 6th Division was reunited as a formation in its last major action, the Aitape to Wewak campaigns of 1944. Private Ted Kenna was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery at Wewak.
Like the rest of the 2nd AIF, the division was disbanded after the war ended in 1945.