2nd Australian Imperial Force

2nd Australian Imperial Force
Name	2nd Australian Imperial Force
Caption	Unit colour patch used by elements of the force
Active	1939–1947
Country	Australia
Allegiance	King George VI
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Expeditionary force
Size	~Second Australian Imperial Force peak strength: ~400,000 personnel
Garrison	Canberra
Notable commanders	Thomas Blamey, Leslie Morshead, John Lavarack

2nd Australian Imperial Force was the volunteer expeditionary formation raised by Australia during the Second World War to serve overseas, distinct from the Citizen Military Forces. Formed in 1939, it provided divisions and corps that fought in the Middle East theatre of World War II, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific War, and it played a key role in campaigns from Greece to Borneo. The force’s leaders, units, and veterans influenced postwar Anglo-Australian defence policy and veterans’ affairs.

Formation and Mobilization

The 2nd AIF was raised in response to Britain's declaration of war and the expansion of Axis powers operations, with authorization from Joseph Lyons’s successor Robert Menzies and coordination with Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden. Early mobilization saw recruitment drives led by figures such as Thomas Blamey and administrative direction from the Department of Defence. Volunteers enlisted under the provisions of the Defence Act 1903 and were distinct from the National Service obligations. Initial embarkations left from Sydney Harbour, Melbourne and Fremantle, escorted by convoys coordinated with the Royal Navy and protected against threats from Kriegsmarine surface raiders and U-boats.

Organization and Structure

The 2nd AIF’s order of battle comprised numbered infantry divisions including the 6th Division, 7th Division, 8th Division, and 9th Division, supported by corps-level command such as I Corps and II Corps. Specialized formations included the Australian Armoured Division, Australian Commandos, and the Royal Australian Air Force-attached squadrons. Units used British organizational models adapted with Australian doctrine influenced by leaders like Leslie Morshead, Sydney Rowell, and Arthur Samuel Allen. Administrative control involved the precedents of the First AIF and liaison with allied headquarters including Middle East Command and South West Pacific Area under Douglas MacArthur.

Major Campaigns and Operations

Elements of the 2nd AIF fought in the Greek Campaign at Battle of Greece and the subsequent withdrawal to Crete, engaging forces of the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Crete. In the North African Campaign the 2nd AIF fought at Bardia, Tobruk, and Gaza against the German Afrika Korps led by Erwin Rommel and in the Siege of Tobruk where units under Leslie Morshead held defensive positions. The First Battle of El Alamein and the Second Battle of El Alamein saw the 9th Division and others contribute to Allied offensives coordinated with Bernard Montgomery. In the Syria–Lebanon Campaign the force confronted Vichy France forces at Damour and Beirut. After the Japanese entry into the war, AIF elements returned to the South West Pacific and fought in the New Guinea campaign at Kokoda, the Battle of Milne Bay, the Huon Peninsula campaign, and the capture of Lae and Finschhafen. Later operations included amphibious assaults in the Borneo Campaign, notably the Battle of Tarakan, Battle of Balikpapan, and operations in Brunei Bay coordinated with United States Navy and Royal Navy forces.

Personnel and Training

Recruitment emphasized volunteers of varied backgrounds from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and Northern Territory. Training depots at Puckapunyal, Bonegilla, and Watsonia provided infantry, artillery, and armored training under instructors who had served in the First World War such as veterans of the Battle of the Somme and Gallipoli campaign. Specialist training included jungle warfare influenced by experiences against Imperial Japanese Army tactics, commando training at Z Special Unit schools, and signals and logistics at Australian Army Signal Corps establishments. Medical and casualty evacuation procedures integrated lessons from the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps and coordination with Australian Red Cross. Command development courses at Staff College, Camberley and domestic staff schools prepared officers like Iven Mackay and John Murray for higher command.

Equipment and Logistics

The 2nd AIF was equipped with British and locally produced materiel including the Lee–Enfield rifle, Vickers machine gun, Bren gun, 25-pounder field gun, and armored vehicles such as the Matilda II and Grant tank. Air support came from No. 3 Squadron RAAF and other RAAF units operating aircraft like the CAC Wirraway and Lockheed Hudson. Logistics relied on convoys routed via Suez Canal, Indian Ocean, and later the Coral Sea with supply lines protected by Royal Australian Navy escorts and coordinated with United States Pacific Fleet. Ammunition, medical supplies, and rations were procured through wartime industrial expansion at factories in Campbellfield and defence plants across Australian states.

War Crimes and Controversies

Controversies involved treatment of prisoners, incidents such as the POW transports sunk by enemy action, and postwar inquiries into alleged misconduct by individual soldiers. The Cowra breakout incident raised issues about camp security and the treatment of Imperial Japanese Army prisoners. Allegations of mistreatment and summary executions were investigated alongside wider Allied actions, with legal dimensions tied to the Hague Conventions and the 1929 Geneva Convention. High-profile court-martials, wartime censorship overseen by Department of Information policies, and debates in the Australian Parliament involved figures like Earle Page and raised questions about command responsibility.

Demobilization and Legacy

Demobilization began in 1945 under policies implemented by Ben Chifley’s administration, with repatriation, rehabilitation, and settlement coordinated by the Repatriation Department and veteran organizations such as the Returned and Services League of Australia. Many veterans influenced postwar politics, industry, and immigration, contributing to programs including the Soldier Settlement Schemes and the expansion of the CSIRO. Commemorations include memorials at Australian War Memorial, museums in Canberra and Melbourne, and unit associations preserving histories of campaigns like Kokoda Track and El Alamein. The 2nd AIF’s operational lessons influenced later formations such as the Australian Regular Army and shaped Australia's participation in alliances like ANZUS Treaty and the British Commonwealth Occupation Force.

Category:Military units and formations of Australia in World War II