11th Division (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The 11th Division was an Australian Army
unit formed during World War II
by the redesignation of Milne Force
on 1 October 1942. The division saw action in New Britain
. It was disbanded on 31 August 1945.
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...
unit formed 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...
by the redesignation of Milne Force
Milne Force
Milne Force was a garrison force formed in July 1942 during the Second World War which controlled allied naval, land and air units in the region of Milne Bay, in the Territory of Papua...
on 1 October 1942. The division saw action in New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
. It was disbanded on 31 August 1945.
Divisional units
All units that served with the division during the war.- 7th Infantry Brigade (October 1942 – January 1943, February 1943 – July 1943 & July 1944 – August 1944)
- 18th Infantry Brigade18th Brigade (Australia)The 18th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army, which served during the Second World War. The brigade was raised on 13 October 1939 and was one of the first three infantry brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force to be formed. Initially commanded by Brigadier Leslie...
(October 1942 – December 1942 & April 1944 – May 1944) - 14th Infantry Brigade14th Brigade (Australia)The 14th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Formed in 1916 as part of the expansion of the 1st AIF it served on the Western Front in France and Flanders during World War I. Between 1916–1918 it consisted of the 53rd, 54th, 55tth and 56th Battalions and was assigned to the 5th...
(February 1943 – March 1943) - 15th Infantry Brigade15th Brigade (Australia)The 15th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Originally raised in 1916 for service during World War I, the brigade took part in the fighting on the Western Front in France and Belgium before being disbanded in 1919. After this it was re-raised as a part-time unit of the Citizens...
(February 1943 – May 1943 & April 1944 – April 1944) - 30th Infantry Brigade30th Brigade (Australia)The 30th Brigade was a brigade-sized infantry unit of the Australian Army. Formed in December 1941, as part of the Militia, the unit was raised for service during World War II. Sent to New Guinea in early March 1942 the brigade initially provided garrison troops to Port Moresby before later taking...
(February 1943 – March 1943) - 6th Infantry Brigade (July 1943 – April 1944)
- 29th Infantry Brigade29th Brigade (Australia)The 29th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Raised on 20 December 1941 during World War II as part of the Militia. Initially tasked with defending Townsville against possible invasion from the Japanese...
(July 1943 – April 1943 & March 1944 – September 1944) - 4th Infantry Brigade (June 1945 – August 1945)
- 13th Infantry Brigade (June 1945 – August 1945)
- 2/6th Armoured Regiment2/6th Armoured Regiment (Australia)The 2/6th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army that served during World War II. Raised in 1941 the Regiment took part in the Battle of Buna–Gona in 1942–43, however, it did not see further action during the war and was disbanded in September 1945.-History:The 2/6th...
(January 1943 – Apr 1943) - 2/1st Pioneer Battalion2/1st Pioneer Battalion (Australia)The 2/1st Pioneer Battalion was a pioneer battalion of the Australian Army during the Second World War. Formed in May 1940, the battalion served in North Africe, Australia, New Guinea and Borneo. The battalion was disbanded on 18 February 1946....
(February 1943 – February 1943) - 2/8th Armoured Regiment2/8th Armoured Regiment (Australia)The 2/8th Armoured Regiment was an armoured regiment of the Australian Army. It was raised for service during World War II, being formed in July 1941. It deployed to New Guinea in 1943 but did not see any action before being disbanded in February 1944....
(Apr 1943 – July 1943) - 15th Battalion15th Battalion (Australia)The 15th Battalion was raised from volunteers from Queensland and Tasmania in September 1914 during the First World War. It formed part of the 4th Brigade together with the 13th, 14th and 16th Battalions. The battalion served at Gallipoli and on the Western Front.-References:*...
(July 1943 – Aug 1943) - 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion1st New Guinea Infantry BattalionThe 1st New Guinea Infantry Battalion was a battalion of the Australian Army formed in March 1944 in the territory of New Guinea, during World War II, in order to fight against the Japanese. Its soldiers were primarily natives of New Guinea, under the command of Australian officers and NCOs...
(June 1945 – August 1945) - 158th Infantry Regiment158th Infantry Regiment (United States)The 158th Infantry Regiment is a infantry unit of the Arizona National Guard. The regiment has served in World War I, World War II and Afghanistan.-History:...
(United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
) (February 1943 – April 1943)
Commanding officers
- Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Cyril ClowesCyril ClowesLieutenant General Cyril Albert Clowes CBE, DSO, MC was an Australian soldier. He won the first land victory against the Japanese in the Second World War, at the Battle of Milne Bay, New Guinea... - BrigadierBrigadierBrigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Murray MotenMurray MotenBrigadier Murray John Moten, CBE, DSO and bar was a senior officer in the Australian Army during the Second World War.-Early life and First World War:... - Major General Arthur AllenArthur Samuel AllenMajor General Arthur Samuel "Tubby" Allen CB CBE DSO VD was an Australian soldier. During World War II he reached the rank of Major General and commanded Allied forces in the Syria-Lebanon and New Guinea campaigns...
- Major-General Allan BoaseAllan BoaseMajor General Allan Joseph Boase , CBE, was a soldier in the Australian Army, who served in the First World War and was a general during the Second World War.-Early Life:...
- Major-General Alan RamsayAlan RamsayMajor General Sir Alan Hollick Ramsay , CBE, CB, DSO, ED, was a soldier in the Australian Army, who served in the First World War and was a general during the Second World War. He was mentioned in dispatches three times....
- Major-General Kenneth EatherKenneth EatherMajor General Kenneth William Eather CB, CBE, DSO, ED was an Australian soldier who served during World War II, rising to the rank of major general. Eather led a battalion in the Battle of Bardia, a brigade on the Kokoda Track campaign and a division in the New Britain campaign...