Australian 10th Division
Encyclopedia
The 10th Division was a division
of the Australian Army
, which served briefly during World War II
. It was initially formed on 15 April 1942 from the Militia units of the Newcastle Covering Force
, however, manpower shortages within the Army at that time led to it being disbanded in August that year. As the war progressed and plans were made for the invasion of the Japanese home islands—Operation Downfall
—it was planned to re-raise the 10th Division using personnel drawn from the Second Australian Imperial Force
. However, the war came to an end before this operation took place and as a consequence the division was never re-raised.
, the Newcastle Covering Force
, a Militia formation composed of the 1st and 32nd Brigades
under the command of Major General
John Murray
, was renamed the 10th Division on 15 April 1942 following a complete re-organisation of the higher command of the Australian Army. However, on 27 August 1942, personnel shortages caused the division to be disbanded. Australian Prime Minister John Curtin
referred to this in a letter to Winston Churchill
in October 1942, saying:
ese home islands, planning began for a Commonwealth Corps
, including an Australian Imperial Force
(AIF) division, to be the re-raised 10th Division. The division was to be made up of experienced personnel from the existing divisions. The corps
would have included British and Canadian divisions, and was to be part of a landing on Honshū
in 1946. Regardless, the planned landing would have been dominated by US forces, and was known as Operation Coronet.
However, the introduction of nuclear weapon
s, and their use at Hiroshima
and Nagasaki caused Japan to surrender before the invasion took place. As a result, the 10th Division was never re-raised. Instead, the decision was made to raise the 34th Brigade for occupation duties in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
. This formation consisted of men drawn from the three remaining AIF divisions—the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions.
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of the Australian Army
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...
, which served briefly 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...
. It was initially formed on 15 April 1942 from the Militia units of the Newcastle Covering Force
Newcastle Covering Force
The Newcastle Covering Force was a militia force responsible for protecting Newcastle, Australia and approaches during World War II which was formed on 8 April 1941. The unit was responsible for defending the important port and air bases in and around the town, part of Fortress Newcastle, against...
, however, manpower shortages within the Army at that time led to it being disbanded in August that year. As the war progressed and plans were made for the invasion of the Japanese home islands—Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall
Operation Downfall was the Allied plan for the invasion of Japan near the end of World War II. The operation was cancelled when Japan surrendered after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union's declaration of war against Japan. The operation had two parts: Operation...
—it was planned to re-raise the 10th Division using personnel drawn 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...
. However, the war came to an end before this operation took place and as a consequence the division was never re-raised.
Formation and disbandment
Following the start of the Pacific WarPacific 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 Newcastle Covering Force
Newcastle Covering Force
The Newcastle Covering Force was a militia force responsible for protecting Newcastle, Australia and approaches during World War II which was formed on 8 April 1941. The unit was responsible for defending the important port and air bases in and around the town, part of Fortress Newcastle, against...
, a Militia formation composed of the 1st and 32nd Brigades
32nd Brigade (Australia)
The 32nd Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1942, as part of the Newcastle Covering Force and then the 10th Division of the militia. The Brigade was disbanded upon the disbandment of the 10th Division on 27 August 1942.-Units:*8th...
under the command of Major General
Major General
Major 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...
John Murray
John Murray (soldier)
Major General John Joseph Murray DSO & Bar, MC, VD was an Australian Army Officer and businessman with a distinguished career in both world wars...
, was renamed the 10th Division on 15 April 1942 following a complete re-organisation of the higher command of the Australian Army. However, on 27 August 1942, personnel shortages caused the division to be disbanded. Australian Prime Minister John Curtin
John Curtin
John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...
referred to this in a letter to Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
in October 1942, saying:
- The Army's minimum need for replacement of wastage is 7,000 to 8,000 a month, against an estimated monthly intake in the coming year of 1,100 (youths turning 18). This does not enable existing army formations to be maintained. Eight infantry battalionBattalionA 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...
s have already been disbanded and absorbed into other units. This has involved the disbandment of the 10th Division and the absorption of its units into other formations. A further decrease in the number of battalions up to a total decrease of eleven battalions is contemplated.
Plans to re-raise
Much later in the war, as Allied forces approached the JapanJapan
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...
ese home islands, planning began for a Commonwealth Corps
Commonwealth Corps
The Commonwealth Corps was the name given to a proposed British Commonwealth army formation, which was scheduled to take part in the planned Allied invasion of Japan in during 1945 and 1946. The corps was never formed however, as the Japanese surrender obviated any need for it...
, including an 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) division, to be the re-raised 10th Division. The division was to be made up of experienced personnel from the existing divisions. The 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...
would have included British and Canadian divisions, and was to be part of a landing on Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
in 1946. Regardless, the planned landing would have been dominated by US forces, and was known as Operation Coronet.
However, the introduction of nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
s, and their use at Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
and Nagasaki caused Japan to surrender before the invasion took place. As a result, the 10th Division was never re-raised. Instead, the decision was made to raise the 34th Brigade for occupation duties in Japan as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
. This formation consisted of men drawn from the three remaining AIF divisions—the 6th, 7th and 9th Divisions.
Subordinate units
- 1st Infantry Brigade (15 April – 27 August 1942)
- 13th Infantry Battalion13th Battalion (Australia)The 13th Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Originally raised for the 1st Australian Imperial Force during the First World War, it was formed just six weeks after the start of the war. Along with the 14th, 15th and 16th Battalions which were recruited from New South Wales,...
- 41st Infantry Battalion41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales RegimentThe 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment, , is an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. A Reserve unit, it is one of four battalions of the Royal New South Wales Regiment and is attached to the 8th Brigade, 2nd Division...
- 2nd Infantry Battalion
- 13th Infantry Battalion
- 32nd Infantry Brigade32nd Brigade (Australia)The 32nd Brigade was a formation of the Australian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in February 1942, as part of the Newcastle Covering Force and then the 10th Division of the militia. The Brigade was disbanded upon the disbandment of the 10th Division on 27 August 1942.-Units:*8th...
(15 April – 27 August 1942)- 33rd Infantry Battalion33rd Battalion (Australia)The 33rd Battalion was an infantry battalion of the Australian Army. Raised for service during World War I as part of the 1st Australian Imperial Force, the battalion was formed in January 1916 as part of the 9th Brigade of the Australian 3rd Division during an expansion of the AIF...
- 8th Garrison Battalion
- 4th Infantry Battalion (15 April – 1 June 1942)
- 33rd Infantry Battalion
Commanding officers
- Major General John MurrayJohn Murray (soldier)Major General John Joseph Murray DSO & Bar, MC, VD was an Australian Army Officer and businessman with a distinguished career in both world wars...
(2 February – 21 July 1942) - Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Kenneth Flavelle (21–23 July 1942)