Darwin Mobile Force
Encyclopedia
The Darwin Mobile Force was a mixed force of infantry
and artillery
raised by the Australian Army
prior to the Second World War. It was the first regular infantry field force in the Australian military, although due to legislative restrictions that existed at the time it was established as part of the Royal Australian Artillery. Its formation marked a rare departure from the traditional Australian focus upon part-time citizen forces and is arguably a key moment in the development of a professional standing army. Attached to the 7th Military District, the Darwin Mobile Force were used to garrison the strategic port of Darwin
in the Northern Territory
, along with 9th Heavy Battery and the 7th Fortress Engineers, RAE
, and to provide personnel with training and command experience. The force ceased to exist in August 1940 when its personnel were broken up and sent to other units.
With a total establishment of 12 officers
and 233 other ranks
, the force consisted of a headquarters wing and reconnaissance group, an artillery
troop
of 18-pounder gun
s, a medium machine gun section
, a mortar
section and a rifle company
. The force's commanding officer was Major Alex MacDonald.Service details may be viewed here: Recruiting for the force was undertaken in all Australian states and resulted in over 3,000 applications, with preference being given to men who were currently serving in the Militia, although some members were also currently serving in the Permanent Military Force. Applicants were required to be between 18 and 30 years of age and were subject to high standards of medical and dental fitness, and successful recruits were signed on for an engagement of five years, of which two years and nine months was to be spent in Darwin.
While ostensibly the force was to bolster the defences of the strategic port of Darwin—which were at the time defended by the units of the 7th Military District—conceptutally its role was much broader than this. Due to the legislative restrictions upon permanent military forces the opportunities for officers in the Permanent Military Force to gain command experience was low, thus upon establishment a large part of the Darwin Mobile Force's role was to provide command and training opportunities, not only to graduates from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
, but also to members of the Australian Instructional Corps.
The force came into being on 14 November 1938, concentrating at Liverpool, New South Wales
where equipment was issued and training undertaken. Training was completed by February 1939 and the following month the force paraded through the City of Sydney, after which the advance party embarked upon the Marella. A week later the rest of the force sailed upon the Montoro, stopping at Brisbane before continuing on to Darwin
.
Following their arrival on 29 March 1939, the troops paraded through Darwin before taking up residence in the abandoned Vestey’s meatworks. Training was continued, including a number of field exercises, but these were punctuated by other tasks including unloading of ships, construction of roads and fixed defences and guard duties. Over time the force’s vehicles and other equipment arrived.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, the government announced the establishment of an all volunteer force for overseas service—the Second Australian Imperial Force
—and early in 1940 the Darwin Mobile Force began to be broken up as men volunteered to join the AIF. They moved from Vesteys meatworks to Larrakeyah Barracks
and on 20 August 1940 the Darwin Mobile Force was disbanded and the infantry used to form the Darwin Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Philip Cardale. This unit was later renamed the 19th Battalion on 1 November 1941, while the artillery group became the 18th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.
Although the force did not receive any battle honour
s and ultimately did not see any action during the war, arguably its contribution to Australia’s defence was in the personnel it provided to the Army. The force’s commanding officer, MacDonald, went on to command the 2/16th Battalion in the Syrian campaign, and then later the Jungle Warfare Centre at Canungra, Queensland
. Of the officers who served in the Darwin Mobile Force, two rose to general officer rank,Francis Hassett
and R.L Hughes
, Phillips 2000, p. 16. while four reached brigadier
H.G Bates, N.L Currie, Maurice Austin
and D.R. Jackson, Phillips 2000, p. 16. and two the rank of colonel
. Of the other ranks that served, over 100 were eventually commissioned as officers, while a similar number became warrant officer
s or senior non commissioned officers in the AIF.
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
and artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
raised by 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...
prior to the Second World War. It was the first regular infantry field force in the Australian military, although due to legislative restrictions that existed at the time it was established as part of the Royal Australian Artillery. Its formation marked a rare departure from the traditional Australian focus upon part-time citizen forces and is arguably a key moment in the development of a professional standing army. Attached to the 7th Military District, the Darwin Mobile Force were used to garrison the strategic port of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, along with 9th Heavy Battery and the 7th Fortress Engineers, RAE
Royal Australian Engineers
The Royal Australian Engineers is a corps of the Australian Army . The RAE is ranked fourth in seniority of the corps of the Australian Army, behind the Staff Cadets, Armoured and Artillery Corps...
, and to provide personnel with training and command experience. The force ceased to exist in August 1940 when its personnel were broken up and sent to other units.
History
The Darwin Mobile Force was formed in response to growing concerns about the potential for war, which had resulted in the Australian government seeking to increase the readiness of the military through the creation of a number of regular army mobile forces to defend strategic locations around the country. Due to the provisions of the Defence Act (1903) which prohibited the establishment of permanent infantry forces, however, it was decided to raise the force as a unit of the Royal Australian Artillery, even though the majority of the force would be infantry. Such was the uniqueness of the force at the time that its establishment received a considerable amount of media attention.With a total establishment of 12 officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
and 233 other ranks
Other Ranks
Other Ranks in the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are those personnel who are not commissioned officers. In the Royal Navy, these personnel are called ratings...
, the force consisted of a headquarters wing and reconnaissance group, an artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
of 18-pounder gun
Ordnance QF 18 pounder
The Ordnance QF 18 pounder, or simply 18-pounder Gun, was the standard British Army field gun of the World War I era. It formed the backbone of the Royal Field Artillery during the war, and was produced in large numbers. It was also used by British and Commonwealth Forces in all the main theatres,...
s, a medium machine gun section
Section (military unit)
A section is a small military unit in some armies. In many armies, it is a squad of seven to twelve soldiers. However in France and armies based on the French model, it is the sub-division of a company .-Australian Army:...
, a mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
section and a rifle company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
. The force's commanding officer was Major Alex MacDonald.Service details may be viewed here: Recruiting for the force was undertaken in all Australian states and resulted in over 3,000 applications, with preference being given to men who were currently serving in the Militia, although some members were also currently serving in the Permanent Military Force. Applicants were required to be between 18 and 30 years of age and were subject to high standards of medical and dental fitness, and successful recruits were signed on for an engagement of five years, of which two years and nine months was to be spent in Darwin.
While ostensibly the force was to bolster the defences of the strategic port of Darwin—which were at the time defended by the units of the 7th Military District—conceptutally its role was much broader than this. Due to the legislative restrictions upon permanent military forces the opportunities for officers in the Permanent Military Force to gain command experience was low, thus upon establishment a large part of the Darwin Mobile Force's role was to provide command and training opportunities, not only to graduates from the Royal Military College, Duntroon
Royal Military College, Duntroon
The Royal Military College, Duntroon is the Australian Army's officer training establishment. It was founded at Duntroon, in the Australian Capital Territory, in 1911 and is situated on picturesque grounds at the foot of Mount Pleasant near Lake Burley Griffin, close to the Department of Defence...
, but also to members of the Australian Instructional Corps.
The force came into being on 14 November 1938, concentrating at Liverpool, New South Wales
Liverpool, New South Wales
Liverpool is a suburb in south-western Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Liverpool is located 32 km south-west of the Sydney central business district, and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Liverpool...
where equipment was issued and training undertaken. Training was completed by February 1939 and the following month the force paraded through the City of Sydney, after which the advance party embarked upon the Marella. A week later the rest of the force sailed upon the Montoro, stopping at Brisbane before continuing on to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
.
Following their arrival on 29 March 1939, the troops paraded through Darwin before taking up residence in the abandoned Vestey’s meatworks. Training was continued, including a number of field exercises, but these were punctuated by other tasks including unloading of ships, construction of roads and fixed defences and guard duties. Over time the force’s vehicles and other equipment arrived.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, the government announced the establishment of an all volunteer force for overseas service—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...
—and early in 1940 the Darwin Mobile Force began to be broken up as men volunteered to join the AIF. They moved from Vesteys meatworks to Larrakeyah Barracks
Larrakeyah Barracks
Larrakeyah Barracks incorporating HMAS Coonawarra is the main base for the Australian Defence Force in the Northern Territory of Australia, and occupies the headland west of the suburb of Larrakeyah in the capital, Darwin...
and on 20 August 1940 the Darwin Mobile Force was disbanded and the infantry used to form the Darwin Infantry Battalion, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Philip Cardale. This unit was later renamed the 19th Battalion on 1 November 1941, while the artillery group became the 18th Field Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.
Although the force did not receive any battle honour
Battle honour
A battle honour is an award of a right by a government or sovereign to a military unit to emblazon the name of a battle or operation on its flags , uniforms or other accessories where ornamentation is possible....
s and ultimately did not see any action during the war, arguably its contribution to Australia’s defence was in the personnel it provided to the Army. The force’s commanding officer, MacDonald, went on to command the 2/16th Battalion in the Syrian campaign, and then later the Jungle Warfare Centre at Canungra, Queensland
Canungra, Queensland
Canungra is a small picturesque rural township in South East Queensland, Australia. Its economy depends on tourism, being a popular destination for short drives from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, west of the...
. Of the officers who served in the Darwin Mobile Force, two rose to general officer rank,Francis Hassett
Francis Hassett
General Sir Francis George "Frank" Hassett AC, KBE, CB, DSO, LVO was an Australian general who rose to the position of Chief of the Defence Force Staff; a position marking him as the professional head of the Australian Defence Force...
and R.L Hughes
Ronald Lawrence Hughes
Major General Ronald Lawrence Hughes CBE, DSO was a senior infantry officer in the Australian Army, seeing service during the Second World War, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Joining the Australian Army in 1937, after graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1939 he served in...
, Phillips 2000, p. 16. while four reached brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier 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....
H.G Bates, N.L Currie, Maurice Austin
Maurice Austin
Maurice "Bunny" Austin DSO, OBE was an Australian Army Brigadier. He served in the AIF in World War II and commanded the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in 1952, and the 1st Battalion in the Korean War in 1953....
and D.R. Jackson, Phillips 2000, p. 16. and two the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
. Of the other ranks that served, over 100 were eventually commissioned as officers, while a similar number became warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
s or senior non commissioned officers in the AIF.