Editing First Australian Imperial Force (section)

{{Short description|Expeditionary force during World War I}}
{{good article}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = First Australian Imperial Force
| image                         = AWM E00019 5th Div 1916.jpg
| image_size                    = 300px
| alt                           = Black and white photo of six men wearing military uniform seated on a muddy slope in France, December 1916. Unidentified members of the Australian [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]], enjoying a [[smoko]] near [[Mametz, Somme|Mametz]], on the [[Somme (river)|Somme]]. Some are wearing [[slouch hat]]s, steel helmets, sheepskin jackets, and woollen gloves, demonstrating both the variety of official battledress, and how it was modified and augmented, for local conditions.
| caption                       = Unidentified members of the [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]], enjoying a [[smoko]] near [[Mametz, Somme|Mametz]], on the [[Somme (river)|Somme]] in France, December 1916. Some are wearing [[slouch hat]]s, steel helmets and woollen garments, demonstrating both the variety of official battledress, and how it was modified, for local conditions.
| dates                         = 1914–1921
| country                       = Australia
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[Australian Army]]
| type                          = 
| role                          = [[Expeditionary warfare]]
| size                          = 331,781 men (total)
| command_structure             = 
| current_commander             = 
| garrison                      = 
| ceremonial_chief              = 
| colonel_of_the_regiment       = 
| nickname                      = 1st AIF
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = 
| colors                        = 
| march                         = 
| mascot                        = 
| battles                       = [[World War I]]
*[[Mesopotamian campaign]]
*[[Gallipoli campaign]]
*[[Senussi campaign]]
*[[Sinai and Palestine campaign]]
*[[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]]
*[[Persian campaign (World War I)|Persian campaign]]
*[[Caucasus campaign]]
*[[Egyptian Revolution of 1919]]
| notable_commanders            = Major General [[William Throsby Bridges|William Bridges]]<br>General [[William Birdwood]] <br> Lieutenant General [[John Monash]]
| anniversaries                 = 
}}

The '''First Australian Imperial Force''' ('''1st AIF''') was the main [[Expeditionary warfare|expeditionary force]] of the [[Australian Army]] during the [[First World War]]. It was formed as the '''Australian Imperial Force''' ('''AIF''') following [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Britain]]'s declaration of war on [[German Empire|Germany]] on 15 August 1914, with an initial strength of one infantry [[division (military)|division]] and one [[Australian light horse|light horse]] [[brigade]]. The infantry division subsequently fought at [[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli]] between April and December 1915, with a newly raised second division, as well as three light horse brigades, reinforcing the committed units.

After being evacuated to Egypt, the AIF was expanded to five infantry divisions, which were committed to the fighting in [[France]] and [[Belgium]] along the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] in March 1916. A sixth infantry division was partially raised in 1917 in the United Kingdom, but was broken up and used as reinforcements following heavy casualties on the Western Front. Meanwhile, two mounted divisions remained in the Middle East to fight against Turkish forces in [[Sinai and Palestine campaign|the Sinai and Palestine]]. The AIF included the [[Australian Flying Corps]] (AFC), the predecessor to the [[Royal Australian Air Force]], which consisted of four combat and four training squadrons that were deployed to the United Kingdom, the Western Front and the Middle East throughout the war.

An all [[Military volunteer|volunteer]] force, by the end of the war the AIF had gained a reputation as being a well-trained and highly effective military force, playing a significant role in the final Allied victory. However, this reputation came at a heavy cost with a casualty rate among the highest of any belligerent for the war. The remaining troops were repatriated until the disbandment of the 1st AIF between 1919 and 1921. After the war, the achievements of the AIF and its soldiers, known colloquially as "[[Digger (soldier)|Diggers]]", became central to the national mythology of the "[[Anzac legend]]". Generally known at the time as ''the'' AIF, it is today referred to as the ''1st AIF'' to distinguish it from the [[Second Australian Imperial Force]] raised during [[World War II]].{{refn|The term "1st AIF" was in use as early as August 1914, in anticipation that a 2nd AIF would one day be formed.|group=Note}}{{TOC limit|3}}