Editing First Australian Army (section)

==History==
The First Australian Army's headquarters was formed at [[Toowoomba]], Queensland, on 15 April 1942 when its headquarters was raised from the former Headquarters (HQ) [[1 Aust Corps|1st Australian Corps]],<ref name=Harris>{{cite web |url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm |title=Australian Military Forces, 1921–1949 |work=Digger History |author=Harris, Ted |access-date=11 March 2019}}</ref> which had been formed in January 1940 in Melbourne, before deploying to the Middle East with the [[Second Australian Imperial Force]].{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|p=2017}} Under the command of Lieutenant General [[John Lavarack]], the formation subsumed the previous Northern and Eastern Commands, and was based in Queensland and New South Wales.{{sfn|Dexter|1961|p=25}} Split into two corps – 1st and [[II Corps (Australia)|2nd]] – initially the First Army had seven Australian divisions: [[1st Division (Australia)|1st Infantry]], [[2nd Division (Australia)|2nd Infantry]], [[3rd Division (Australia)|3rd Infantry]], [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Infantry]], [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Infantry]], [[10th Division (Australia)|10th Infantry]] and [[1st Motor Division (Australia)|1st Motor]].{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|p=26}}

HQ First Australian Army controlled the 5th Infantry Division in [[Townsville]], Queensland, the new 1st Australian Corps (ex HQ [[Southern Command (Australia)|Southern Command]]) defending South Queensland, and 2nd Australian Corps (ex HQ [[Eastern Command (Australia)|Eastern Command]]) defending New South Wales. When the 1st Australian Corps was sent to New Guinea in August 1942 and became known as [[New Guinea Force]], the 2nd Australian Corps moved to [[Esk, Queensland]], and New South Wales came under the [[Second Army (Australia)|Second Australian Army]]. Two US infantry divisions – the [[32nd Infantry Division (United States)|32nd]] and [[41st Infantry Division (United States)|41st]] – were also assigned to the First Australian Army for periods during this time, having been moved north and transferred from the Second Australian Army earlier in the year; nevertheless, these divisions were transferred to the US [[I Corps (United States)|I Corps]] from September 1942, and were increasingly divorced from the First Australian Army's control, with this separation being formalised in February 1943 when the US [[Sixth Army (United States)|Sixth Army]] headquarters was established in Brisbane.{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|pp=2019–2020}}

[[File:Australian 37th-52nd Infantry at Open Bay New Britain (AWM image 093077).jpg|thumb|Australian troops land at Open Bay, New Britain, May 1945|alt=Infantry wading ashore from a landing craft]]

During 1942 and 1943, the units under the formation's command varied, and by August 1943, they controlled the [[11th Brigade (Australia)|11th Brigade]] at [[Merauke Force|Merauke]] (Dutch New Guinea), [[Torres Strait Force]] at [[Thursday Island]], the [[4th Division (Australia)|4th Infantry Division]] at Townsville, the [[3rd Armoured Division (Australia)|3rd Armoured Division]] at [[Murgon, Queensland|Murgon]], and the 2nd Australian Corps on the [[Atherton Tableland]]s, around Barrine, in Queensland.{{sfn|Dexter|1961|p=280}} In late 1943, the First Australian Army consisted of 90,784 troops, with a further 41,871 personnel assigned to the Queensland line of communication area within the army's assigned boundary. These troops came under the First Army for operational purposes, but were administered separately by Land Headquarters.{{sfn|Long|1963|pp=602–603}}

Upon formation, the First Australian Army's role had been focused on defending against a possible Japanese invasion, and assumed the main operational responsibility for this over the Second Army, which over time became focused mainly on training and lesser command roles.{{sfn|Long|1963|p=604}} But as this threat subsided, a more offensive role developed for the First Army. In May 1944, HQ First Australian Army moved to [[Mareeba, Queensland]], to prepare for a more active role as Australian troops began relieving US troops in New Guinea to free them up for redeployment to the Philippines. While the main elements of the First Australian Army had been deployed forward to Mareeba, the formation had maintained a rear headquarters at [[Chermside, Queensland]]. This headquarters administered several minor units in Brisbane until September 1944, when they came under the control of the Second Australian Army. At this time the army's rear headquarters rejoined headquarters main at Mareeba.{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|p=2019}}

In October 1944, the main element of the army's headquarters moved under Lieutenant General [[Vernon Sturdee]], to [[Lae]], in the Australian territory of [[New Guinea]], where it was tasked with undertaking operations across a broad area including [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]], [[New Britain campaign|New Britain]] and [[Aitape-Wewak campaign|Aitape]].{{sfn|Long|1963|pp=23 & 25}} Here they controlled the 2nd Australian Corps on Bougainville, the 5th Infantry Division on New Britain, the [[6th Division (Australia)|6th Infantry Division]] at Aitape and the [[8th Brigade (Australia)|8th Infantry Brigade]] at [[Battle of Madang|Madang]].{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|p=2019}} On Bougainville, New Britain and around Aitape, the Australians undertook limited offensive operations. This saw them secure the northern part of the island up to the [[Bonis Peninsula]], and advance south on Bougainville towards the main Japanese strong hold around [[Buin, Papua New Guinea|Buin]], while on New Britain they were able to establish a line across the base of the [[Gazelle Peninsula]], isolating [[Rabaul]]. In northern New Guinea, they advanced from Aitape and by the end of the war had secured [[Wewak]].{{sfn|Keogh|1965|pp=400–424}}

Meanwhile, a rear headquarters was left behind at Mareeba, where it assumed control of all forces not assigned for operations in the upcoming [[Borneo Campaign]], while the 1st Australian Corps was placed under direct command of Land Headquarters for the operation. The rear headquarters remained in existence until January 1945, when the [[11th Division (Australia)|11th Division]]'s headquarters assumed its duties.{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|p=2019}} The HQ First Australian Army was disbanded in February 1946 when it was redesignated as the [[8th Military District (Australia)|8th Military District]].<ref name=Harris/>