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3rd Division (Australia)
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====New Guinea, 1943–1944==== In early 1943 the division was despatched to New Guinea, with the 15th Brigade being sent to [[Port Moresby]] and the 4th Brigade going to [[Milne Bay]]. At this point the 4th Brigade was reassigned to the [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]]. It would later be replaced within the division by the [[29th Brigade (Australia)|29th Brigade]].<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=113}}</ref> The division's stay in Port Moresby was brief and in April it began moving to [[Wau, Papua New Guinea|Wau]] where they subsumed the units assigned to [[Kanga Force]], including the 17th Brigade, a 2nd AIF formation, and began operations as part of the [[Salamaua-Lae campaign|Salamaua–Lae campaign]].<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=116}}</ref> Initially operations were limited to the area immediately surrounding Bulolo, but as the division became established the headquarters was shifted to Tambu Bay and brigades were pushed out towards Mubo, and the Komiatum and Bobdui Ridges, while defensive patrols were undertaken through the Wampit Valley, around the Bulwa and Zenag airstrips and towards the Markham River.<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|pp=117–118}}</ref> Stretched across a front of over {{convert|75|mi|km}}, in June the division was reinforced by the US [[162nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|162nd Infantry Regiment]]. Following this the division took on primary responsibility for Allied operations in New Guinea.<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=118}}</ref> Eventually Lae fell in September and soon afterwards, its elements were moved back to Port Moresby, before being sent to support the [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Division's]] campaign in the [[Finisterre Range campaign|Markham and Ramu Valleys]] and the [[Battle of Madang|advance on Madang]].<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=139}}</ref> In August 1944 the 3rd Division's brigades were withdrawn back to Australia for leave and reorganisation. After this, preparations began for the division's next campaign.<ref name=p142>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=142}}</ref> Around this time, the 3rd Division adopted the [[Jungle division]]al establishment,<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2001|p=183}}</ref> and was reorganised around three infantry brigades: the 7th, 15th and 29th Brigades.<ref name=Palazzo144>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=144}}</ref> It was also assigned to the [[II Corps (Australia)|Australian II Corps]].<ref name=p142/>
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