Editing 3rd Division (Australia) (section)

====Bougainville 1944–1945====
{{command structure
|name= Order of Battle, 3rd Division
|date=c. 1945
|parent=[[II Corps (Australia)|II Corps]]
|subordinate=
* 7th Infantry Brigade (Queensland)<ref name=Palazzo144/>
** [[9th Battalion (Australia)|9th Battalion]]
** [[25th Battalion (Australia)|25th Battalion]]
** [[61st Battalion (Australia)|61st Battalion]]
* 15th Infantry Brigade (Victoria)<ref name=Palazzo144/>
** [[24th Battalion (Australia)|24th Battalion]]
** [[58th/59th Battalion (Australia)|58th/59th Battalion]]
** [[57th/60th Battalion (Australia)|57th/60th Battalion]]
* 29th Infantry Brigade (Queensland)<ref name=Palazzo144/>
** [[15th Battalion (Australia)|15th Battalion]]
** [[42nd Battalion (Australia)|42nd Battalion]]
** [[47th Battalion (Australia)|47th Battalion]]
* 3rd Divisional Engineers<ref>{{harvnb|McNicol|1982|pp=215–216}}</ref>
** 5th Field Company
** 7th Field Company
** 10th Field Company
** 11th Field Company
** 15th Field Company
* 3rd Divisional Signals
* 2nd Field Regiment, RAA<ref name=Horner400/>
* [[4th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery|4th Field Regiment, RAA]]<ref>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p=99}}</ref>
* 2nd Mountain Battery<ref>{{harvnb|Kidd|Neal|1998|p=373}}</ref>
* 'U' Heavy Battery
* [[2/4th Armoured Regiment (Australia)|'B' Squadron, 2/4th Armoured Regiment]]<ref name=Hopkins145>{{harvnb|Hopkins|1978|p=145}}</ref>
* 3rd Division Medical
** 11th Field Ambulance
** 19th Field Ambulance
}}

In late 1944 it was decided that the Australians would take over responsibility from the Americans for operations against the Japanese on [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]]. From November–December 1944, the 3rd Division, along with two independent brigades, the 11th and [[23rd Brigade (Australia)|23rd]],<ref>{{harvnb|Odgers|1988|p=177}}</ref> began to relieve the units of the US [[XIV Corps (United States)|XIV Corps]] that were to be transferred elsewhere in the Pacific.<ref name=Maitland108>{{harvnb|Maitland|1999|p=108}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Long|1963|pp=92–94}}</ref> Allied intelligence of Japanese strengths on the island varied at the time, although it was believed that there were around 17,500 Japanese on Bougainville. Although this was later proved to be grossly incorrect, nevertheless the Allies believed that the Japanese formations in the area, despite being under strength, were still capable of carrying out effective combat operations. As a result, it was decided that II Corps would go on the offensive to clear the Japanese from the island<ref name=Maitland108/><ref name=Long102>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p=102}}</ref> and a three pronged campaign was planned in the northern, central and southern sectors of the island.<ref>{{harvnb|Johnston|2007|pp=30–31}}</ref>

The division was supported by a number of artillery units including the 2nd and 4th Field Regiments and the [[2nd Mountain Battery (Australia)|2nd Mountain Battery]], and various anti-aircraft units. Later, also 'U' Heavy Battery, with four 155&nbsp;mm howitzers was transferred from Lae, as was the [[2/11th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/11th Field Regiment]].<ref>{{harvnb|Horner|1995|pp=402–404}}</ref> To provide organic fire support during the advance, the decision was made at this time to place the divisional artillery assets directly underneath the subunits they were supporting.<ref name=Horner400>{{harvnb|Horner|1995|p=400}}</ref> At the outset, the division's allocation of engineers consisted of only two field companies, the 5th and 11th, however over the course of the campaign others arrived including the 10th, 15th and the 7th, which was the last to arrive in June 1945. Ultimately the division had almost 1,600 engineers across five field companies and various supporting plant, park and other units. This represented one of the largest engineer contingents within an Australian division during the war.<ref>{{harvnb|McNicol|1982|p=216}}</ref> Initially the division was deployed without armoured support. However, in December 1944, [[2/4th Armoured Regiment (Australia)|'B' Squadron, 2/4th Armoured Regiment]], equipped with [[Matilda II]] tanks, arrived and subsequently took part in operations on the island attached to elements of the division.<ref name=Hopkins145/>

The 7th Brigade, supported by the 2nd Field Regiment,<ref>{{harvnb|Horner|1995|p=404}}</ref> was the first to commence operations, as the [[9th Battalion (Australia)|9th Battalion]] launched a surprise attack in the central sector of the island upon a Japanese outpost at Little George Hill on 25 November. The following month the battalion seized control of Artillery Hill, while the 29th Brigade began patrolling operations in the southern sector.<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=149}}</ref>

[[File:AWM 092041 Matilda tanks advance on Hongorai River 1945.jpg|thumb|right|Troops from the 3rd Division cross the Hongorai River alongside Matilda tanks from the 2/4th Armoured Regiment in May 1945]]

Following the capture of [[Battle of Pearl Ridge|Pearl Ridge]] by the [[25th Battalion (Australia)|25th Battalion]], the focus of the 3rd Division's operations on Bougainville was shifted on the northern and southern sectors. The 11th Brigade, independent of the 3rd Division, assumed control of the drive to the north, while the 3rd Division concentrated on the drive south towards [[Buin, Papua New Guinea|Buin]], where the main Japanese force was concentrated. Rotating his brigades, the division's commander, Major General [[William Bridgeford]], advanced south from Torokina towards the Puriata river.<ref name=Long141>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p=141}}</ref> After crossing it, the Japanese launched a significant counterattack around [[Battle of Slater's Knoll|Slater's Knoll]], which was eventually beaten off in early April.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/event_401.asp|title= Slater's Knoll|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=11 November 2009}}</ref>

In April 1945 the 15th Brigade took over from the 7th Brigade and resumed the advance on the [[Battle of the Hongorai River|Hongorai and Mivo rivers]]. In early July, the 29th Brigade relieved the 15th and continued the advance and as they attempted to cross the Mivo, the Japanese launched a ferocious counter-attack upon the [[15th Battalion (Australia)|15th Battalion]] which was turned back by desperate defence.<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=152}}</ref> Following this the advance came to a halt as torrential rain turned the axis of advance into "a sea of mud"<ref name=Long222>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p= 222}}</ref> and many of the bridges upon which the Australian supply system was dependent were washed away. As the situation became worse, briefly even patrolling operations had to be stopped. These patrols were resumed, however, in late July and into August, as isolated pockets of Japanese began to attack the 3rd Division's supply lines and support units.<ref>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p= 224}}</ref> As preparations were made to resume the advance, the [[Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|dropping of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki]] and Japan's subsequent [[Surrender of Japan|unconditional surrender]] brought the fighting on Bougainville to an end and a cease fire came into effect.<ref>{{harvnb|Long|1963|p= 226}}</ref>

Following the end of hostilities, the [[Demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II|demobilisation process]] began and eventually the 3rd Division was disbanded on 4 December 1945.<ref>{{harvnb|Palazzo|2002|p=153}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/cms_images/AWM52/1/AWM52-1-5-4-106.pdf|title=AWM52, Item 1/5/4 – 3 Australian Division General Staff Branch (3 Aust Div GS Branch), December 1945|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=31 October 2010}}</ref> During the division's campaign in Bougainville, one of its soldiers, [[Reg Rattey]], earned the Victoria Cross for his actions during the fighting around Slater's Knoll.<ref>{{harvnb|Maitland|1999|p=121}}</ref> Some personnel from the division later served in the [[67th Battalion (Australia)|67th Infantry Battalion]], undertaking occupation duties as part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]] in Japan.<ref>{{harvnb|Chinn|2008|p=5}}.</ref>