Editing First Australian Army

{{short description|Australian field army}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=First Army
|image=File:Aust soldiers Wewak June 1945.jpg
|caption=An Australian light machine gun team in action near Wewak in June 1945
|dates=15 April 1942 – February 1946
|country= {{flag|Australia}}
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Australian Army]]
|type=[[Field Army]]
|role=
|size=90,784 troops (1943)
|command_structure=
|garrison=[[Toowoomba]] (1942-1944)<br>[[Mareeba]] (1944-1946)
|garrison_label=
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=[[World War II]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|disbanded=
<!-- Commanders -->
|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders= [[John Lavarack]] <br/> [[Vernon Sturdee]] <br/> [[Horace Robertson]]
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=[[File:Headquarters First Australian Army 1942-1946.png|70px]]
|identification_symbol_label=[[Unit colour patch]]
}}

The '''First Australian Army'''  was a [[field army]] of the [[Australian Army]], during [[World War II]]. The formation's headquarters was raised in April 1942 from the existing [[1 Aust Corps|1st Australian Corps]] headquarters, assuming command of all Allied troops in [[Queensland]]. Initially, the formation was assigned a defensive role in anticipation of a possible Japanese invasion; however, this threat subsided and eventually the army was deployed to [[Lae]], in [[New Guinea]], in late 1944, where it co-ordinated Australian offensives around [[Aitape-Wewak campaign|Aitape]], in New Guinea, on [[New Britain campaign|New Britain]] and [[Bougainville campaign|Bougainville]], and around [[Battle of Madang|Madang]]. The formation was disbanded in February 1946, when it was redesignated as the [[8th Military District (Australia)|8th Military District]].

==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/>

==Order of Battle==
Upon formation in April 1942, the First Australian Army consisted of the following formations:{{sfn|McCarthy|1959|p=26}}{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|p=2018}}

*Headquarters (Toowoomba)
**[[File:5th_Division_1st_AIF_formation_colour_patch.png|11px]] [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Infantry Division]] (Townsville)
**[[File:Headquarters_1st_Australian_Corps_1942-1945.svg|22px]] [[I Corps (Australia)|1st Australian Corps]] (Brisbane)
***[[File:3rd_aus_div.svg|22px]] [[3rd Division (Australia)|3rd Infantry Division]]
***[[File:7th_aus_inf_div.svg|22px]] [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Infantry Division]]
**[[File:Headquarters_2nd_Australian_Corps_1942-1945.png|22px]] [[II Corps (Australia)|2nd Australian Corps]] (New South Wales)
***[[File:1st_Division_1st_AIF_formation_colour_patch.png|22px]] [[1st Division (Australia)|1st Infantry Division]]
***[[File:2nd_Division_1st_AIF_formation_colour_patch.png|22px]] [[2nd Division (Australia)|2nd Infantry Division]] 
***[[File:10th_Div_2nd_AIF.png|11px]] [[10th Division (Australia)|10th Infantry Division]] 
***[[File:Headquarters_3rd_Aust_Armoured_Division,_1943.png|22px]] [[1st Motor Division (Australia)|1st Motor Division]] (original logo: [[File:3rd_Aust_Armd_Div(AWM_133886).jpg|22px]])

In October 1944, the First Australian Army's deployed units consisted of the following formations:{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|pp=2019 & 2026}}

*Headquarters (Lae)
**2nd Australian Corps (Bougainville)
***3rd Infantry Division 
***[[11th Brigade (Australia)|11th Infantry Brigade]]
***[[23rd Brigade (Australia)|23rd Infantry Brigade]]
**5th Infantry Division (New Britain)
**[[6th Division (Australia)|6th Infantry Division]] (Aitape)
**[[8th Brigade (Australia)|8th Infantry Brigade]] (Madang)

==Commanders==
The First Australian Army was commanded by the following officers during the war:{{sfn|McKenzie-Smith|2018|pp=2017–2019}}
* Lieutenant General John Lavarack (1942–1944)
* Lieutenant General [[Vernon Sturdee]] (1944–1945)
* Lieutenant General [[Horace Robertson]] (1945–1946)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1020634/document/4321817.PDF |title=AWM52 1/3/1/4 – First Army Headquarters war diary: June – July 1944, October – November 1945 |publisher=Australian War Memorial |access-date=16 March 2019}}</ref>{{sfn|The Army List of Officers of the Australian Military Forces|1950|}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Dexter |first=David |title=The New Guinea Offensives |series=[[Australia in the War of 1939–1945]]. Series 1&nbsp;– Army |volume=VI |location=Canberra |publisher=Australian War Memorial |year=1961 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070205/ |oclc=2028994 }}
* {{cite book|last=Keogh|first=Eustace|authorlink =Eustace Graham Keogh| title=The South West Pacific 1941–45|year=1965|publisher=Grayflower Productions| location=Melbourne|oclc=7185705}}
* {{cite book |last=Long |first=Gavin |authorlink=Gavin Long |title=The Final Campaigns |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070206/|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1&nbsp;– Army |volume=VII |year=1963 |publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Canberra|oclc=1297619}}
* {{cite book |last=McCarthy |first=Dudley |title=South-West Pacific Area&nbsp;– First Year |series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 1&nbsp;– Army |volume=V |publisher=Australian War Memorial |location=Canberra |year=1959 |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070204/ |oclc=3134247 }}
* {{cite book |last=McKenzie-Smith |first=Graham |authorlink=Graham McKenzie-Smith |year= 2018|title=The Unit Guide: The Australian Army 1939&ndash;1945, Volume 2 |publisher=Big Sky Publishing |location=Warriewood, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-925675-146}}
* {{cite book  | title = The Army List of Officers of the Australian Military Forces  | publisher = Australian Army  | location=Melbourne  | year = 1950  | oclc = 220833388 |ref=CITEREFThe_Army_List_of_Officers_of_the_Australian_Military_Forces1950}}

==External links==
* [https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1360063 First Army war diaries], Australian War Memorial

[[Category:Field armies of Australia|1]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1942|1]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946|1]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:1946 disestablishments in Australia]]