First Australian Imperial Force

The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main fighting group of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was created on 15 August 1914 after Britain declared war on Germany. At first, it had one infantry division and one light horse brigade.

The soldiers first fought at Gallipoli between April and December 1915. After leaving Gallipoli, the force grew and fought in France and Belgium along the Western Front. Some parts of the force also fought in the Sinai and Palestine against Turkish forces.

All the soldiers in the First Australian Imperial Force were volunteers. By the end of the war, they were known as a strong and skilled fighting group that helped the Allies win. Many soldiers were hurt or lost their lives, but their efforts became very important in Australia's history. After the war, these soldiers were called "Diggers", and their story became part of the "Anzac legend".

Formation

Main articles: Military history of Australia during World War I and Australian Army during World War I

When World War I began, Australia’s military was mostly made up of part-time soldiers. There were only a few full-time soldiers, mostly in jobs like coast defense. Because of rules in the Defence Act of 1903, these soldiers could not be sent overseas to fight. So, Australia decided to create a new, all-volunteer army called the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

The AIF started forming on August 15, 1914. It was created by Brigadier General William Throsby Bridges and his chief of staff, Major Brudenell White. The AIF was meant to fight in Europe. At first, it had one group of foot soldiers called the 1st Division and one group of horse soldiers called the 1st Light Horse Brigade. As more people joined, the AIF grew quickly. By September 1914, Australia added more soldiers and horse units. The AIF became a big part of the British war effort, though it had some differences in how its soldiers were organized.

The first soldiers who left for war were not well-trained and did not have much equipment. But many leaders and some soldiers had training before the war. Even with these challenges, the AIF grew to include many types of units to help it fight and support itself during the war.

Organisation

Command

When formed in 1914, the Australian Imperial Force was led by Bridges, who also led the 1st Division. After Bridges passed away at Gallipoli in May 1915, the Australian government chose Major General James Gordon Legge, a veteran of the Boer War, to take over. However, a British officer objected because Legge was communicating directly with Australia. The Australian government did not support Legge, so he stepped back and let another British officer, Lieutenant General William Birdwood, take charge. Legge later led the 2nd Division in Egypt, but Birdwood argued he could not lead the entire force, so Birdwood was given temporary control in September 1915. In November, Chauvel took over the 1st Division after another officer was injured, becoming the first Australian-born officer to lead a division. As the war continued, command changed several times, with Australian and British officers sharing leadership roles.

Structure

The Australian Imperial Force was organized similarly to the British Army. It included several infantry divisions, each made up of three brigades, and each brigade had four battalions (later reduced to three). Each battalion started with about 1,000 soldiers and included various support units like artillery, machine guns, engineers, and medical teams. Over time, the force grew to include more divisions and support units to meet the needs of the war.

Infantry divisions

The force included several infantry divisions such as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Divisions. Each division had three brigades, and each brigade had battalions of soldiers. These divisions fought in different parts of the war, with some expanding and others being broken up to provide reinforcements.

Mounted divisions

There were also mounted divisions like the ANZAC Mounted Division and the Australian Mounted Division. These units fought in regions like Egypt, Sinai, Palestine, and Syria, using different tactics than the infantry.

Corps

Several corps-level groups were formed, including the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, I ANZAC Corps, II ANZAC Corps, Australian Corps, and Desert Mounted Corps. These corps brought together different divisions and units to work as a larger team.

Australian Flying Corps

The Australian Flying Corps was part of the force and operated aircraft in various regions, including the Middle East and the Western Front. By the end of the war, it had several squadrons and many personnel.

Specialist units

Specialist units were also created, such as tunnelling companies that worked underground, motor transport units, railway companies, and medical units. These groups provided important support services during the war.

Weaponry and equipment

See also: Historical weaponry of the Australian Army

During World War I, the Australian Army used weapons and tools very similar to those used by the British Army. The main rifle soldiers carried was the .303-inch Short Magazine Lee–Enfield Mark III (SMLE). Soldiers wore special belts and bags to carry their supplies, called 1908-pattern webbing. Some troops, like the light horse units, used leather straps and bags called bandoliers.

As the war continued, new tools and weapons were added. Soldiers began using hand grenades and special rifle grenades. They also used machine guns like the Lewis light machine-gun to help fight in the tough conditions of trench warfare. Light horse units used Hotchkiss guns instead of Lewis guns from early 1917.

Artillery played an important role too. There were different types of guns and mortars used, such as 18-pounders, 4.5-inch howitzers, and various sizes of mortars. Horses were the main way to move around, with special Waler horses used by the light horse. Camels, donkeys, and mules were also used for transport in some areas.

Personnel

Recruitment

See also: Snowball marches

The First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was made up of volunteers, as Australia did not use conscription during the war, unlike some other countries. Two votes in Australia about using conscription were not passed, so the AIF relied on people who chose to join. Many men joined, and about 330,000 of them served overseas. Some people from the United Kingdom also joined, and Indigenous Australians were allowed to join later in the war. Over 2,000 women served, mostly as nurses.

Recruitment started with strict rules, but these changed as the war went on because more soldiers were needed. At first, men had to be between 18 and 35 years old and meet certain health requirements. Later, these rules were relaxed. The number of new soldiers went up and down depending on news from the war, but overall, it became harder to get enough volunteers.

Pay

AIF soldiers were paid well compared to soldiers from other countries. A private soldier earned five shillings a day, with an extra shilling saved until they returned home. Married soldiers got extra money for their families. This pay was meant to be fair and better than what civilian workers earned.

Training

At the start of the war, training was basic and hurried. Soldiers learned some skills in temporary camps before leaving for the war. Later, training improved, especially after the AIF moved to Europe. Soldiers had more organized training, learning from experiences in battle. By the end of the war, the AIF was well-trained and skilled.

Discipline

The AIF sometimes had issues with following orders, especially when soldiers were not in battle. There were reports of soldiers not saluting officers or behaving badly when off duty. These actions were often seen as part of the soldiers' strong sense of fairness, similar to actions they might take in their everyday jobs. Despite these issues, the AIF was still effective in fighting.

Uniforms and insignia

Main article: Uniforms of the Australian Army

The soldiers of the First Australian Imperial Force wore uniforms based on the Australian Army's style before the war. They commonly wore a wide-brimmed slouch hat and a special badge called the rising sun badge. Some troops, especially the light horsemen, had special decorations like an emu feather on their hats. All soldiers wore a khaki scarf called a puggaree. From 1916, they also had steel helmets and gas masks for protection.

Their jackets had four pockets and they wore loose pants called knee breeches, long cloth strips called puttees, and tan boots. In cold weather, they wore thick wool coats. The uniforms were a dull khaki colour, and buttons and badges were treated to avoid shining. Each soldier wore a patch on their shoulder saying "Australia". Special symbols showed where they served and how long they had been away. The uniforms for the air force were similar, with some officers wearing a special jacket from the pre-war Central Flying School. Air force members wore special symbols called "wings" on their chests.

Operations

Gallipoli

The first group of soldiers from Australia left by ship on November 1, 1914, from places like Fremantle and Albany. They were meant to go to England for more training before fighting in France, but they were sent to Egypt instead to help protect a very important canal from possible attacks. The British then decided to attack a place called Gallipoli to try to get Turkey out of the war. After some training, Australian soldiers joined British, Indian, and French forces and landed at a place called Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915. The battle was very hard and lasted eight months, but the soldiers had to leave without achieving their goals. Many Australian soldiers were hurt or lost during this time.

Egypt and Palestine

After leaving Gallipoli, Australian soldiers went back to Egypt and grew in number. In 1916, some soldiers moved to France, but others stayed in the Middle East to fight against Turkish forces trying to control Egypt. They fought in many battles, including in places like Romani and Gaza. They helped push back the Turkish forces and were important in several victories. They also fought in battles in Palestine and took part in actions in places like Beersheba, Jerusalem, and Megiddo. The Turkish government gave up in October 1918.

Western Front

Five groups of Australian soldiers fought in France and Belgium starting in April 1916. They joined many big battles there and became well-known for their bravery. They fought in places like Fromelles, Pozières, and Mouquet Farm, facing very tough battles. Later, they were part of important fights around the Hindenburg Line and in the area of Ypres in Belgium. In 1918, they helped stop a big German attack and then joined a major push that helped end the war. By the time the war ended in November 1918, many Australian soldiers had been hurt, and some had been taken prisoner.

Other theatres

Some Australian soldiers also served in other places. They helped with communications for British forces in areas like Mesopotamia, taking part in battles such as Baghdad and Ramadi. After big changes in Russia, some Australians helped protect people in the Caucasus region. Nurses from Australia also worked in hospitals in places like Salonika and India.

Disbandment

By the end of the war, the Australian Imperial Force had become known as a strong and effective fighting group. They fought hard on the Western Front and helped bring about the final victory in 1918. Australians were often chosen to lead important battles because they were seen as some of the best soldiers in the British forces. For their bravery, 64 Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross.

The war was very hard on the soldiers. Many were hurt or lost their lives, with about 61,519 soldiers dying from their injuries. This was a very high loss rate. After the war ended, the soldiers began to return home. Most were sent back to Australia, though a few stayed to help in other places for a short time.

By May 1919, the last soldiers left France, and many waited in camps for their turn to go home. They were given training for civilian jobs while they waited. The process of sending soldiers home finished by April 1920, and the Australian Imperial Force officially ended on April 1, 1921. The part-time military force in Australia was reorganised to remember the achievements of the AIF.

Legacy

After the war, the soldiers of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) were often celebrated for their bravery and spirit. They were remembered as cheerful and equal friends who fought hard but did not care much for strict rules. Many people thought these soldiers showed what was special about Australia and its people.

The stories of the AIF, especially their time at Gallipoli and later battles, became important to Australia's history. People still honor these soldiers today, especially on Anzac Day. Over time, ideas about the AIF have changed, but many still see these soldiers as a proud part of Australia's story.