3rd Australian Division, Australian Imperial Force, World War I

Date: 1916 to 1919
Location: [unknown]

This page expands on a section of the The Australian Army page

In early 1916, following the unsuccessful Gallipoli campaign, the decision was made to expand the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). At the time there were two divisions in Egypt—the 1st and 2nd. Upon formation on 2nd February 1916 from fresh volunteers in Australia, the 3rd Australian Division comprised three four-battalion infantry brigades—the 9th, 10th and the 11th—and a number of supporting elements including engineers, artillery and medical personnel. Only rudimentary initial training was undertaken before elements of the division began the embarkation process in May and June 1916 as they were moved to the United Kingdom, where the individual sub units concentrated for the first time, received arms and other equipment, and began undertaking further training at Lark Hill, on Salisbury Plain. In July 1916 the division's artillery component was formed, consisting of three batteries of 18-pounders and one 4.5 inch howitzer battery. The process of raising and training took some time and consequently the division was not transferred to France until mid November 1916.

Taking its place in the field, it became a formation of II ANZAC Corps, along with the 4th and 5th Divisions, until November 1917 when both ANZAC Corps were absorbed into the Australia Corps. On the Western Front, the division was involved in the battles of Messsines, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917 and the German Spring Offensive and battle of Amiens in 1918.

Two general officers commanded the 3rd Division during The Great War:

• 1916-18 Major General (later General Sir) John Monash CB, arguably the Allies' greatest divisional commander of the war
• 1918-22 Major General Sir John Gellibrand KCB CB DSO & Bar

Divisional units

• 3rd Division Artillery, commanded by Brigadier General Harold Grimwade. As well as the Field Artillery units listed under the respective Brigades below, included V3A Heavy Mortar Battery and X3A, Y3A and Z3A Medium Trench Mortar Batteries.
• 3rd Division Ammunition Column
• 3rd Divisional Train
• 3rd Division Trench Mortars
• 3rd Divisional Engineers
• 3rd Machine Gun Battalion
• 3rd Pioneer Battalion
• 3rd Division Signals Company
• 3rd Auxiliary Division Mechanical Transport Company

Brigades

The 7th Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the ANZAC Division at Gallipoli and the 3rd Australian Division on the Western Front. The brigade was commanded by Brigadier General John Paton, Brigadier General Evan Wisdom, and Brigadier General John Field CBE DSO.

• Headquarters 7th Infantry Brigade
  • 7th Field Artillery Brigade was comprised of the 25th, 26th and 27th Field Artillery Batteries and the 107th Howitzer Battery
  • 7th Light Trench Mortar Battery
  • 25th Infantry Battalion
  • 26th Infantry Battalion
  • 27th Infantry Battalion
  • 28th Infantry Battalion
  • 7th Machine Gun Company
  • 7th Field Company
  • 7th Field Ambulance

Australian War Memorial: 7th Australian Infantry Brigade.

The 8th Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the 3rd Division on the Western Front during the First World War.

• Headquarters 11th Infantry Brigade
  • 8th Field Artillery Brigade was comprised of the 19th, 30th and 31st Field Artillery Batteries and the 108th Howitzer Battery
  • 8th Light Trench Mortar Battery
  • 29th Infantry Battalion
  • 30th Infantry Battalion
  • 31st Infantry Battalion
  • 32nd Infantry Battalion
  • 8th Machine Gun Company
  • 8th Field Company
  • 8th Field Ambulance

Australian War Memorial: 8th Infantry Brigade

The 9th Infantry Brigade was a brigade of the 3rd Australian Division and saw action on the Western Front during the First World War. Its commanding officers were Brigadier General Alexander Jobson DSO VD and Brigadier General Henry Arthur Goddard CMG DSO.

• Headquarters 9th Infantry Brigade
  • 9th Field Artillery Brigade was comprised of the 33rd, 34th and 35th Field Artillery Batteries and the 109th Howitzer Battery. In January 1917, field artillery batteries were restructured, moving from four guns to six. As a result, one FAB was removed from each division's command. 9th FAB was the 3rd Division contribution.
  • 9th Light Trench Mortar Battery
  • 33rd Infantry Battalion
  • 34th Infantry Battalion
  • 35th Infantry Battalion
  • 36th Infantry Battalion
  • 9th Machine Gun Company
  • 9th Field Company
  • 9th Field Ambulance

Australian War Memorial: 9th Infantry Brigade

A short-lived 23rd Field Artillery Brigade was formed in early 1916 as part of the 3rd Division Field Artillery component, comprised of the 28th, 32nd and 36th Field Artillery Batteries and the 118th Howitzer Battery. It was closed in January 1917 in the major re-structure of artillery at that time.