upload image

ANZAC History in World War One

Privacy Level: Open (White)
Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
This page has been accessed 103 times.

The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was a First World War army Corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood. The corps was formed in Egypt in December 1914, and operated throughout the Gallipoli Campaign, comprising troops from the Australian Imperial Force and 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force in two divisions: the 1st Australian Division (including elements of the Australian Light Horse Division) and the New Zealand & Australian Division. Not all units landed on 25th April 1915; some not landing until late May. Due to the pressing need for more soldiers for the campaign, parts of the 2nd Australian Division were sent to Anzac Cove in mid-August to reinforce the two divisions. The rest of the 2nd Division arrived by early September. The corps was evacuated from the peninsula in December and returned to Egypt. The corps was divided in early 1916, following the Allied evacuation of the Gallipoli peninsula and substantial increase in troops and units, to form the First ANZAC Corps (I ANZAC) and Second ANZAC Corps (II ANZAC). The 1st ANZAC Corps was in turn replaced in 1917 by the Australian Corps when II ANZAC was transferred to British command. These were the ANZACs, and not necessarily every Aussie Digger who served in the war.

The First ANZAC Corps, better known as I ANZAC Corps, was a combined Australian and New Zealand Corps that served during the First World War. It was formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganisation and expansion of the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) following the evacuation of Gallipoli. Along with the ANZAC Corps, it replaced the original Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). The corps initially participated in the defence of the Suez Canal before being transferred to the Western Front in France and Belgium in late March 1916. Later in 1916 the New Zealand Division was removed from I ANZAC's order of battle, swapping with II ANZAC's 4th Australian Division. In November 1917, I ANZAC ceased to exist when the Australian infantry divisions in France were grouped together as the Australian Corps.

The Second Anzac Corps, also known as II ANZAC Corps, was an Australian and New Zealand First World War army corps formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganisation of the Australian Imperial Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli. This corps, along with the I ANZAC Corps, replaced the original Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).

General Alexander Godley, commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, assumed command of the corps after the I Anzac Corps embarked for France in late March, 1916. The corps initially comprised the two "new" Australian divisions—the Australian 4th and 5th divisions—that had been spawned from the "veteran" 1st and 2nd divisions.

In July 1916, following the arrival of II Anzac in France, the Australian 4th Division was swapped for the New Zealand Division from I Anzac, and II Anzac took over a sector of front-line near Armentières. In mid-July, II Anzac lent the 5th Division to the British XI Corps for a diversionary operation that became known as the Battle of Fromelles.

In the June 1917 Battle of Messines, prelude to the Third Battle of Ypres, II Anzac was the southernmost of three British divisions to attack the Messines ridge. At this time II Anzac contained the New Zealand Division, the Australian 3rd Division and the British 25th Division. The Australian 4th Division was also attached to the corps as reinforcements and was to mount a follow-up attack after the assault by the other three divisions.

Upon the formation of the Australian Corps in December 1917, which contained all five Australian divisions, II ANZAC Corps was reformed as the British XXII Corps.

The Australian Corps was a First World War army corps that contained all five Australian infantry divisions serving on the Western Front. It was the largest corps fielded by the British Empire in France, at its peak numbering 109,881 men. Formed on 1st November 1917, the corps replaced I Anzac Corps while II Anzac Corps, which contained the New Zealand Division, became the British XXII Corps. While its structure varied the Australian Corps usually included four to five infantry divisions, corps artillery and heavy artillery, a corps flying squadron (No.3 Squadron AFC) and captive balloon sections, anti-aircraft batteries, corps engineers, corps mounted troops (light horse and cyclists), ordnance workshops, medical and dental units, transport, salvage and an employment company. The Australian Corps had as its commanders:

The New Zealand and Australian Division was an international formation within the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) which saw action in the Gallipoli Campaign during The Great War. The division, confusingly known as the ANZAC Division, comprised the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, Australian 1st Light Horse Brigade and 4th Australian Infantry Brigade. In early 1916, the division was folded into II ANZAC Corps.





Collaboration
  • Login to edit this profile and add images.
  • Private Messages: Send a private message to the Profile Manager. (Best when privacy is an issue.)
  • Public Comments: Login to post. (Best for messages specifically directed to those editing this profile. Limit 20 per day.)


Comments

Leave a message for others who see this profile.
There are no comments yet.
Login to post a comment.