Australian Imperial Forces

The name Australian Imperial Force refers to expeditionary forces raised to fight overseas during the World Wars:

• The Australian Imperial Force, raised in 1914 to fight in the First World War, and disbanded in 1921. During the war, Australia raised an all volunteer force for overseas service, known as the Australian Imperial Force, which subsequently served in several theatres, including the Gallipoli Campaign, the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Australia raised a total of seven infantry divisions, one of which – the New Zealand and Australian Division – was also manned by New Zealanders. Of these, six took part in combat, while one – the 6th – was broken up in the United Kingdom and disbanded in September 1917 before being deployed due to manpower shortages. In addition, there were two mounted divisions raised - the Light Horse: the ANZAC Mounted Division and the Australian Mounted Division. Here, it is called the First Australian Imperial Force to help differentiate it from the second force.

• The Second Australian Imperial Force, raised in 1939 to fight in the Second World War, and ceasing to exist in 1947. The 2nd AIF was comprised of the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Divisions, who were active in the North African campaigns, Greece, Crete, Syria, as well as the Pacific theatre immediately to Australia's north.

The Second Australian Imperial Force (abbreviated to 2nd AIF or 2AIF) was the name given to the volunteer military force raised specifically for overseas service in the Second World War. It was one of several "armies" within the Australian Army. Under the Defence Act (1903), neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force (PMF) could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to do so. The Second AIF fought against Nazi Germany, Italy, Vichy France and Japan. After the war, Australia's wartime military personnel were demobilised and the 2nd AIF was disbanded. A small cadre of its personnel became part of the interim permanent army that was established on 1st July 1947, and from which the Australian Regular Army was formed in 1948. Read more...

For more information on the Second Australian Imperial Force see:

• Australian War Memorial: Second AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War.
• National Archives of Australia: Army – World War II: 1939–45.

The Australian Imperial Forces were separate to the Australian Army's Militia forces, Volunteer Defence Corps and women's forces; which were authorised by the Commonwealth Government for service only on Australian territory (Papua and New Guinea were then Australian territories).

• Wikipedia:Australian_Imperial_Force