Australian 1st Division (World War I)
The
Australian 1st Division was formed to fight in
World War One as part of the
1st AIF in August
1914. It made the first landings at
Anzac Cove as part of the
Battle of Gallipoli. In
1916 the division was sent to
France where it served on the
Western Front for the remainder of the war.
After the war ended and the AIF was demobilised, the 1st Division name was revived and assigned to an
Australian Citizens Military Forces (reserve) unit.
World War One unit history
Gallipoli
As part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the 1st Division made the initial landing at Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915 as part of the Allied invasion of the Gallipoli peninsula. The 3rd Brigade formed the covering force which landed first, about 4.30am, from battleship tows and destroyers. The 1st and 2nd Brigades followed, landing from transports, and all were ashore by 9am.
While the landing was lightly opposed on the beach by elements of a Turkish battalion, the Australians were checked short of their objectives by mounting Turkish resistance. Critical fights developed on the left, over the hill known as Baby 700, and on the right on 400 Plateau. The firing line that was established on the first day would largely define the front line of the Anzac battlefield for the remaining eight months of the campaign.
The 1st Division's role in the August Offensive was to hold the front line and conduct a diversion on 400 Plateau at Lone Pine. The resulting battle was the only occasion when a significant length of the Turkish trench line was captured. The division was evacuated from the peninsula in December, returning to Egypt.
Formation
; 1st Brigade (New South Wales) :\n* 1st Battalion\n* 2nd Battalion\n* 3rd Battalion\n* 4th Battalion
; 2nd Brigade (Victoria) :\n* 5th Battalion\n* 6th Battalion\n* 7th Battalion\n* 8th Battalion
; 3rd Brigade :\n* 9th Battalion (Queensland)\n* 10th Battalion (South Australia)\n* 11th Battalion (Western Australia)\n* 12th Battalion (SA, WA, Tasmania)
Battles
External links
\n*First AIF Order of Battle 1914-1918: First Division
Category:Australian World War I divisions\nCategory:Australian infantry divisions
