2nd Division (Australia)
| 2nd Division | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1915–1919 1921–1944 1948–1960 1965–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army Reserve |
| Type | Reserve division |
| Role | Homeland Defence |
| Size | 5 brigades |
| Garrison/HQ | Sydney, New South Wales |
| March | 'Pozieres' (arr Allis) |
| Engagements | World War I
|
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Matt Burr, AM |
| Notable commanders | Sir Charles Rosenthal Iven Mackay Herbert Lloyd Kathryn Campbell |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch | |
The 2nd (Australian) Division is a Reserve division that is headquartered in Randwick Barracks, Sydney. The primary role of the Division is homeland defence. Its formations are geographically dispersed across Australia and include the 4th Brigade in Victoria and Tasmania, the 5th Brigade in New South Wales, the 9th Brigade in South Australia, the 11th Brigade in Queensland and the 13th Brigade in Western Australia. The Division also commands the Regional Force Surveillance Group that provides remote-area, land and littoral surveillance and reconnaissance capability in Australia’s North and North-West.
The division was first formed in Egypt in July 1915 during World War I as part of the First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF). The division took part in the Gallipoli campaign, arriving in the latter stages and then traversed to the Western Front in France and Belgium where it had the distinction of taking part in the final ground action fought by Australian troops in the war. After the war ended and the AIF was demobilised, the 2nd Division name was revived and assigned to a Citizens Military Forces (reserve) unit in 1921.
During the inter-war years, the division was based in New South Wales with its headquarters Parramatta. During World War II, the 2nd Division undertook defensive duties on the east coast until mid-1942 when it was sent to Western Australia. In May 1944, the division was disbanded as the war situation no longer required large numbers of garrison troops to be held back in Australia. Post war, the division was re-raised in 1948, and except for a period from 1960 to 1965, the division has existed in one form or another since then.