10th Division (Australia)

Two Australian Army divisions during World War II were known as the 10th Division.

Militia unit

On 2 February 1942, after the Pacific War began, the Newcastle Covering Force, a Militia formation composed of the 1st and 32nd Brigades, which were led by Major General John Murray, was renamed the 10th Division. Later on 27 August, personnel shortages caused the division to be disbanded. Australian Prime Minister John Curtin referred to this in a letter to Winston Churchill in October 1942, saying:

The Army's minimum need for replacement of wastage is 7,000 to 8,000 a month, against an estimated monthly intake in the coming year of 1,100 (youths turning 18). This does not enable existing army formations to be maintained. Eight infantry battalions have already been disbanded and absorbed into other units. This has involved the disbandment of the 10th Division and the absorption of its units into other formations. A further decrease in the number of battalions up to a total decrease of eleven battalions is contemplated.[http://www.info.dfat.gov.au/info/historical/HistDocs.nsf/vVolume/B2EC92A8AC2A995ECA256D3B00080312]

Units

1st Infantry Brigade (15 April–27 August 1942)
13th Infantry Battalion
41st Infantry Battalion
2nd Infantry Battalion
32nd Infantry Brigade (15 April–27 August 1942)
33rd Infantry Battalion
8th Garrison Battalion
4th Infantry Battalion (15 April–1 June 1942)

Commanding Officer

Major General John Murray (2 February–21 July)
Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Flavelle (21–23 July 1942)

AIF unit

Much later in the war, as Allied forces approached the Japanese home islands, planning began for a Commonwealth Corps, including an Australian Imperial Force (AIF) unit, the 10th Division. The division was to be made up of experienced personnel from the existing divisions. The corps would have included British and Canadian divisions, and was to be part of a landing on Honshū in 1946. The landing would have been dominated by US forces, and was known as Operation Coronet. However, the introduction of nuclear weapons, and their use at Hiroshima and Nagasaki caused Japan to surrender before the invasion took place.