Can I chip in? It is my understanding that the Army sent overseas in WW1 was called the Australian Imperial Force - the AIF. NOT the 1st AIF! That AIF consisted of 5 Divisions of 15 Brigades. 1-15, and 60 Battalions, 1-60. It was disbanded and ceased to exist after WW1 finished. In Sept 1939, the 2nd AIF was established, and its Divisions were numbered from 6th to 9th, with the Brigades continuing on from 16th Brigade, and the battalions numbered from 2/1st onwards. Open to correction. ozjohn
PS, The soldiers that signed up for service in BOTH Imperial Forces volunteered to serve ANYWHERE required. The ones called up in the Australian Army were only allowed (according to the Australian Constitution) to serve in Australia and Australian Territories, and PNG was Australian territory for this purpose. Thus the Australian Army units only served in OZ and PNG, and the 2nd AIF went to Borneo etc. ozjohn
Owen, Sorry if I offended you, I was only trying to expand the back-ground of the AIF and its successor the 2nd AIF. ozjohn
