The history of 4th Australian Division

This Division began to form in Egypt in February 1916, after a decision to essentially duplicate the original AIF which had now withdrawn from Gallipoli. Delays in assembling the artillery meant that the Division could not depart for France before June 1916. It entered the front line near Armentieres late that month:

1916
The Battle of Pozieres including the fighting for Mouquet Farm (a phase of the Battles of the Somme 1916)

1917
Operations on the Ancre
The advance to the Hindenburg Line
The Arras Offensive including the Battle of Bullecourt
The Battle of Messines
The Battle of Polygon Wood**
The Battle of Broodseinde**
The First Battle of Passchendaele**
The battles marked ** are phases of the Third Battle of Ypres

1918
The Australian Divisions were not affected by the restructuring of the army to having three brigades per Division, that took place in the British Divisions in February 1918.
The First Battle of Arras^
The Battle of the Ancre^
The actions of Villers-Bretonneux^
The battles marked as ^ are phases of the First Battles of the Somme 1918
The Capture of Hamel
The Battle of Amiens
The Battle of Albert (a phase of the Second Battles of the Somme 1918)
The Battle of Epehy (a phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line)

The Division was not selected to advance into Germany. Demobilisation commenced in late 1918 and in March 1919 the Division merged with 1st Australian Division.

The order of battle of the 4th Australian Division

4th Australian Brigade	joined in Egypt
13th Bn, the Australian Infantry
14th Bn, the Australian Infantry
15th Bn, the Australian Infantry
16th Bn, the Australian Infantry
4th Australian Machine Gun Company	left to move into 4th Australian MG Battalion February 1918
4th Australian Trench Mortar Battery	formed July 1916
12th Australian Brigade	formed in Egypt in March 1916
45th Bn, the Australian Infantry
46th Bn, the Australian Infantry
47th Bn, the Australian Infantry
48th Bn, the Australian Infantry
12th Australian Machine Gun Company	left to move into 4th Australian MG Battalion February 1918
12th Australian Trench Mortar Battery	formed July 1916
13th Australian Brigade	formed in Egypt in March 1916
49th Bn, the Australian Infantry
50th Bn, the Australian Infantry
51st Bn, the Australian Infantry
52nd Bn, the Australian Infantry
13th Australian Machine Gun Company	left to move into 4th Australian MG Battalion February 1918
13th Australian Trench Mortar Battery	formed July 1916
Divisional Troops
4th Australian Pioneer Bn	formed in Egypt in March 1916
24th Australian Machine Gun Company	joined June 1917 left to move into 4th Australian MG Battalion February 1918
4th Australian Machine Gun Battalion	formed February 1918
Divisional Mounted Troops
B Sqn, 13th Australian Light Horse	joined March 1916, left July 1916
4th Australian Cyclist Company	left June 1916
Divisional Artillery
10 Australian Brigade, RFA
11 Australian Brigade, RFA
12 Australian Brigade, RFA	left January 1917
24 Australian Brigade, RFA	absorbed in January 1917
4th Australian Divisional Ammunition Column
V.4.A Heavy Trench Mortar Battery RFA	formed July 1916, left February 1918
X.4.A, Y.4.A and Z.4.A Medium Mortar Batteries RFA	formed July 1916; in February 1918, Z broken up and batteries reorganised to have 6 x 6-inch weapons each
Royal Engineers
4th Australian Field Company
12th Australian Field Company
13th Australian Field Company
4th Australian Divisional Signals Company
Royal Army Medical Corps
4th Australian Field Ambulance
12th Australian Field Ambulance
13th Australian Field Ambulance
Other Divisional Troops
4th Australian Divisional Train ASC	later titled 753, 754, 755 and 756 Companies
4th Australian Mobile Veterinary Section AVC
4th Australian Divisional Employment Company	joined January 1917

The memorial to the 4th Australian Division, which stands just outside Bellenglise. There was some controversy over the placing of this memorial, with many considering Villers-Bretonneux a more fitting location. This photograph is courtesy of the Judith collection at picasa.com with my thanks.