6th Division (Australia)

6th Division (Australia)
22 January 1941. Members of 'C' Company, 2/11th Infantry Battalion, having penetrated the Italian outer defences at Tobruk and attacked anti-aircraft positions, assemble again on the escarpment at the south side of the harbour. (Photographer: Frank Hurley.)
Active	1917 1939–46
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Division: 16,000 – 18,000 men[1]
Part of	Second Australian Imperial Force
Engagements	World War II Operation Compass Battle of Vevi Greek campaign Battle of Crete Syria–Lebanon campaign Kokoda Track campaign Battle of Buna–Gona Salamaua–Lae campaign Aitape–Wewak campaign
Commanders
Notable commanders	Thomas Blamey Iven Mackay Edmund Herring George Alan Vasey
Insignia
Abbreviation	6th Aus Div

The 6th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army. It was raised briefly in 1917 during World War I, but was broken up to provide reinforcements before seeing action. It was not re-raised until the outbreak of World War II, when it was formed as a unit of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). Throughout 1940–41 it served in the North African Campaign, the Greek campaign, on Crete and in Syria, fighting against the Germans, Italians and Vichy French. In 1942, the division left the Middle East and returned to Australia to meet the threat of Japan's entry into the war. Part of the division garrisoned Ceylon for a short period of time, before the division was committed to the New Guinea campaign. In New Guinea, its component brigades had a major role in the successful counter-offensive along the Kokoda Track, at Buna–Gona and around Salamaua–Lae in 1942–43. Throughout late 1943–44, the division was re-organised in Australia before being committed as a complete formation to one of the last Australian operations of the war around Aitape–Wewak in 1944–45.