View source for 9th Division (Australia)

{{short description|WW2 Australian Army formation}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=9th Australian Division
|image=Australian 9th Div at Gaza in 1942 (AWM 050124).jpg
|caption=Members of the 9th Division parade at [[Gaza Airport]] in late 1942
|dates=1940–1946
|country= {{flag|Australia|23px}}
|allegiance=
|branch=[[Second Australian Imperial Force]]
|type=[[Infantry]]
|role=
|size=~16,000–18,000 personnel.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. xi.</ref>
|command_structure=
|garrison=
<!-- Commanders -->
|current_commander=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders=[[Leslie Morshead|Sir Leslie Morshead]]<br/>[[George Wootten]]
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=[[File:9th aus inf div (1).svg|75px]]
|identification_symbol_label=First pattern<br>1940–1942
|identification_symbol_2=[[File:9th aus inf div (2).svg|75px]]
|identification_symbol_2_label=Second pattern<br>1942–1946
<!-- Culture and history -->
|nickname="The Rats of Tobruk";<br/>"The Magnificent 9th"
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[World War II]]
*[[Siege of Tobruk]]
*[[First Battle of El Alamein]]
*[[Second Battle of El Alamein]]
*[[New Guinea campaign]]
*[[Borneo campaign (1945)]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}
The '''9th Division''' was a [[Division (military unit)|division]] of the [[Australian Army]] that served during [[World War II]]. It was the fourth division raised for the [[Second Australian Imperial Force]] (2nd AIF). The distinctions of the division include it being:
* in front line combat longer, cumulatively, than any other Australian division;<ref name=Johnstonix>Johnston (2002), p. ix.</ref>
* one of the [[Military history of Australia|Australian military]]'s most [[medal|decorated]] formations;<ref name=Johnstonix/>
* the only 2nd AIF division formed in the United Kingdom, from infantry brigades and support units formed in Australia;
* [[#Quotes|praised by both Allied and Axis generals]], including [[Bernard Montgomery]] and [[Erwin Rommel]], as well as non-Australian military historians,<ref>Miller (1986) ''passim''</ref> and;
* like the [[6th Division (Australia)|6th]] and [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Divisions]], being one of only a few [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] army units to serve in both the [[Mediterranean and Middle East theatre of World War II|Mediterranean]] and [[Pacific War|Pacific]] theatres.

During 1940, the component units of the 9th Division were sent to the UK to defend it against a [[Operation Sealion|possible German invasion]]. After serving during 1941–1942 in the [[North African campaign]], at the [[Siege of Tobruk]] and both the [[First Battle of El Alamein|First]] and [[Second Battle of El Alamein|Second Battles of El Alamein]], the 9th Division returned to Australia. In 1943–1944, it served in the [[New Guinea campaign]] and, during 1945, in the [[Borneo campaign]]. It was disbanded, following the end of the war, in early 1946.

{{TOC limit|3}}

==History==

===Formation===
{{see also|Second Australian Imperial Force in the United Kingdom}}
The 9th Division was the fourth AIF division raised, being formed in the United Kingdom in late 1940. Initially it consisted of only two infantry [[brigade]]s which had been formed in Australia and dispatched to Britain in order to defend against a possible invasion following the [[Fall of France]]—the [[18th Brigade (Australia)|18th]] and [[25th Brigade (Australia)|25th Brigades]]—under the command of Major General [[Henry Wynter]].<ref name=AWM>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13042.asp|title=9th Division |work=Second World War, 1939–1945 units |publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=15 January 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100103152540/http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_13042.asp| archive-date= 3 January 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=Johnston2>Johnston (2002), p. 2.</ref> Later, the [[24th Brigade (Australia)|24th Brigade]] was also assigned to the division.<ref name=Johnston2/>

In January 1941 Wynter became ill and was replaced as divisional commander by [[Leslie Morshead]].<ref name=Johnston2/> By February 1941, 9th Division headquarters had been relocated to the [[Middle East]]. Around this time the divisions of the AIF underwent a reorganisation as the decision was made to [[Battle of Greece|send the more established brigades to Greece]]; as a result both the 18th and 25th Brigades were transferred from the 9th to the [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Division]]. They were replaced by the [[20th Brigade (Australia)|20th]] and [[26th Brigade (Australia)|26th Brigades]], both of which were considered to be less experienced and therefore less ready for action.<ref>Johnston (2002), pp. 2–3.</ref>

===North Africa===

====Cyrenaica====
After completing its initial training in Australia, Great Britain and Palestine, the units of the 9th Division were sent to [[Cyrenaica]] in [[Libya]] in early March 1941 to complete their training and equipping as part of the garrison of this region.<ref name=Johnston12>Johnston (2002), p. 12.</ref> Short of equipment such as [[machine gun]]s, [[Mortar (weapon)|mortar]]s, [[Anti tank gun|anti-tank guns]] and [[Universal carrier|carriers]], most of the division's artillery and cavalry units did not accompany the infantry brigades to Cyrenaica at this time.<ref name=Johnston12_13>Johnston (2002), pp. 12–13.</ref> The 20th Brigade was the first unit from the division to move, departing on 27 February. It was joined shortly by the other two brigades. It was during this time that the division suffered its first casualties when German bombers attacked the transport column in which the [[2/13th Battalion (Australia)|2/13th Battalion]] was travelling, killing two Australians and wounding one other.<ref name=Johnston13>Johnston (2002), p. 13.</ref> By 9 March the 20th Brigade relieved the [[17th Brigade (Australia)|17th Brigade]] from the [[6th Division (Australia)|6th Division]], along the Cyrenaican frontier.<ref name=Johnston13/>
[[File:Captured Italian tanks 005042.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Australian troops using captured Italian tanks]]

By late March, it became clear that German-led [[Axis powers|Axis]] forces planned to launch an offensive in Cyrenaica. As a result, the 9th Division commander, Leslie Morshead, ordered the 20th Brigade to withdraw from the frontier, moving {{convert|160|mi|km}} back towards [[Benghazi]].<ref name=Johnston14>Johnston (2002), p. 14.</ref> The offensive began on 24 March, quickly forcing the British units along the frontier back as it drove towards Benghazi. Two days later the 26th Brigade took up positions in the west near the coast to support the 20th Brigade which was holding the pass at Er Regima.<ref name=Johnston14/> At this stage, the division's anti-tank troops were issued with captured Italian guns in order to make up the shortfall in British weapons.<ref name=Johnston14/>

As the Axis advance continued with German victories at Marsa Brega and Agedabia which threatened to outflank the units cut off in Benghazi, the 9th Division were ordered to fall back from their positions along the coast to the east to Derna.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 16.</ref><ref name=Clark182>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 182.</ref> Lacking their own transport, they had to rely on that provided by other units and thus the withdrawal had to be undertaken in stages. In order to achieve this, the 2/13th Battalion was used as a [[rear guard]] and late in the afternoon of 4 April it undertook the division's first action of the war when the Germans attacked their positions in the Er Regima Pass.<ref name=Johnston17>Johnston (2002), p. 17.</ref> Supported by British artillery, the battalion, spread out across an {{convert|11|km|mi|adj=on}} front, managed to delay a German force of about 3,000 personnel mounted in lorries and accompanied by armoured cars and tanks. Only lightly armed, however, they were unable to prevent the Germans from outflanking them, and gradually they were forced to pull back before. At 2200 hours, their transport arrived, and they were able to withdraw just as they were faced with encirclement. In this action, the 2/13th Battalion suffered five killed and 93 wounded or captured.<ref name=Clark182/>

Two days after the action at Er Regima Pass, the 9th Division was ordered to fall back along the coast road towards [[Tobruk]] in what was later called the "Benghazi Handicap". Due to the speed of the Axis advance and the division's lack of transport, confusion reigned and part of the [[2/15th Battalion (Australia)|2/15th Battalion]], including most of its headquarters and its commanding officer, were captured.<ref name=Johnston17/>

====Siege of Tobruk====
[[File:9 Div Tobruk(AWM 020779).jpg|right|thumb|A patrol from the 2/13th Infantry Battalion at Tobruk (AWM 020779)]]
{{Main|Siege of Tobruk}}
Covered by rear guard actions at Er Regima and Mechili, the 9th Division reached Tobruk on 9 April 1941.<ref name=Clark183>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 183.</ref> The 7th Division's 18th Brigade had arrived two days earlier and together with a number of British artillery and armoured regiments and an Indian cavalry regiment, the [[18th King Edward's Own Cavalry]] (now 18 Cavalry),<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 18.</ref> they were placed under the command of Major General [[John Lavarack]] and ordered to hold the port for at least two months while a relieving force from Egypt was organised.<ref name=Clark182/>

The first engagement came on 10 April when an Axis force approached the port from the west but was repelled. The following day, Tobruk was effectively placed under siege when German forces cut the supply road to its east, encircling the Allied garrison. On 13 April the first major attack came when the German commander, [[Erwin Rommel]], launched an attack against the 20th Brigade west of the El Adem road.<ref name=Clark183/> This attack was beaten off, although that night a force of Germans with mortars and machine guns managed to break into the defences only to be counterattacked by a small group of Australians, including [[John Hurst Edmondson|John Edmondson]], armed with bayonets and grenades.<ref name=Johnston26>Johnston (2002), p. 26.</ref> For his part in the attack Edmondson was posthumously awarded the [[Victoria Cross]],<ref name=Johnston26/> the first of seven which were bestowed upon members of the 9th Division during the war.<ref name=Johnston253>Johnston (2002), p. 253.</ref>

Over the course of the next six months the 9th Division and the rest of the garrison repelled repeated attempts by Rommel's forces to capture the port.<ref name=Clark185>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 185.</ref> The Australian defence of Tobruk was anchored on three factors: the use of the pre-existing Italian fortifications around the port, aggressive patrolling and raiding of Axis positions and the firepower of the garrison's artillery. Fighting from fixed positions, the Australian infantry successfully contained and defeated repeated German armoured and infantry attacks on the fortress.<ref>Miller (1986), ''passim''.</ref> After the failure of the British attempts to relieve the fortress in May and June 1941 the 9th Division was successful in gradually improving Tobruk's defences through aggressively raiding Axis positions.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 184.</ref>

Upon the request of the Australian War Cabinet, the bulk of the 9th Division was withdrawn from Tobruk in September and October 1941, and handed over to the British [[70th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|70th Division]]<ref name=Clark185/> with only the 2/13th Battalion remaining in the fortress at the time the garrison was finally relieved in December.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 186.</ref> The defence of Tobruk cost the 9th Division 3,164 casualties including 650 killed, 1,597 wounded and 917 captured.<ref name=Johnston251>Johnston (2002), p. 251.</ref>

====El Alamein====
;Syrian interlude
After its withdrawal from Tobruk the 9th Division enjoyed only a brief period of rest in Palestine before being redeployed to northern [[Syria]] where, as part of the [[Ninth Army (United Kingdom)|British Ninth Army]], it was responsible for guarding the Turkish–Syrian frontier.<ref name=Johnston65>Johnston (2002), p. 65.</ref> Here they were rejoined by the [[2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)|9th Division Cavalry Regiment]], which had been detached in June 1941 to take part in the [[Syria–Lebanon campaign]]. This deployment was the first time all the elements of the division had been concentrated in one area, albeit an area that stretched {{convert|1200|sqmi|sqkm}}.<ref name=Johnston65/> In addition to its garrison duties, the 9th Division also conducted some much needed training in mobile warfare during its stay in Syria.<ref name=Johnston67>Johnston (2002), p. 67.</ref>

In early 1942 [[I Corps (Australia)|Australian I Corps]], including the [[6th Division (Australia)|6th]] and [[7th Division (Australia)|7th Division]]s, was withdrawn to Australia in response to [[Imperial Japan|Japan]]'s entry into the war.<ref name=Johnston67/> The Australian government, however, agreed to British requests to retain the 9th Division in the Middle East in exchange for an additional American division being sent to Australia.<ref>Maughan (1966), pp. 537–538.</ref>

;First Battle of El Alamein
{{Main|First Battle of El Alamein}}

During early 1942 the Axis forces advanced steadily through north west Egypt. It was decided that the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|British Eighth Army]] should make a stand just over {{convert|100|km|mi}} west of [[Alexandria, Egypt|Alexandria]], at the railway siding of [[El Alamein]], where the coastal plain narrowed between the [[Mediterranean Sea]] and the inhospitable [[Qattara Depression]].<ref>Maughan (1966), p. 542.</ref> On 26 June 1942 the 9th Division was ordered to begin moving from northern Syria to El Alamein.<ref name=Johnston72>Johnston (2002), p. 72.</ref> On 1 July, Rommel's forces made a major attack, hoping to dislodge the Allies from the area, take Alexandria, and open the way to [[Cairo]] and the [[Suez Canal]]. However, the Eighth Army had regrouped sufficiently to repel the Axis forces and launch counterattacks. On 6 July, the lead elements of the 9th Division arrived at Tel el Shammama {{convert|22|mi|km}} from the front,<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 73.</ref> from where they would be committed to the fighting in the northern sector.<ref name=2_28th/>

[[File:2-8 Field Regt.jpg|right|thumb|Guns of the [[2/8th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/8th Field Regiment]] at El Alamein in July 1942 (AWM 024515)]]

Before dawn on 10 July, as Rommel focused his efforts on the southern flank of the battlefield, the 9th Division attacked the north flank of the enemy positions and captured the strategic high ground around [[Tel el Eisa]]. The 26th Brigade took more than 1,500 prisoners of war. Possibly the most important feature of the battle, however, was that the 2/24 had captured Signals Intercept Company 621, which had been providing Rommel with priceless intelligence from British radio communications.<ref>AWM https://wm.awm.gov.au/read/aus-middle-east-1941</ref>  In the days following, Rommel redirected his forces against them, in a series of intense counterattacks, but was unable to dislodge the Australians.<ref>Maughan (1966), pp. 558–562.</ref> On 22 July, the 24th and 26th Brigades attacked German positions on the ridges south of Tel el Esia, suffering heavy casualties taking positions on Tel el Eisa Ridge and Makh Khad Ridge.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 87.</ref>

The final phase of the First Battle of El Alamein was a disaster for the Allies and the [[2/28th Battalion (Australia)|2/28th Battalion]] in particular: an attempt to capture Sanyet el Miteiriya, known as "Ruin Ridge", on 27 July.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 221.</ref> The operation was part of a complex series of night attacks. The 2/28th suffered significant casualties and vehicle losses in its advance, but achieved its objective. However, the battalion was soon surrounded by German infantry. A planned advance by British tanks failed and German tanks arrived. The 2/28th's positions came under a prolonged and methodical attack by the Axis forces. By the time they surrendered, 65 Australians had been killed.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 222.</ref> Although the vast majority of the 2/28th had become prisoners of war, 93 members of the battalion remained behind Allied lines and it was subsequently rebuilt.<ref name=2_28th>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/units/unit_11279second_world_war.asp|title=2/28th Battalion |work=Second World War, 1939–1945 units|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=15 January 2010}}</ref>

;Second Battle of El Alamein
{{Main|Second Battle of El Alamein}}

Following the fighting in July, the 9th Division remained in front-line positions around El Alamein, but were engaged in mainly static defensive duties for the next three months.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 92.</ref> Nevertheless, patrols were maintained and some raiding was undertaken, including a raid on 1 September undertaken by the [[2/15th Battalion (Australia)|2/15th Battalion]] to seize a point {{convert|3|km|mi}} south-west of Tel el Eisa in which 150 Germans were killed and another 140 taken prisoner, against which the Australians lost 39 killed, 109 wounded and another 25 missing.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 229.</ref>

[[File:El Alamein Aussie 9th edited.JPG|right|thumb|Memorial to the 9th Division at the Allied Cemetery at El Alamein]]

By late October 1942, the Eighth Army, now commanded by [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]], decided to launch its own offensive in the Western Desert, amassing a force of some 220,000 personnel supported by 1,100 tanks and 900 artillery pieces.<ref name=Clark230>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 230.</ref> The 9th Division was positioned in the northern sector of the Eighth Army's front at El Alamein, nearest the coast, as part of [[XXX Corps (United Kingdom)|British XXX Corps]].<ref>Bierman & Smith (2002), p.254 & 262.</ref> This sector was to effect the main thrust of the Allied attack. While [[XIII Corps (United Kingdom)|XIII]] and most of XXX Corps failed to meet their objectives on 25 October, the 9th Division gained considerable momentum, attacking both frontally and executing a wide "left hook" from their original positions, in their sector, with one Axis outpost after another falling to them.<ref name ="B&S1">Bierman & Smith (2002), p.312.</ref> Together with the [[51st (Highland) Division]], and the [[2nd New Zealand Division]], they had mauled the [[102 Motorised Division Trento|Italian Trento Division]] and the German 164th Division. By the following day the 9th Division had managed to further slice through the [[164th Infantry Division (Germany)|German 164th Division]] and trap the greater part of it against the sea. This caused the Axis to rush reinforcements to their sector.<ref>Bierman & Smith (2002), p.319.</ref>

As events unfolded, it was on the 9th that Montgomery, the Eighth Army commander, pinned his hopes on a breakthrough.<ref name ="B&S1"/> Before this breakthrough was attempted, however, the 9th Division was subjected to numerous counter-attacks by German forces and many of the division's units suffered so many casualties that they were described as "mere skeletons".<ref name=Clark230/> By the night of 31 October/1 November Morshead decided to relieve his forward brigade, the 26th Brigade, with the relatively fresh 24th Brigade, however, the following day two German divisions attacked the brigade.<ref>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 231.</ref>

On 2 November, Operation Supercharge—as the breakout was named—began and the final phase of the battle began.<ref name=Clark232>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 232.</ref> The British armoured formations suffered heavily in the initial stages, before on the second day the 51st Division managed to force a gap through the Axis lines, creating a gap of over {{convert|6|mi|km}} through which the armour was redirected. The result of this was that the pressure was taken off the 9th Division as the focus of the fighting shifted to the south of Tel el Eisa. After this the 9th Division ceased offensive action,<ref name=Clark232/> although they continued patrolling operations until 4 November when [[Erwin Rommel|Rommel]] ordered a general withdrawal.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 131.</ref> The four months that the 9th Division had been involved in the fighting around El Alamein cost them 1,225 killed, 3,638 wounded and 946 captured, for a total of 5,809 casualties.<ref name=Johnston251/>

===South West Pacific===
{{Main|South West Pacific Area}}
In October 1942 the Australian government requested that the 9th Division be released from service in the Middle East and returned to Australia to be utilised against the Japanese in the Pacific.<ref name=Johnston135>Johnston (2002), p. 135.</ref> Although both the British prime minister, [[Winston Churchill]] and the American president [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Franklin Roosevelt]] advised against this, the Australian prime minister [[John Curtin]] insisted and by mid December the decision to bring the division back to Australia was confirmed.<ref name=Johnston135/> In late December the division concentrated around [[Gaza City|Gaza]], where a divisional parade was held<ref name=Johnston135/> before preparations for embarkation began.<ref name=Johnston138>Johnston (2002), p. 138.</ref>

The 9th Division began embarking for its return to Australia on 24 January 1943.<ref name=Johnston138/> Transported on four troopships—the ''[[RMS Queen Mary|Queen Mary]]'', ''[[SS Ile de France|Ile de France]]'', ''[[SS Nieuw Amsterdam (1937)|Nieuw Amsterdam]]'' and ''[[RMS Aquitania|Aquitania]]''—as part of [[Operation Pamphlet]] the division arrived at [[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]] in Western Australia on 18 February whereupon all members of the division were granted three weeks leave.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 140.</ref> Welcome-home parades were held in every Australian capital city, after which the 9th Division began reforming in April 1943 in the semi-tropical [[Atherton Tablelands]] region of [[Far North Queensland]] where it began re-organising and re-training for jungle warfare. As part of the conversion to a [[Jungle Division]] many of the division's units were either separated from the division, reorganised into new roles or disbanded.<ref name=Johnston143>Johnston (2002), p. 143.</ref> Of note, the division's cavalry unit, the 9th Division Cavalry Regiment, gave up its vehicles and was converted to the [[Australian commandos|commando]] role, becoming the [[2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)|2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment]].<ref name=Johnston143/> After completing amphibious training near [[Cairns]] the 9th Division, now under Major General [[George Wootten]] who had taken command of the division in March,<ref>Keogh 1965, p. 304.</ref> departed for [[Milne Bay]] in [[New Guinea]] in late July and early August 1943.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 146.</ref>

====New Guinea====
{{Main|New Guinea campaign}}
;Lae
{{Main|Salamaua-Lae campaign}}
[[File:Australian 9th Division amphibious landing east of Lae September 1943 (AWM photo 042371).jpg|thumb|right|The 9th Division makes its amphibious landing east of Lae, September 1943.]]
[[File:USS LST-452 4 September 1943 Lae New Guinea.jpg|thumb|Part of the 9th Australian Division, under the command of Major-General G.F. Wooten landing at Lae, New Guinea, 4 September 1943. {{USS|LST-452||2}} and other LSTs are unloading troops and equipment.]]
The 9th Division's first task in New Guinea was to [[Salamaua-Lae campaign|liberate the town of Lae]] in a joint operation with the [[Australian 7th Division|7th Division]].<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 305.</ref> The 9th Division would carry out an [[landing at Lae|amphibious landing to the east]] of the town at [[Malahang, Papua New Guinea|Malahang]]—the first large scale seaborne landing by an Australian formation since the [[Gallipoli campaign]] in 1915—while the 7th Division would be flown into the [[Landing at Nadzab|recently secured Nadzab airfield]], to the west of [[Lae]].<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 147.</ref> The 20th Brigade, now under Brigadier [[Victor Windeyer]], was chosen as the lead assault unit and on 1 September it began embarking at Milne Bay. Departing the following day, they were transported to the Buna–Morobe area where it linked up with the 57 landing craft that had been assigned to the operation.<ref name=Keogh306>Keogh (1965), p. 306.</ref> On the night of 3/4 September they began the {{convert|80|mi|km}} run to the landing beaches, arriving just before dawn.<ref name=Keogh306/>

At 0630 hours on 4&nbsp;September the 20th Brigade launched the initial assault under the cover of naval bombardment. Two battalions were landed on the main beach, codenamed Red Beach, while one more was landed {{convert|3|mi|km}} west at Yellow Beach. Experiencing no opposition on the beaches, patrols were sent out to effect a link up along the [[beachhead]]. 35 minutes later as the 26th Brigade came ashore, they were attacked by nine Japanese aircraft which inflicted a number of casualties on the Australians in the [[Landing Craft Infantry|LCIs]], with eight personnel being killed, including the commanding officer of the [[2/23rd Battalion (Australia)|2/23rd Battalion]], while another 20 were wounded.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 148.</ref> The following day, the 26th Brigade passed through the perimeter that had been set up by the 20th Brigade and began to advance along the coast towards Lae, crossing the Buso river before nightfall on 5 September. That night, the 24th Brigade, which had been held back as the divisional reserve, landed at the beachhead.<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 307.</ref>

After establishing their supply bases the two Australian divisions raced each other to Lae. The 7th Division entered the town several hours ahead of the 9th Division on 16 September.<ref name=Johnston153>Johnston (2002), p. 153.</ref> The 9th Division's advance had been held up by Japanese resistance and difficulties with crossing the rivers between the landing beaches and Lae.<ref>Keogh (1965), pp. 310–311.</ref>

;Huon Peninsula campaign
{{Main|Huon Peninsula campaign}}
The capture of Lae ahead of schedule meant that the focus of Allied operations could then be shifted upon an advance up the Huon Peninsula, which was strategically important to the Allies as it would allow them to establish air and naval bases for future operations.<ref name=Johnston153/> On 22 September 1943, only six days after the fall of Lae, the 20th Brigade made an amphibious [[Battle of Scarlet Beach|landing at Scarlet Beach]], {{convert|10|km|mi}} north of [[Finschhafen]].<ref name=Johnston153/> Because of the haste with which the operation had been put together, there had been no time for rehearsals and this, coupled with faulty maps and the fact that the landing took place in darkness, resulted in the majority of the brigade being landed on the wrong beach.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 154.</ref> Allied intelligence estimates of Japanese strength around Finschhafen were also faulty, with an expected force of between 500 and 2,100, although the Japanese really had around 5,000 personnel in the area.<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 315.</ref>

Nevertheless, after a week of heavy fighting against well-entrenched Japanese troops, the Australians captured the town and airfield of Finschhafen, declaring it liberated on 2 October.<ref name=Johnston159>Johnston (2002), p. 159.</ref>

However, most of the Japanese that had been around Finschhafen managed to retreat to a {{convert|1000|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} mountain around Sattelberg. On 16 October they launched a [[Battle of Sattelberg|counterattack from there]].<ref name=Johnston159/> In response to this, the 26th Brigade was brought up to relieve the 20th, and by 25 October the Japanese counterattack was beaten off. The 9th Division then went on the offensive against Sattelberg on 7 November.  With intermittent and sometimes heavy air support, the Australian troops worked to uproot the Japanese from the strategically important peak.  It fell to the 9th Division on 25 November 1943, after the [[2/48th Battalion (Australia)|2/48th Battalion]] reached the summit.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 180.</ref> It was during this final assault that Sergeant [[Tom Derrick]] carried out the actions that led to him receiving the Victoria Cross.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 181.</ref>

====Borneo====
[[File:Tarakan 1945 AWM 090932.jpg|right|thumb|Infantry from the 2/23rd Infantry Battalion advancing through wrecked oil storage tanks at Tank Hill, Tarakan. (AWM 090932)]]
{{Main|Borneo campaign (1945)}}
In January 1944 the 9th Division was relieved by the [[5th Division (Australia)|5th Division]] around [[Sio, Papua New Guinea|Sio]]<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 184.</ref> and progressively over the following two months they were brought back to Australia.<ref name=Johnston186>Johnston (2002), p. 186.</ref> After a period of leave the division once again re-formed on the Atherton Tablelands. Due to high personnel turnover in this period as personnel were discharged or transferred to other units, many of the division's units had to be virtually rebuilt from scratch.<ref name=Johnston186/> Indeed, in order to bring the division's infantry units up to strength an entire [[Citizens Military Force|Militia]] battalion, consisting of nearly 400 personnel from the [[62nd Battalion (Australia)|62nd Battalion]], was broken up to provide reinforcements.<ref name=Johnston186/>

Due to rapid developments in the war and strategic uncertainty over the role of Australian forces in the Pacific, the 9th Division remained in Australia for over a year before seeing action once more. While the [[Australian I Corps]] (of which the 9th Division was part) had originally been intended to participate in the liberation of the Philippines,<ref>Keogh (1965), pp. 395–396.</ref> these plans were dropped, and the Corps was instead tasked with the liberation of [[Borneo campaign (1945)|Borneo]].<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 431.</ref> This would be the division's final involvement in the war and its participation in the campaign was broken up into two primary operations: a landing on [[Tarakan Island|Tarakan]] and another on [[Brunei]] and [[Labuan Territory|Labuan]].<ref>Keogh (1965), pp. 432–433.</ref>

;Tarakan
{{Main|Battle of Tarakan (1945)}}
The 26th Brigade group was assigned the task of capturing [[Tarakan Island]] and destroying the Japanese garrison.<ref>Long (1963), p. 406.</ref> Japanese forces on the island were estimated at 2,000 personnel along with around 250 civilians working in the oil plants.<ref>Keong (1965), p. 436.</ref> On 30 April 1945 a small force of commandos from the [[2/4th Commando Squadron (Australia)|2/4th Commando Squadron]], along with a [[artillery battery|battery]] of [[Ordnance QF 25 pounder|25-pounder field guns]] from the [[2/7th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/7th Field Regiment]], were landed on Sadau Island off the coast of Tarakan, from where they would provide indirect fire support during the landing.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 194.</ref> The following day, 1 May, at 0640 the battery on Sadau opened the preliminary bombardment along with two [[cruiser]]s and six [[destroyer]]s stationed offshore. At 0656 hours the main assault began as the LCIs carrying the two battalions that would lead the attack—the 2/23rd and 2/48th—crossed the [[Line of Departure|line of departure]] and headed towards the landing beach at Lingkas.<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 441.</ref>

Although initially Japanese opposition to the landing was light, as the Australians advanced inland from the landing beach, the resistance grew in its intensity and it was mid June by the time that the main Japanese force was broken up and mopping up operations began.<ref name=Keogh443>Keogh (1965), p. 443.</ref> These operations continued throughout July until starvation forced the majority of those remaining to surrender.<ref name=Keogh443/> The Australians lost 250 killed and 670 wounded in this operation, while the Japanese lost around 1,500 personnel killed and another 250 captured trying to defend the island.<ref name=Keogh443/><ref>Johnston (2002), p. 219.</ref>

;Brunei and Labuan
{{Main|Operation Oboe Six|Battle of Labuan}}
The remainder of the 9th Division landed in the Labuan and Brunei area on 10 June 1945.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 220.</ref> Tasked with securing Brunei Bay in order to establish a naval base and secure vital oil and rubber production facilities, 14,079 personnel from the division took part, just under half of a total of 30,000 that were assigned to the operation.<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 221.</ref> Following a preliminary naval and aerial bombardment, the 24th Brigade landed at the southern end of Labuan island, which situated as it was at the entrance of Brunei Bay, commanded the approach to northern Borneo. At the same time, the 20th Brigade landed near Brooketon, on a small peninsula in the southern end of the bay.<ref name=Clark252>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 252.</ref> A third, albeit smaller, landing was made by one of the 20th Brigade's battalions—the 2/15th—on the small island of Muara. The island had not been garrisoned by the Japanese and all the Australian landings went in unopposed.<ref name=Clark252/>

[[File:2-43rd Battalion soldier at Labuan airstrip on 10 June 1945.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Black and white photo of a man who is wearing a military uniform and armed with a gun crouching on a step incline.| An infantryman from the Australian 2/43rd Battalion in a bomber dispersal bay at Labuan airstrip on 10 June 1945]]

The 20th Brigade rapidly secured Brunei town against relatively light opposition, suffering only 40 casualties in this campaign.<ref name=Johnston228>Johnston (2002), p. 228.</ref> The 24th Brigade, however, encountered greater opposition in taking the island of Labuan,<ref name=Johnston228/> where the defenders withdrew to an inland stronghold where they held out along dense jungle covered ridges and muddy swamps.<ref name=Clark252/> In order to subdue the Japanese resistance an intense naval and artillery bombardment was laid down over the course of a week before an assault was put in by two [[Company (military unit)|companies]] of infantry supported by tanks and [[flamethrower]]s.<ref name=Clark252/>

After securing Labuan, the 24th Brigade was [[Battle of North Borneo|landed on the northern shore of Brunei Bay]] on 16 June, while the 20th Brigade continued to consolidate the southern lodgement by advanced south-west along the coast towards Kuching and securing the hinterland as well.<ref name=Clark253>Coulthard-Clark (1998), p. 253.</ref> The [[2/32nd Battalion (Australia)|2/32nd Battalion]] landed at Padas Bay and seized the town of Weston, before sending out patrols towards Beaufort, {{convert|23|km|mi}} inland. Held by 800–1,000 Japanese, on 27 June [[Battle of Beaufort (1945)|an attack]] was carried out there by the [[2/43rd Battalion (Australia)|2/43rd Battalion]].<ref name=Clark253/> Amid a torrential downpour and encountering difficult terrain, the 2/32nd Battalion secured the south bank of the Padas River, while one company from the 2/43rd was sent to take the town and another marched to the flanks, to take up ambush positions along the route that the Japanese were expected to withdraw along. The 2/28th Battalion secured the lines of communication north of the river.<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 454.</ref> On the night of 27/28 June the Japanese launched six counterattacks which devolved into hand-to-hand combat. Amid appalling conditions, one company became isolated and the next morning another was sent to its aid to attack the Japanese from the rear. Fighting its way through numerous Japanese positions, the company killed at least 100 Japanese and one of its members, Private [[Tom Starcevich]], was later awarded the Victoria Cross for his efforts.<ref>Johnston (2002), pp. 235–236.</ref>

Following this, the Japanese began to withdraw from Beaufort and the Australians began a slow, cautious advance using indirect fire to limit casualties. By 12 July they occupied Papar,<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 237.</ref> and from there sent out patrols to the north and along the river until the cessation of hostilities.<ref>Keogh (1965), p. 455.</ref> By August the fighting came to an end. The division's total casualties in this operation were 114 killed and 221 wounded, while the Japanese lost at least 1,234 personnel.<ref name=Clark253/><ref>Johnston (2002), p. 238.</ref>

===Disbandment===
Following the end of the war the 9th Division remained in Borneo and performed emergency relief and occupation duties until the arrival of [[British Indian Army|Indian troops]] in January 1946. The 9th Division began gradually [[Demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II|demobilising]] on 1 October 1945 with soldiers with dependants or long service being the first to be discharged. The division's headquarters was disbanded on 10 February 1946 and the last unit of the division was disbanded in May 1946. While the majority of the division's personnel returned civilian life after the war, some continued to serve with the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force]] in Japan,<ref>Johnston (2002), p. 243.</ref> joining the [[66th Battalion (Australia)|66th Infantry Battalion]].<ref>Chinn 2008, p. 5.</ref>

==Casualties==
[[File:Derrick grave (AWM 108261).jpg|right|thumb|Men of the 2/48th Battalion gather around the grave of [[Tom Derrick|Lieutenant T.C. Derrick VC DCM]] on Tarakan (AWM 108261)]]

The 9th Division suffered a total of 2,732 killed in action, 7,501 wounded and 1,863 captured. These 12,096 casualties represent approximately one quarter of the personnel who served with the division.<ref name=Johnston251/>

==Decorations==
The 9th Division was the most highly decorated of the four AIF divisions raised during the war.<ref name=Johnstonix/> Seven of its members received the Victoria Cross,<ref name=Johnston253/> the nation's highest award for gallantry, these were (in alphabetical order by surname):

* [[Tom Derrick]];<ref group="Note">Derrick's VC was not awarded posthumously, although he was killed later in the war.</ref>
* [[John Hurst Edmondson]] (posthumous);
* [[Percival Eric Gratwick]] (posthumous);
* [[Arthur Stanley Gurney]] (posthumous);
* [[William Henry Kibby]] (posthumous);
* [[John Bernard Mackey]] (posthumous); and
* [[Leslie Thomas Starcevich]].

Military decorations awarded to members of the 9th Division include:
*7 [[Victoria Cross]]es (VC);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*41 [[Companion of the Distinguished Service Order]]s (DSO);
*[[Order of the British Empire]]: 9 Officers of the Order (OBE) and 29 Members of the Order (MBE);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*119 [[Military Cross]]es (MC);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*57 [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]]s (DCM);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*212 [[Military Medal]]s (MM);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*9 [[British Empire Medal]]s (BEM);<ref name=Johnston253/>
*611 [[Mentioned in Despatches]] (MID – not a post-nominal).<ref name=Johnston253/>

==Structure==
The 9th Division's structure was as follows:<ref>Johnston (2002), p. xiii.</ref>

*'''Infantry units'''
** [[18th Brigade (Australia)|18th Brigade]]&nbsp;– to 7th Division, 1941
** [[20th Brigade (Australia)|20th Brigade]]&nbsp;– from [[Australian 7th Division|7th Division]], 1941.
*** [[2/13th Battalion (Australia)|2/13th Australian Infantry Battalion]], [[New South Wales]] (NSW)
*** [[2/15th Battalion (Australia)|2/15th Australian Infantry Battalion]], Queensland (Qld)
*** [[2/17th Battalion (Australia)|2/17th Australian Infantry Battalion]], NSW
** [[24th Brigade (Australia)|24th Brigade]]&nbsp;– from [[Australian 8th Division|8th Division]], 1940
*** [[2/25th Battalion (Australia)|2/25th Australian Infantry Battalion]], Qld (to 25th Infantry Brigade, 1940)
*** [[2/28th Battalion (Australia)|2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion]], [[Western Australia]] (WA)
*** [[2/32nd Battalion (Australia)|2/32nd Australian Infantry Battalion]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] and Western Australia (Vic & WA)
*** [[2/43rd Battalion (Australia)|2/43rd Australian Infantry Battalion]], [[South Australia]] (SA)
** [[25th Brigade (Australia)|25th Brigade]]&nbsp;– to 7th Division, 1941
** [[26th Brigade (Australia)|26th Brigade]]
*** [[2/23rd Battalion (Australia)|2/23rd Australian Infantry Battalion]], NSW.
*** [[2/24th Battalion (Australia)|2/24th Australian Infantry Battalion]], Vic.
*** [[2/48th Battalion (Australia)|2/48th Australian Infantry Battalion]], SA
*** [[2/4th Commando Squadron (Australia)|2/4th Commando Squadron]] (from Aug 1943)
* '''Artillery regiments'''
** [[2/7th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery]]
** [[2/8th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/8th Field Regiment, RAA]]
** [[2/12th Field Regiment (Australia)|2/12th Field Regiment, RAA]] (ex 2/2nd Medium Reg., Corps Artillery)
** [[2/3rd Anti-Tank Regiment (Australia)|2/3rd Anti-Tank Regiment, RAA]] (from 8th Div., 194?)
* '''Engineer companies'''
** 2/3rd Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, [[Tasmania]]/WA/SA (from 6th Div., 194?)
** 2/13th Field Company, RAE, Qld (ex 2/1st Field Park Company)
** 2/15th Field Company, RAE. Attached to 9th Division in 1945 for the [[Battle of Labuan|landings at Labuan]] during [[Operation Oboe]]. (See [[Beach groups]] for more information)
** 2/16th Field Company
** 2/7th Field Company, RAE, Qld (ex Corps Troops)
** 2/4th Field Park Company, RAE, WA (ex 8th Division)
* '''Other units'''
** [[2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion (Australia)|2/2nd Australian Machine-Gun Battalion]] (from 7th Division, 1942)
** [[2/3rd Pioneer Battalion (Australia)|2/3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion]] (from 7th Division, 1942)
** [[2/4th Pioneer Battalion (Australia)|2/4th Australian Pioneer Battalion]]
** [[2/9th Cavalry Commando Regiment (Australia)|9th Australian Divisional Cavalry]] (from 8th Division, 1941)

==Commanders==
*Major General [[Henry Wynter]] (October 1940&nbsp;– February 1941)
*Major General [[Leslie Morshead|Sir Leslie Morshead]] (February 1941&nbsp;– March 1943)
*Major General [[George Wootten]] (March 1943&nbsp;– October 1945).<ref name=AWM/>

==Quotes==
*''[A] batch of some 50 or 60 Australian prisoners were marched off close behind us—immensely big and powerful men, who without question represented an elite formation of the British Empire, a fact that was also evident in battle.''<ref>Miller (1986), p. 3.</ref><br>—Lieutenant General [[Erwin Rommel]], Commander, German ''[[Afrika Korps]]'', [[Battle of Tobruk (1941)|Battle of Tobruk]], 1941.
*''We could not have won the battle <nowiki>[i.e. the </nowiki>[[Second Battle of El Alamein]], 1942<nowiki>]</nowiki> in twelve days without the magnificent 9th Australian Division.''<ref>Neave & Smith (2009), p. 276.</ref><br>—General [[Bernard Montgomery]], writing about the Allied breakthrough in North Africa.
*''My God, I wish we had [the] 9th Australian Division with us this morning <nowiki>[</nowiki>[[Normandy Landings|D-Day]]<nowiki>]</nowiki>.''<ref>Johnston (2007), p. 50.</ref><br>—Major General [[Freddie de Guingand]], Chief of Staff, [[SHAEF|Allied Land-force Headquarters Europe]], 1944.

==Notes==
{{portal|Military history of Australia}}
;Footnotes
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

;Citations
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|last=Bierman|first=John |author2=Smith, Colin| title=Alemein: War Without Hate| publisher=Viking |location=London| year=2002| isbn=978-0-670-91109-7}}
* {{cite book|editor1-last=Horner|editor1-first=David|editor2-last=Bou|editor2-first=Jean |last=Chinn |first=David |chapter=Raising a Regular Infantry Force |title=Duty First: A History of the Royal Australian Regiment| edition=2nd |publisher=Allen & Unwin |location=Crows Nest, New South Wales |year=2008 |pages=1–18 |isbn=978-1-74175-374-5}}
* {{Cite book|last=Coulthard-Clark|first=Chris|title=The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles|year=1998|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Sydney, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-86448-611-7}}
* {{Cite book|last=Johnston|first=Mark|author-link=Mark Johnston (historian)|title=That Magnificent 9th: An Illustrated History of the 9th Australian Division 1940–46|year=2002|publisher=Allen & Unwin|location=Sydney, New South Wales |isbn=978-1-86508-654-5}}
* {{Cite book |last=Johnston |first=Mark |title=The Australian Army in World War II |series=Elite |year=2007 |publisher=Osprey Publishing |location=Oxford |isbn=978-1-84603-123-6}}
* {{Cite book|last=Keogh|first=Eustace|author-link = Eustace Graham Keogh|title=The South West Pacific 1941–45|year=1965|publisher=Grayflower Productions |location=Melbourne, Victoria |oclc=7185705}}
* {{Cite book|last=Latimer|first=Jon|title=Alamein|year=2002|publisher=John Murray|location=London|isbn=978-0-674-01016-1|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/alamein0000lati}}
* {{Cite book|last=Long|first=Gavin|author-link=Gavin Long|title=The Final Campaigns|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Series 1—Army. Volume VII|year=1963|edition=1st|publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070206/|oclc=1297619}}
* {{Cite book|last=Maughan|first=Barton|title=Tobruk to El Alamein|series=Australia in the War of 1939–1945, Series 1—Army. Volume III|year=1966|edition=1st|publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory |url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070202/|oclc= 954993}}
* {{Cite book|last=Miller|first=Ward|title=The 9th Australian Division Versus the Africa Corps: An Infantry Division Against Tanks—Tobruk, Libya, 1941|year=1986|publisher=US Army Command and Staff College|location=Fort Leavenworth, Kansas|url=http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/miller/miller.asp|oclc=14129655|access-date=9 January 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228204508/http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/miller/miller.asp|archive-date=28 December 2009|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite book|last=Neave|first=Denny|author2=Smith, Craig|title=Aussie Soldier Prisoners of War|year=2009|publisher=Big Sky Publishing|location=Newport, New South Wales |isbn=978-0-9803251-5-7}}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*[http://jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw/Australian_Tac_Signs/9th-Ppus.gif Australian 9th Division Vehicle Marking]
*[http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/el_alamein/reading.htm Australian War Memorial Encyclopedia, "El Alamein" ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051124224216/http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/el_alamein/reading.htm |date=24 November 2005 }}
*[http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/alamein/transcript.htm Peter Stanley (Australian War Memorial), 2002, "Ruin Ridge, 26–27 July 1942" ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060301115642/http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/remembering1942/alamein/transcript.htm |date=1 March 2006 }}
* [http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awmohww2/army/vol1/awmohww2-army-vol1-app4.pdf Unit Colour Patches May 1941] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023053122/http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/records/awmohww2/army/vol1/awmohww2-army-vol1-app4.pdf |date=23 October 2012 }}
*[https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/docs-middle-east-1930-1947-australian-formations/ Australian Formations, Middle East @ BritishMilitaryHistory]

{{Tobruk in the Second World War}}
{{Australian WW2 Divs|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Infantry divisions of Australia|09]]
[[Category:Australian World War II divisions|09]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1940]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:1946 disestablishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Siege of Tobruk]]