Throughout World War II, Australians served in Britain and Western Europe. At first, the plan was for Australian soldiers to serve with the British Expeditionary Force in France. But the strategic situation changed in mid-1940. Most of the troops remained in the Middle East and North Africa until late 1942. Only 2 brigades of the 2nd Australian Imperial Force (AIF) served in Britain in 1940. Some Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadrons served in Britain with the Royal Air Force (RAF). Some Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships served in British waters and the Atlantic. Many Australian men and women joined or were seconded to British military units, which served in Britain and Europe.
Australia's entry into the war
On 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. In response, Britain and France declared war on Germany on 3 September. At the same time, the Australian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Menzies, made a declaration:
Fellow Australians, it is my melancholy duty to inform you officially, that in consequence of a persistence by Germany in her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her and that, as a result, Australia is also at war. No harder task can fall to the lot of a democratic leader than to make such an announcement.
As well as seeking to support Britain in Europe, Australia was concerned about Japan's expansion in Asia.
In September 1939, the Australian prime minister decided to raise a special force – the Second Australian Imperial Force (AIF) – for service at home or abroad 'as circumstances permit'. [Sydney Fairburn Rowell, Full Circle, 1974, Melbourne University Press, p 100]
The AIF was drawn from volunteers, the same as the 1st AIF in World War I.
Australia also maintained a citizen militia for defence at home. Members of the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) served only in Australia and a defined area of the South West Pacific.
At the outbreak of war, some units of the RAN and RAAF found themselves in the Northern Hemisphere.
No. 10 Squadron RAAF was in the United Kingdom (UK) being re-equipped with Short Sunderland flying boats. It would remain there for the duration of the war. It served in the Battle of the Atlantic.
Similarly, the recently commissioned Leander-class light cruiser, HMAS Perth, was in the Caribbean. It spent the first few months of the war on convoy duties in the western Atlantic. Then it returned to Australia.
As British forces deployed to continental Europe in early 1940, the 6th Division of the AIF embarked to the Middle East for training. It was eventually decided in February 1940 to raise the 7th Division to join the 6th Division in the Middle East. The intention was that Australian forces would, in due course, move to France.
However, 2 factors changed that position:
- the Fall of France in early June
- Italy's declaration of war on 10 June.
Australian divisions remained in the Middle East and the Mediterranean until returning to Australia in late 1942.
Main involvement of Australians
- Defending Britain
- Royal Australian Navy in British waters
- Service with RAF Bomber Command
- Australians at D-Day and beyond