5th Division (Australia)

Australian 5th Division
A machine gun position established by the 54th Battalion during its attack on German forces at Peronne, France, 1 September 1918.
Active	1916–1919 1939–1945
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Size	Division
Part of	II ANZAC Corps (World War I) II Corps (World War II)
Engagements	World War I Western Front World War II Salamaua–Lae campaign Huon Peninsula campaign New Britain campaign
Insignia
Unit colour patch

The 5th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army which served during the First and Second World Wars. The division was formed in February 1916 as part of the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force infantry brigades. In addition to the existing 8th Brigade were added the new 14th and 15th Brigades, which had been raised from the battalions of the 1st and 2nd Brigades respectively. From Egypt the division was sent to France and then Belgium, where they served in the trenches along the Western Front until the end of the war in November 1918. After the war ended, the division was demobilised in 1919.

The division was re-raised as a Militia formation during the Second World War, and was mobilised for the defence of North Queensland in 1942, when it was believed that the area was a prime site for an invasion by Japanese forces. Most of the division was concentrated in the Townsville area, although the 11th Brigade was detached for the defence of Cairns and Cape York. In 1943, the division took part in the final stages of the Salamaua–Lae campaign, in New Guinea, and then later in 1944 captured Madang during the Huon Peninsula campaign. In 1944–1945, the division was committed to the New Britain campaign, before being relieved in July 1945. The division was disbanded in September 1945 following the end of the war.