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In common with other Australian units, the 7th Division was one of only a few Allied units to serve with distinction in the Middle East Campaign , North African Campaign and the South West Pacific Area . Structure ''Main divisional units'' (with state of origin, where applicable) Infantry units
'' Corps level units attached to the division''
Commanders Maj. Gen. John Lavarack , February 1940 - October 1942 Maj. Gen. George Vasey , October 1942 - 1944 Maj. Gen. Edward Milford , 1944-46 History The 7th Division left Australia for the Middle East in October 1940. It was then sent to North Africa and the '''18th Brigade''' played a successful defensive role in the Siege Of Tobruk , from May 1941. Meanwhile, the rest of the 7th Division formed the backbone of the Allied invasion of Lebanon and Syria ; with British, Indian and Free French forces, the 7th defeated Vichy French land forces in the Middle East. Lieutenant ''' Arthur Roden Cutler ''' won the Victoria Cross (VC) for his exploits in late June and early July in the Merdjayoun-Damour area, and was later seriously wounded. Corporal ''' Jim Gordon ''' also won a VC in the campaign. The Pacific War In December 1941, as Japanese forces advanced rapidly in South East Asia , it was decided that the 6th and 7th Divisions were needed to defend Australia. Elements of the 7th Division were diverted to Java , and fought bravely alongside Dutch forces there, but were soon overwhelmed. The bulk of the division went straight to New Guinea. The 21st Brigade under Brig. Arnold Potts reinforced the Reservists of the 39th (Militia) Battalion , fighting a rearguard action on the ''' Kokoda Track '''. Simultaneously, the 18th Brigade, with a Militia brigade, Royal Australian Air Force planes and ground staff, and a US engineer regiment, successfully defended an airbase at the eastern tip of New Guinea from a major assault by Japanese Marines - the Battle Of Milne Bay was the first outright defeat of Japanese land forces in World War II. ''' Corporal John French ''' who was killed at Milne Bay, was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross (VC) . Meanwhile, the Kokoda Track campaign had become a vicious, see-sawing battle, featuring fierce fighting around Kokoda itself and at Isurava where ''' Private Bruce Kingsbury ''' won a posthumous VC on August 29. The '''25th Brigade''' relieved the 21st, and Australian forces began to gain ground. The 21st Brigade returned for the Battle Of Buna-Gona in late 1942, in which Australian and US forces suffered very high casualties, while capturing the main Japanese beachheads on the north coast of New Guinea. The Division was converted to a Jungle Division in early 1943 and during 1943-44, the whole 7th Division fought extensive and often bloody mopping-up operations against Japanese forces in the north east of New Guinea. The division was flown to the '''Ramu Valley''' and Markham Valley . Beginning at '''Nadzab''' — where ''' Private Richard Kelliher ''' won a VC — they successfully advanced to '''Lae''' and '''Madang'''. Another hard campaign, in the mountains of the '''Finisterre Ranges''' followed, including the intense battle at '''Shaggy Ridge'''. Later in 1944, the 7th Division returned to Australia and retrained in north Queensland, including Amphibious Assault training. In July 1945, the whole division, with the Militia's 1st Armoured Regiment, was deployed in the Borneo Campaign , and undertook the Amphibious Assault On Balikpapan , in Sarawak . Fighting continued until the war ended in August. The 7th Division, like most of the 2nd AIF, was disbanded during 1946. |
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