The 10th Division was a division of the Australian Army, which served briefly during World War II. It was initially formed on 15 April 1942 from the Militia units of the Newcastle Covering Force. However, personnel shortages led to the division being disbanded in August that year.
In 1945, as plans were being made for an invasion of the Japanese home islands, the name 10th Division was revived for a proposed Australian contingent. It was to use personnel drawn from existing units of the Australian Imperial Force. The war ended before the invasion took place and the division was not formally re-raised.
History
Formation and disbandment
In April 1941, the Newcastle Covering Force was formed, taking over responsibility for the defence of Newcastle from the 1st Division. A Militia formation's main element was initially the 1st, although the 32nd Brigade After this, its headquarters moved from Fort Scratchley to Broadmeadow. The 1st Brigade was detached and returned to the command of the 1st Division in August 1942 and moved to Greta to undertake a period of training; during this time the 14th Brigade was attached to the force.
Plans to re-raise
Much later in the war, as Allied forces approached the Japanese home islands, planning began for a Commonwealth Corps, including an Australian Imperial Force (AIF) division, to be the re-raised 10th Division. The division was to be made up of experienced personnel from the existing divisions. The corps would have included British and Canadian divisions, and was to be part of a landing on Honshū in 1946. Regardless, the planned landing would have been dominated by US forces, and was known as Operation Coronet.
Subordinate units
- 1st Infantry Brigade (15 April – 27 August 1942)
- 13th Infantry Battalion
- 41st Infantry Battalion
- 2nd Infantry Battalion
- 32nd Infantry Brigade (15 April – 27 August 1942)