The Army - World War 2
The Australian Army was the largest service in the Australian military during World War II.
Prior to the outbreak of war, the Australian Army was split into the small full-time Permanent Military Forces (PMF) and the larger part-time Militia. The main function of the PMF was to administer and train the Militia.
The Defence Act 1903 restricted the pre-war Army to service in Australia and its territories including Papua and New Guinea. As a result, when Australia entered the war in 1939, a new all-volunteer force was required that could fight in Europe or elsewhere outside of Australia's immediate region.
Following the outbreak of war, on 14 September 1939 Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced that 40,000 members of the Militia would be called up for training and a 20,000-strong expeditionary force, designated the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF), would be formed for overseas service.
In addition, the Volunteer Defence Corps was formed. The VDC was apart time volunteer military force modelled on the British home - guard, many of its members being WW1 veterans.
Meanwhile, conscription was introduced in October 1939 to keep the Militia at strength as its members volunteered for the AIF. Militia units were not allowed to serve outside Australia until 1943. Nevertheless, the Militia provided a pool of experienced officers and soldiers who could be used to expand the Army in the event of war, and indeed during the course of the war about 200,000 Militia soldiers volunteered for overseas service.
In 1942 the Army adopted the title Australian Military Forces (AMF) to encompass the various categories of service: AIF, Militia and Permanent Forces. The Army was considerably expanded in early 1942 in response to the Japanese threat to Australia. During this year the Army's strength peaked at eleven infantry divisions and three armoured divisions, and in August 1942 the Army had a strength of 476,000 men. This force was larger than Australia's population and economy could sustain, and its strength was reduced in the second half of the year.