| 1st Division | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Lone_Pine_trench_6_August_1915.jpg) Members of the 7th Battalion in a trench at Lone Pine, 6 August 1915 | |
| Active | 1914–1919 1921–1945 1960–present |
| Country | Australia |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Main deployment force |
| Garrison/HQ | Brisbane, Queensland |
| Engagements | First World War Second World War |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Ash Collingburn |
| Notable commanders | William Bridges James Legge Talbot Hobbs Harry Chauvel William Glasgow Herbert Lloyd Peter Cosgrove |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch | &sq=&lang=&file=File:1st_Division_1st_AIF_formation_colour_patch.png){kind=small} |
The 1st Division, also known as the 1st (Australian) Division, is a division headquartered in Enoggera Barracks in Brisbane. The division was first formed in 1914 for service during the First World War as a part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF). It was initially part of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) and served with that formation during the Gallipoli campaign, before later serving on the Western Front. After the war, the division became a part-time unit based in New South Wales. During the Second World War it undertook defensive duties in Australia. It was disbanded in 1945.
After the Second World War, the division remained off the Australian Army's order of battle until the 1960s, when it was reformed in New South Wales. In 1965 it adopted a certification role, determining the operational readiness of units deploying to Vietnam. It was re-formed in 1973 as a full division based in Queensland and in the decades that followed it formed the Australian Army's main formation, including both Regular and Reserve personnel. Throughout this period, the division's component units undertook multiple operations, mainly focused on peacekeeping in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Following the restructuring of the Australian Army under the "Adaptive Army" initiative, the 1st Division no longer had any combat units assigned to it, although the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment became a direct command unit in late 2017. The division is tasked with co-ordinating the Army's high-level training activities and maintaining the "Deployable Joint Force Headquarters" (DJFHQ). In the event of the Australian Army undertaking a large-scale land-based operation, the division would have further combat units force assigned to it and would command all deployed assets including those of the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force.[1]