| 7th Division | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:AWM_010546_allen_lebanon.jpg) Hammana, Lebanon. 2 September 1941. Maj. Gen. A. S. "Tubby" Allen (centre), commander of the 7th Division, with Lt Col. Murray Moten (centre right), commander of the 2/27th Infantry Battalion and his men. (Photographer: Frank Hurley.) | |
| Active | 1940–1946 |
| Country |  Australia |
| Branch | Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Type | Division |
| Role | Infantry |
| Size | ~17,000 men[1] |
| Part of | I Corps |
| Nickname(s) | "The Silent Seventh" |
| Engagements | World War II |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Arthur "Tubby" Allen George Alan Vasey |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch | &sq=&lang=&file=File:7th_aus_inf_div.svg) |
The 7th Division was an infantry division of the Australian Army. It was formed in February 1940 to serve in World War II, as part of the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). The division was raised on the British establishment of nine infantry battalions per division[2] and consisted of two new brigades and three of the original 12 battalions of the 6th Division forming the third brigade. The division is sometimes known by the nickname "The Silent Seventh", due to a perception that its achievements were unrecognised, in comparison to the other Australian divisions. The origin of this belief appears to be censorship of the part played by the 7th Division in the fierce fighting in the 1941 Syria-Lebanon campaign.[3][4] The 7th Division along with the 6th and 9th Australian Divisions were the only divisions to serve in both the Middle East and the South West Pacific Area. It was disbanded in 1946, following the end of the war.