9th Division (Australia)

9th Australian Division
Members of the 9th Division parade at Gaza Airport in late 1942
Active1940–1946
Country Australia
BranchSecond Australian Imperial Force
TypeInfantry
Size~16,000–18,000 personnel.[1]
Nickname(s)"The Rats of Tobruk";
"The Magnificent 9th"
EngagementsWorld War II
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Sir Leslie Morshead
George Wootten
Insignia
First pattern
1940–1942
Second pattern
1942–1946

The 9th Division was a division of the Australian Army that served during World War II. It was the fourth division raised for the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). The distinctions of the division include it being:

During 1940, the component units of the 9th Division were sent to the UK to defend it against a possible German invasion. After serving during 1941–1942 in the North African campaign, at the Siege of Tobruk and both the First and Second Battles of El Alamein, the 9th Division returned to Australia. In 1943–1944, it served in the New Guinea campaign and, during 1945, in the Borneo campaign. It was disbanded, following the end of the war, in early 1946.

  1. ^ Johnston (2002), p. xi.
  2. ^ a b Johnston (2002), p. ix.
  3. ^ Miller (1986) passim