12th Brigade (Australia)

12th Infantry Brigade
Members of the 45th Battalion at the Battle of the Hindenburg Line
Active	1916–1919 1921–1944
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Type	Infantry
Size	Brigade
Part of	4th Division 12th Division
Engagements	First World War Western Front Second World War
Commanders
Notable commanders	Brigadier Eric Vowles Brigadier Robert Winning

First World War

The 12th Brigade was an infantry brigade of the Australian Army. Formed in 1916 as part of the all volunteer First Australian Imperial Force that was raised for overseas service during the First World War, the brigade was part of the 4th Division and fought on the Western Front until the end of the war in November 1918. During the inter-war years, the brigade was re-formed in Australia as a part-time unit; during the Second World War, the brigade was mobilised for full-time service, but did not serve overseas, undertaking garrison duties in Australia until 1944 when it was disbanded.

The 12th Brigade was initially raised in early 1916 as part of the expansion of the First Australian Imperial Force, which was Australia's overseas volunteer force during World War I. The brigade was formed in Egypt from a cadre of experienced personnel who had served during the Gallipoli Campaign as part of the 4th Brigade. Attached to the 4th Division and consisting of four infantry battalions—the 45th, 46th, 47th and 48th Battalions—it served in the trenches of the Western Front from June 1916 onwards. During this time, the brigade fought in several significant battles including the Battle of Pozières, the First Battle of Bullecourt, the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Passchendaele, and the German Spring Offensive. In May 1918, the brigade was one of three that was selected to disband one of its battalions in order to provide reinforcements to other units in the Australian Corps and it was at this time that the 47th Battalion was disbanded. The 12th Brigade's remaining battalions continued to fight after this, taking part in the final Allied offensive of the war, the Hundred Days Offensive, which was launched around Amiens in August and followed by a series of advances as the Allies broke through the Hindenburg Line.