Australian 9th Division
| 9th Australian Division | |
|---|---|
.jpg)
Members of the 9th Division parade at Gaza Airport in late 1942
|
|
| Active | 1940–46 |
| Country |
 Australia
|
| Branch | Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | ~16,000–18,000 personnel. |
| Nickname(s) | "The Rats of Tobruk"; "The Magnificent 9th" |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
Sir Leslie Morshead Sir George Wootten |
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 1941–42 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 1943–44, 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.
The 9th Division was the fourth AIF division raised, being formed in the United Kingdom in late 1940. Initially it consisted of only two infantry brigades which had been formed in Australia and dispatched to the UK in order to defend against a possible invasion following the Fall of France—the 18th and 25th Brigades—under the command of Major General Henry Wynter. Later, the 24th Brigade was also assigned to the division.
In January 1941 Wynter became ill and was replaced as divisional commander by Leslie Morshead. By February 1941, 9th Division headquarters had been relocated to the Middle East. Around this time the divisions of the AIF underwent a reorganisation as the decision was made to send the more established brigades to Greece; as a result both the 18th and 25th Brigades were transferred from the 9th to the 7th Division. They were replaced by the 20th and 26th Brigades, both of which were considered to be less experienced and therefore less ready for action.
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