Portal:Military history of Australia/Units/February 8

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Australian 29th Battalion platoon, 1918
Australian 29th Battalion platoon, 1918

The 5th Division of the First Australian Imperial Force was formed in February 1916 during the reorganization of Australian forces following the evacuation of Gallipoli. Commanded by Major General J.W. McCay, the 5th Division was the first Australian division to see battle on the Western Front during the ill-fated diversion at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. From January 1917 the 5th Division was commanded by Major General Talbot Hobbs and saw action at Bullecourt and Passchendaele in 1917 and fought in the German Spring Offensive and the Hundred Days Offensive of 1918.