| 6th Australian Division During a visit to the Western Front in May 1916, the Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes the Australian Prime Minister suggested the formation of a 6th Australian Division. This suggestion was supported by the Australian Chief of General Staff. The suggestion was rejected by the Army Council due to the difficulties already faced in getting reinforcements for the existing divisions. Elinstments at the end of 1916 had dropped to below 10,000 a month. A referendum in October 1916 narrowly defeted the introduction of conscription. In February 1917 the British Government requested the Australian Government to consider forming a 6th Division, this it consented to do. Du to the difficulty in replacing the heavy casualties sustained in the battles around Bullecourt the 16th Australian Brigade was broken up in May 1917 and the formation of the 6th Austarlain Division abandoned. In November 1917 the British Secretary of State for War again requested that a 6th Australian Division be formed. Another referendum on consciption was defeted in December 1917, this finaly put an end to a 6th Australian Division.
|
|||||||||