4th Division ( Australia ) The Australian 4th Division was formed in the First World War during the expansion of the Australian Imperial Force infantry brigades in February 1916 . In addition to the experienced 4th Brigade ( previously in the original New Zealand and Australian Division ) were added the new 12th and 13th Brigades ( spawned from the battalions of the 4th and 3rd Brigades respectively ) . From Egypt the division was sent to France . After the war ended and the AIF was demobilised , the division was dissolved . In 1921 , the 4th Division name was reactivated as an Citizens Military Forces ( militia / reserve ) formation . The division performed home defence duties for most of World War II , before deactivation in 1944 . World War I unit history . The 4th Division began forming in Egypt in February 1916 . The new division included the 4th Infantry Brigade , 4th Field Company , 4th Field Ambulance and 7th Army Service Corps Company which had fought at Gallipoli . The 12th and 13th Infantry Brigades were formed by taking half the personnel of the 4th and 3rd Infantry Brigades . The division was initially stationed on the Suez Canal . In June 1916 it moved to France , taking over part of the " nursery " sector near Armentieres . Its stay there was brief and soon it was accompanying the First and Second Divisions to the Somme sector . In August 1916 it relieved the Second Division on the Pozieres Heights and repulsed a major German counterattack . It then drove north to the outskirts of Mouquet Farm . A second tour of the Somme at Mouquet Farm followed in September and a third at Flers in October . On 11 April 1917 the division assaulted the Hindenburg Line in the First Battle of Bullecourt . The battle was a disaster and 1170 Australian prisoners were taken by the Germans . In June it participated in the Battle of Messines . In September it participated in the Battle of Polygon Wood . In March 1918 the division was rushed to the Somme region to stem the German Offensive . There it repulsed the advancing Germans in hard fought battles at Hebuterne and Dernancourt . In April its 13th Infantry Brigade was involved in the counterattack at Villers - Bretonneux . The division went on to fight in the Battle of Hamel , Battle of Epehy ( with distinction ) , Battle of Amiens and the Hindenburg Line , finally reaching the town of Bellenglise . Order of battle upon formation in World War I . Artillery . 4th Division Artillery Field Ambulance . 4th Division Field Ambulance Commanders . 1916 : Maj . Gen . H . V . Cox < br > 1916 - 1917 : Maj . Gen . W . Holmes < br > 1917 - 19 : Maj . Gen . Ewen Sinclair - Maclagan Battles . Casualties After World War I . In 1921 , the 4th Division name was revived and was assigned to an Australian Citizens Military Forces ( reserve ) unit based in Melbourne , which served in Australia during World War II After the outbreak of war with Japan , the division became part of III Corps , which was responsible for the defence of Western Australia . The division garrisoned WA until it was inactivated in November 1944 . Bibliography . Descriptions of the main battles can be found in the following books : " Mad Harry , Australia ' s most decorated soldier " George Franki & Clyde Slayter , Kangaroo Press 2003 . ( Biography of Lt Col Harry Murray VC CMG DSO and Bar DCM C de G ) " No ordinary determination - Percy Black and Harry Murray of the First AIF " Jeff Hatwell , Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2005 . " The Blood Tub - General Gough and the Battle of Bullecourt 1917 " Jonathan Walker , Spellmount 2000 . ( Re Sir Hubert Gough ) " Somme Mud - the war experiences of an Australian infantryman in France 1916 - 1919 " , Edward Lynch , ed Will Davies , 2006 Random House , ISBN 1 - 74166 - 547 - 7