Northern Territory Force

Northern Territory Force was an Australian Army force responsible for protecting the Northern Territory during World War II. Most units assigned to the Northern Territory Force were based near Darwin and were responsible for defending the important naval and air bases in and around the town against a feared Japanese invasion. Northern Territory Force was disbanded at the end of the war.

Northern Territory Force was established on 25 April 1942 from the headquarters of the 6th Division and 7th Military District. Australian Army units were rotated through northern Australia during the war, and six infantry brigades served as part of Northern Territory Force at different times between 1942 and 1945. Northern Territory Force was redesignated to 12th Division on 31 December 1942, however it was redesignated again back to Northern Territory Force on 15 January 1943.

During the fifteen days that the formation was designated 12th Division, it comprised the 3rd Brigade, 19th Brigade, 23rd Brigade, 2/4th Pioneer Battalion and 2/6th Cavalry Regiment.^[1]

The main units deployed to protect Darwin during the war were:^[1]

• 2nd Brigade (September 1943 – September 1944)
• 3rd Brigade (March 1942 – March 1943)
• 12th Brigade (July 1943 – end of war)
• 13th Brigade (March 1943 – November 1944)
• 19th Brigade (March 1942 – June 1943)
• 23rd Brigade (March 1941 – September 1943)
• Darwin (same as 7th ?) Fortress Company, RAE (December 1941 – December 1944)
• 2/4th Pioneer Battalion (15 December 1942 – 15 October 1944)
• 2/6th Cavalry Regiment (15 December 1942 – 15 December 1943)

Commanding officers

• Major General Edmund Herring (April – August 1942)
• Major General Jack Stevens (August 1942 – March 1943)

Notes

References

• McKenzie-Smith, Graham (1995). Australia's Forgotten Army. Volume 2. Defending the Northern Gateways Northern Territory and Torres Strait. 1938 to 1945. Queanbeyan, NSW: Highland Press. ISBN 0-646-24404-3.