3 - ‘WE WERE LEARNING THEN’

Summary

The Mediterranean campaigns of 1941 were the AMF’s command nursery in the Second World War, and it was here that its operational prowess in later years was founded. Seven of the Australian brigadiers involved would go on to become divisional commanders and of the 68 battalion COs, 25 would subsequently command brigades. All up, 150 COs or future COs served in the Mediterranean theatre – 93 per cent of the officers who would command battalions on operations throughout the war.

The commencement of operations in January 1941 marked the emergence of a meritocracy among Australian COs. Effectively cut off from the rest of the AMF, the AIF had to develop the ability to regenerate its command structure from within in order to withstand the inevitable casualties of battle. We have already seen how the AIF, following its arrival in the Middle East, had begun to identify and replace those unfitted to the rigours of operational command and to train and promote those with demonstrated ability. Each fortnight lists of officers observed to be ready for command were forwarded to AIF HQ; formation commanders had to certify that they would accept the officers listed as COs in their own formations. Although there was still room for patronage networks to operate, the experience of battle would become the principal arbiter of an officer’s fitness to command. Indeed, by the time they embarked for Greece in April 1941 only three of the 6th Division’s battalions were commanded by the officers who had overseen their formation.