Australian and New Zealand troops served in the Near East theatre for most of the war. The first battalions of the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force arrive in Egypt on 3.12.1914. Initially in transit for Europe they become Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) on 21.12.1914:
Divisions
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Datestamps
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- New Zealand and Australian Division
Formed from New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 1 Australian Light Horse Brigade, and 4 Australian Infantry Brigade in January 1915 in Cairo. After its evacuation from the Dardanelles in December 1915 it serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences and in March 1916 most troops become New Zealand Division.
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The datestamp used at HQ was HEADQUARTERS / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION (25.01.1915--4.09.1915 and 6.02.1916--27.02.1916). The brigades used:
- MOUNTED BRIGADE / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION
- INFANTRY BRIGADE / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION
- 1ST AUST. L.H. BDE. FIELD P. O.
- 1ST L.H. BDE. / DETAILS F. P. O.
- 4th AUST. INF. / BGDE. / FIELD P.O.
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- New Zealand Division
Formed on 1.03.1916 from troops in New Zealand and Australian Division: 1 New Zealand Brigade (the former New Zealand Infantry Brigade), 2 New Zealand Brigade, and New Zealand Rifle Brigade.
This division serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences at Ferry Post and sails for France in April 1916.
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The datestamp used at HQ was HEADQUARTERS / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION (6.03.1916--5.04.1916). The brigades used:
- INFANTRY BRIGADE / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION
- NEW ZEALAND / RIFLE / BRIGADE / FIELDPOST OFFICE
- NEW ZEALAND / 2ND INF / BRIGADE / FIELD POST OFFICE
- DIVISIONAL TRAIN / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. & A. DIVN
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- 1 Australian Division
Joins ANZAC upon its creation. After its evacuation from the Dardanelles in December 1915 it serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences. In February 1916 some troops become 4 Australian Division and 5 Australian Division, the remainder sails for France in March 1916.
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The datestamp used at HQ was 1ST AUST. DIV. FIELD P.O. (8.12.1914--11.01.1915 and 2.02.1916--13.03.1916). The brigades used:
- 1ST AUST. INF. BDE. FIELD P.O.
- 2ND AUST. INF. BDE FIELD P.O.
- 3RD AUST. INF. BDE. FIELD P.O
- 1ST AUST. DIVISIONAL / TRAIN / FIELD P.O.
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- 2 Australian Division
Formed 26.07.1915. After its evacuation from the Dardanelles in December 1915 it serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences. It sails for France in March 1916.
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The datestamp used at HQ was 2ND AUST. DIV. / H.Q. / FIELD P.O. (1.03.1916--18.04.1916). The brigades used:
- 5TH INF. BDE. / FIELD P.O
- 6TH INF. BDE. / FIELD P.O
- 7TH INF. BDE. / FIELD P.O
- 2ND AUST. DIV. TRAIN / FIELD P.O.
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- 2 Australian Light Horse Brigade
Joins as Anzac Corps troops on 1.02.1915 and serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences. On 16.03.1916 it joins Anzac Mounted Division in the newly created II Anzac Corps.
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The datestamps used were LH BDE FIELD PO 2 AUST (11.01.1916--03.1916) and 2 AUST LH BDE FIELD P O (5.02.1916--03.1916).
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The corps headquarter moves from Shepherd's Hotel, Cairo to the Dardanelles in April 1915, returns to Tel el-Kebir in January 1916 and moves to Ismailia in February 1916. The datestamp used at HQ was
AUST. & N.Z. ARMY CORPS / HEADQUARTERS / FIELD P.O. (31.03.1915--8.04.1915 and --.12.1915--24.04.1916).
In April 1916 the Corps leaves for France where it becomes 1 Anzac Corps.
The remaining troops are formed into II Anzac Corps on 2.03.1916:
Divisions
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Datestamps
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- Australia and New Zealand Mounted Division (Anzac Mounted Division)
Formed 16.03.1916 at Serapeum from 1 Australian Light Horse Brigade, 2 Australian Light Horse Brigade, 3 Australian Light Horse Brigade, New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and parts of the disbanded 4 Australian Light Horse Brigade. It serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences.
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The datestamp used at HQ were
FIELD POST OFFICE / M.D.1 (27.04.1916--06.1916).
The brigades used:
- 1ST AUST. L.H. BDE. FIELD P. O.
- LH BDE FIELD PO 2 AUST
- 2 AUST LH BDE FIELD P O
- 3RD LIGHT HORSE / A.I.F. / FIELD POST OFFICE
- MOUNTED BRIGADE / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION
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- 4 Australian Division
The former 4 Australian Infantry Brigade serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences and in June 1916 sails for France.
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The datestamp used at HQ was FIELD POST OFFICE / D.A.N.4 (17.04.1916--30.05.1916). The train used
FIELD POST OFFICE / T.A.N.4 (15.03.1916--30.05.1916).
The brigades used:
- 4th AUST. INF. / BGDE. / FIELD P.O.
- FIELD POST OFFICE / A.N.12
- FIELD POST OFFICE / A.N.13
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- 5 Australian Division
Formed in February 1916 from 8 Australian Brigade and parts of 1 Australian Brigade and 2 Australian Brigade. It serves in 2 Section Suez Canal Defences and in June 1916 sails for France.
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The datestamp used at HQ was FIELD POST OFFICE / D.A.N.5 (27.04.1916--13.06.1916). The train used
FIELD POST OFFICE / T.A.N.5 (17.05.1916--30.05.1916).
The brigades used:
- 8TH AUS. INF. BDE. / FIELD P.O
- FIELD POST OFFICE / A.N.8
- FIELD POST OFFICE / A.N.14
- FIELD POST OFFICE / A.N.15
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II Anzac Corps leaves for France on 7.06.1916, only the mounted formations remain in theatre. At its HQ it used datestamp
FIELD POST OFFICE / MH2 (March--June 1916).
Divisions
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Datestamps
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In June 1916 Anzac Mounted Division is transferred to 3 Section Suez Canal Defences, joins Desert Column on 7.12.1916 and Desert Mounted Corps in August 1917.
After briefly becoming Palestine Line of Communication troops at Rafa in January 1919, the division moves to Kantara where it gets disbanded on 1.07.1919.
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The datestamps used at HQ were
FIELD POST OFFICE / M.D.1 (--.06.1916--3.04.1917),
FIELD POST OFFICE / DM1 (17.05.1917--4.08.1917), and
FIELD POST OFFICE / D.M.1 (16.08.1917--1.02.1919). The train section used
FIELD POST OFFICE / MDT1 (15.06.1916--4.02.1917),
ARMY POST OFFICE / TM1 (22.05.1917--22.06.1917), and
FIELD POST OFFICE / T.M.1 (4.07.1917--7.07.1919).
The brigades used:
- 1ST AUST. L.H. BDE. FIELD P. O.
- 1ST L.H. BDE. / DETAILS F. P. O.
- 2 AUST LH BDE FIELD P O
- FIELD POST OFFICE / LH2
- LH BDE FIELD PO 2 AUST
- 3RD LIGHT HORSE / A.I.F. / FIELD POST OFFICE
- MOUNTED BRIGADE / FIELD / POST OFFICE / N.Z. DIVISION
- FIELD POST OFFICE / NZ
- FIELD POST OFFICE / N.Z.
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3 Australian Light Horse Brigade and the reformed 4 Australian Light Horse Brigade subsequently serve in:
- Imperial Mounted Division (January to June 1917)
which then becomes
- Australian Mounted Division (from June 1917)
There they are joined in August 1918 by the newly formed 5 Australian Light Horse Brigade.
By August 1919 all troops have left for Australia.
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The datestamps used at Imperial Mounted Division HQ were FIELD POST OFFICE / MD2 and
FIELD POST OFFICE / M.D.2 (17.03.1917--16.05.1917).
The datestamps used at Australian Mounted Division HQ were FIELD POST OFFICE / DM2 and
FIELD POST OFFICE / D.M.2 (8.06.1917--17.01.1919).
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