[Lang]

Just had a look at the Australian Second Army. It was an organisation that gave various floating and home defence units in NSW, Victoria and South Australia a formation headquarters.

At its peak it had close to 150,000 people under its control including two American Divisions training in Australia, various home defence organisations but particularly many training schools. Initially headquartered in Melbourne but by the time the war finished it had slowly been reduced to mainly defence of the Sydney area and various training schools - a mere shadow of its former self.

Its redesignation as "Training Command" was never completed because of the war's end.


Upon formation in April 1942, the Second Army consisted of the following formations:

2nd Motor Division
Victoria Covering Force
US 41st Infantry Division
US 32nd Infantry Division (joining/arriving)
12th Brigade Group
By August 1943, the formation had been reduced to the following:

1st Division
1st Brigade
9th Brigade
28th Brigade
Commanders
Second Army was initially commanded by Lieutenant General Iven Mackay. In January 1944, the position passed to Lieutenant General Leslie Morshead; he remained until July 1944. That month, Major General Herbert Lloyd assumed administrative command, and he remained in the position until January 1946.