| 10th Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Members of the 10th Brigade receiving medals on parade, 7 July 1918 | |
| Active | 1912–1919 1921–1942 |
| Country |  Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Crown |
| Branch | Australian Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Size | ~3,500 personnel |
| Part of | 3rd Division |
| Engagements | First World War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Stanley Savige Raymond Tovell Thomas Blamey |
| Insignia | |
| Unit colour patch |  |
The10th Brigade was aninfantrybrigade of theAustralian Army. Originally formed in 1912 as aMilitia formation, the brigade was re-raised in 1916 as part of the expansion of theAustralian Imperial Force following the end of theGallipoli campaign. It subsequently saw service on theWestern Front in France and Belgium during theFirst World War. After the war it was disbanded but was re-raised in 1921 as a part-time formation based in the state ofVictoria. During theSecond World War, the brigade was used in a garrison role in Australia before being disbanded in 1942. The brigade is slated to be re-raised in 2025 as the army's 'Fires Brigade' to host and operate the Australian Army's High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS) and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMAS).[1]
The 10th Brigade traces its origins to 1912, when it was formed as aMilitia brigade as part of the introduction of thecompulsory training scheme, assigned to the2nd Military District. At this time, the brigade's constituent units were located aroundNew South Wales includingBulli,Wollongong,Nowra,Rockdale,Kogarah,Ashfield,Canterbury,Burwood andRookwood.[2]
The 10th Brigade was re-formed in 1916 as anAustralian Imperial Force (AIF) formation for service during theFirst World War. Assigned to the3rd Division, upon formation it consisted of fourbattalions—the37th,38th,39th and40th Battalions—which were raised inVictoria andTasmania.[3] In July 1916, the brigade sailed to England where it undertook further training before being committed to the fighting on theWestern Front in late 1916. A period of acclimatization followed in a "nursery sector" aroundArmentières where the newly arrived troops undertook patrols intoNo Man's Land and minor raids on the German trenches opposite them during the winter months.[4]
In early 1917, the brigade moved to the Messines–Wytschaete Ridge section of the front line in Belgium, where they began to prepare to take part in their first major battle of the war.[5] Throughout the year, the brigade took part in thefighting at Messines in June, theBattle of Broodseinde in early October and then later theBattle of Passchendaele also in October.[6] In early 1918, the collapse of the Russian resistance on theEastern Front enabled the Germans to transfer a large number of troops to the west, and the Germans subsequently launched theirSpring Offensive.[7] The offensive was initially successful in pushing the Allies back towards Amiens and the 10th Brigade's battalions, which had remained around Armentières throughout the winter, were hastily committed to a defensive role.[8] In late March, the brigade fought a defensive actions aroundDernancourt andMorlancourt.[9] On 13 July, the brigade capturedMerris.[10]
The offensive was eventually halted and afterwards, in August, the Allies launched theirHundred Days offensive. The brigade was subsequently committed to the Allied advance through the Somme Valley, taking part in actions at Proyart, Bray and Clery.[6][11] Shortly before the end of the war, due to heavy casualties amongst the AIF in 1918, the brigade's establishment was reduced to three infantry battalions as one—the 37th—was disbanded in September in order to reinforce the other battalions. This was due to widespread manpower shortages in the AIF as a result of the high number of casualties suffered during theHundred Days Offensive.[6]
Following the end of the war, the 10th Brigade was disbanded; however, in 1921 it was re-raised as part of theMilitia after it was decided to perpetuate the designations andbattle honours of the AIF by reorganising Australia's part-time military force.[12] Assigned to the 3rd Division again,[13] at this time, the brigade was based in Melbourne and regional Victoria within the3rd Military District and consisted of four infantry battalions: the24th, 37th, 39th and48th.[14] The 48th Battalion was subsequently re-designated as the52nd Battalion, and a new 48th Battalion re-raised in South Australia.[15] On 1 May 1926,Thomas Blamey became commander of the brigade, remaining in the position until he took over the 3rd Division on 23 March 1931.[16]
Upon the outbreak of theSecond World War, the brigade was based in Victoria in September 1939, and assigned to the 3rd Division. On 8 December 1941, the brigade was mobilised for full-time duty as the Militia was called up for garrison and defensive duties following Japan's entry into the war. Forming part of the Army's reserve element, it was based at Nagambie Road, nearSeymour, Victoria.[13] As part of the mobilisation process, the brigade was reorganised into a brigade-group formation with organic artillery, anti-tank and engineer support. Its establishment was also reduced from four infantry battalions to three as the Australian Army moved towards the British Army brigade structure. In March 1942, the brigade moved toBonegilla, Victoria, for further training before moving toQueensland to defend the area aroundBeaudesert. In July, the brigade moved again, this time to Oakhurst, as the 3rd Division began to move toMaryborough, where it would concentrate as part ofII Corps.[13] In September 1942, the 10th Brigade was disbanded[17]—having not seen active service—as part of the reallocation of manpower resources that occurred within the Australian Army at that time.[18][19]
During the war, the 10th Brigade's subordinate units included: the 37th,52nd,24th/39th and 24th Battalions, as well as the2nd Field Regiment,Royal Australian Artillery, the 10th Field Company,Royal Australian Engineers and the 23rd Anti-Tank Battery, Royal Australian Artillery.[20]
It was announced in 2023 by the Minister for Defence,Richard Marles, that the 10th Brigade was slated to be re-raised in Adelaide from 2025 and responsible for the army's long-range strike and missile defence capabilities.[21][22] The new structure would encompass units hosting the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS).[23][24]
The16th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery was transferred to the 10th Brigade in December 2024 when the6th Brigade was disbanded. Two other former 6th Brigade units, the1st Intelligence Battalion and7th Signal Regiment, were assigned to the direct command of the1st Division as a temporary measure ahead of being transferred to the 10th Brigade in late 2025.[25][26] The 10th Brigade will also include the9th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery as well as the14th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery when it is raised.[27]