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Following the end of the Great War the AIF was disbanded. However in 1921, the Citizen Forces were reorganised on the same lines, adopting AIF unit
titles, colour patches and inheriting AIF battle honours. A structure of 2 mounted and 4 infantry divisions were formed. A fifth division, with supporting corps and army troops local
defence was planned. However, in 1922, a reduction of the peacetime establishment to 37,000 meant that these goals were never achieved. Strategic concerns regarding Japanese imperialist intentions were
muted during the Great War (they were allies) but resurfaced in the 1920s. These concerns contributed to Australia's support for the establishment of a British naval base at Singapore. Australia's own coastal
defences remained little changed. No real improvement was achieved in the armed forces until 1934-37. In the decade following the great war Australia instigated its copulsory military training
program. This was terminated in November 1929. The Government of the day wanted to have an all-volunteer, primarily part-time 35,000 strong Army. The part-time element was renamed the militia. With the loss
of compulsory service the Army's strength in fact fell within twelve months to 27,000. In 1931, even though international tensions had increased, unit strengths decreased even further. In 1932,
a severe lack financial resources, resulted in few defence improvements with only a very limited upgrading of the Army overall. Most equipment was surplus AIF stock and generally no modern equipment reached
the hands of the militia until the outbreak of the Second World War II. It was not until 1935 was any emphasis placed on defence improvement, when an increase in militia strength was authorised. Uniforms of this period
were taken straight from the greatwar period for infantry and Light Horse units. Interestingly Artillery, Service Corp (left), Engineers and Medical Corp adopted the Patrol Blues coat as their primary uniform While the strategic situation in Europe continuing to decline, the improving economic situation in Australia allowed the continuation of a three-year programme of expenditure on defence instituted in 1937.
With this, a recruiting campaign opened in 1938 and, by mid-1939, increased the militia strength from 35,000 to 80,000. The militia units continued to operate throughout the WW2. It was a militia
brigade that held the line in New Guinea unitil the 2 AIF returned from North Africa. Many other milita units fought in Bouginville, New Britian and Borneo. When on active service these miltia units adopted uniforms that were identical to 2AIF units |
