3 With the declaration of war by Britain her empire was also at war although not duty bound to supply troops. But as the events in Europe were escalating the Australian Government had already advised the British Government they would ‘defend her to our last man and our last shilling’. Warships and a force of 20,000 were promised. Because the Australian Defence Act 1903 only allowed for home defence a volunteer force had to be raised. The Australian Imperial Force, or as we know them: the AIF. The Australian and New Zealand Forces moved to Egypt for training prior to deployment to Europe but the Ottoman Empire entry into the war saw them committed to a campaign in Gallipoli. With the withdrawal from Gallipoli the Australia troops congregated in Egypt. At this time the existing infantry comprised two Divisions (1st and 2nd) and two Brigades (4th and 8th) and some 40,000 reinforcements. It was decided to raise two new Australian Divisions (4th and 5th) and a New Zealand Division. To achieve this it was agreed to share the experienced troops of the 1st Division and 4th Brigade with the 4th and 5th Divisions. This worked well with the Infantry where 16 existing battalions were split to form 32 battalions but it proved a problem with the artillery, a service requiring numerous specialists and longer and more careful training. In addition the artillery establishment for the Division was to be raised to the higher scale which would require a quadrupling of the artillery. This was considered an impossible task in the time available and it was agreed the lower scale would remain. Thus it was necessary to expand the artillery from six Brigades (18 four gun 18 pounder batteries) to twelve Brigades. Although the reorganisation had only begun a fortnight previously on 29 February 1916 I Anzac Corps (1st and 2nd Australian Divisions and the New Zealand Division) was warned it would be required to move to Europe within two weeks. At the same time it was decided, in accordance with the desire of the War Office, the artillery must
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