1st Marine Division, United States Marine Corps (USMC), in Australia during WW2

1ST MARINE DIVISION
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (USMC)
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

The United States Marine Corps acted as land combat troops for the US Navy and were involved in autonomous amphibious operations. The 1st Marine Division, USMC and the ‘SeaBees’ Construction Brigades moved into Balcombe Camp at Mount Martha, Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. One estimate was 30,000 men (seems a bit high). The Marines would carry out practice beach landings from the "Manoora" near the Dromana cliffs.

In March 1943, the 19th Construction Battalion (Seabees) headed for Australia from Noumea in New Caledonia and was ordered to report to the Commanding General, First Marine Division which was undergoing a training and recuperative period at Balcombe Camp after their bitter campaign at Guadalcanal. They were designated as the Third Battalion of the Seventeenth Marine Engineering Regiment by the First Marine Division. They were immediately placed into training under the supervision of Marine Corps instructors in readiness for combat engineering.

Photo:- Peter Flahavin

Plaque dedicated to the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps
on the entrance gates to Camp Balcombe

Photo:- Peter Flahavin

Plaque dedicated to the 1st Division of the US Marine Corps
on the entrance gates to Camp Balcombe

The 1st Marine Division and the 2nd Marine Division were combined to form the First Marine Amphibious Corps (IMAC).

The 1st Marine Division comprised a reinforced Infantry Division with:-

three Infantry Regiments each having three Battalions
an Artillery Regiment
an Engineer Regiment
a Pioneer Regiment

Another Marine Division, the 5th Marine Division arrive in Brisbane at
Brett's Wharf on 13 December 1942 on board the USS President Adams
(AP-38) for some R&R after fighting a Guadalcanal

The First Regiment of the 1st Marine Division was also camped in the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1943.

Photo:- Peter Flahavin