Curtin gets earlier release of 6th & 7th Divisions

[High Plains Drifter]

Base this not necessarily on a more successful Operation Crusader, but on an improved perception of Crusader's success by the politicians. (6th & 7th weren't involved in Crusader, but they were in the Middle East Theater.)

Question #1: How much earlier is realistic?
1A) AK at Gazala Line around December 15th?
1B) Fall of Benghazi December 24th?
1C) AK at El Agheila Decmber 30th?
1D) other?

Question #2: Where do they now go?

Question #3: Where should they go?

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

Don't know about question 1 but question2 had they been released from the middle east early they would most likely have been sent to Java in which case they would have got off the troopships just in time to surrender as happend with Singapores reinforcements. Where should they have been sent I would say they would do Australia most good in New Guinae. If they could get inplace quickley enough they could have avoided the horror of the kokoda trail campaign.

 

[Rickshaw]

One Brigade of 7 Div. did reach Java. Called "Blackforce" after its commander, Brigadier Blackburn. Made up primary of AIF units, it also interestingly had several US units attached which again, reached Java just in time to be evacuated or surrender.

The premise on which the release of the AIF was to be requested was for use in the defence of Australia and the defence at the time was very much perceived as resting on the Dutch NEI archipelago. It was not until later, after the fall of Singapore that it was perceived as useless - primarily because of the lack of airpower - as Curtin made clear in his telegrams to Churchill when it was discovered that Churchill, for his own Machiavellian reasons diverted the AIF units to Burma. Therefore, an earlier release would have seen more AIF units go "into the bag" in the NEI.

 

[High Plains Drifter]

Agreed that NEI are the most likely destination.

If they can get there soon enough, is Timor (invaded 20 Feb) the smartest place in the NEI for the Aussies to try and defend? Its the closest point in the NEI to Australia/Darwin. Or really is there simply no point to land anywhere in the NEI no matter how quickly they could return from the Middle East due to the lack of air support and no jungle warfare training.

I've always wondered whether the 6th or 7th could have successfully manned a defense along the Sittang River in Burma. They'd need to have gotten to Rangoon no later than ... 5 Feb(?) to have made it to Sittang and dig in before 20 Feb. Again, a lack of jungle training, but they'd at least have had a river in front of them.

 

[Rickshaw]

Agreed that NEI are the most likely destination.

If they can get there soon enough, is Timor (invaded 20 Feb) the smartest place in the NEI for the Aussies to try and defend? Its the closest point in the NEI to Australia/Darwin. Or really is there simply no point to land anywhere in the NEI no matter how quickly they could return from the Middle East due to the lack of air support and no jungle warfare training.

I've always wondered whether the 6th or 7th could have successfully manned a defense along the Sittang River in Burma. They'd need to have gotten to Rangoon no later than ... 5 Feb(?) to have made it to Sittang and dig in before 20 Feb. Again, a lack of jungle training, but they'd at least have had a river in front of them.

East Timor was invaded in an effort to prevent it falling into the hands of the Japanese. They in turn responded by invading it in turn. They actually didn't have any intention IIRC of invading East Timor as it was Portuguese and therefore Neutral territory.

Basically, without air support - again as I point out, Curtin noted in his messages to Churchill - it was pointless trying to defend the NEI. The Japanese had air superiority and used it ruthlessly to bomb any attempted defence which the Allies and the AIF in particular might have attempted to set up.