Australian Imperial Force (AIF)

The volunteer military forces raised in Australia in both world wars. In World War 1, 330 770 men served overseas in the first AIF, of whom 54 000 were killed and 155 000 were wounded. In World War 2, 690 000 men and 35 000 women served in the second AIF.

The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was the name given to two all-volunteer Australian Army forces dispatched to fight overseas during World War I and World War II.

First Australian Imperial Force (1914-18) Second Australian Imperial Force (1939-45)

Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, Australia had a very small regular army and reservists in the Australian Citizens Military Forces which could not be deployed overseas.

The two AIFs are distinguished by referring to the World War I contingent as the "1st AIF", and the World War II contingent as the "2nd AIF". During World War I, the Australian Flying Corps, the precursor of the Royal Australian Air Force, was part of the 1st AIF.