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Australian military units have been deployed to Europe multiple times since the end of World War II in 1945. Most of the deployments have been for training or ceremonial purposes, but Australian units have also been sent to Europe for operational purposes. Many Australians have served on exchange with allied military forces in Europe, especially the British military.
The Australian military has longstanding and very close links to the British Armed Forces. Since Federation in 1901 Australian military personnel have undergone training in the United Kingdom and been attached to British military units to broaden their experiences. A small Australian military staff has also been maintained at Australia House, the Australian High Commission in London, to liaise with the British military. The Monarchy of Australia lives in the UK, leading to periodic deployments of Australian military units to undertake ceremonial duties.
Hundreds of thousands of Australian military personnel served in Europe during World War I and World War II. During World War I the First Australian Imperial Force (AIF) saw combat in Galipoli in the Ottoman Empire and on the Western Front in France. Much of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was deployed to Europe, serving with the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea and with Mediterranean Fleet. A large base structure was developed in the United Kingdom to support the AIF. Tens of thousands of Australians were killed in Europe campaigns and are buried or commemorated in cemeteries administrated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
During World War II two brigades of the Second Australian Imperial Force were dispatched to the UK in mid-1940 and left early the next year. Elements of the AIF subsequently saw combat during early 1941 in the Greek Campaign and Battle of Crete. These engagements ended in defeat for the Allies, and thousands of Australian soldiers were taken prisoner and held in camps in Italy and Germany. Tens of thousands of Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel were also deployed to Europe. These included thousands of Australians posted to the British Royal Air Force (RAF) and a number of RAAF units that took part in fighting over the UK, Atlantic Ocean and Western Europe. Australians played a prominent role in the RAF's strategic bombing campaign against Germany. The RAAF Overseas Headquarters in London provided administrative support for the Australians in Europe. Several RAN warships also served in European waters and many Australians were attached to the British Royal Navy.
The UK and other European countries have also been an important source of equipment for the Australian military. This has led to deployments of groups of Australian military personnel to trial or train on new types of equipment. At times Australian military units have been raised in Europe to take delivery of various types of equipment.
Victory parade
Berlin airlift
Coronation of Elizabeth II
RAAF deployment to Malta
Cold War era ceremonial deployments
In 1988 Australian soldiers undertook guard duty at Buckingham Palace for the first time since 1953.[1]
Wars in Ukraine
Operation Bring Them Home
On 17 July 2014 38 Australian citizens and residents were among the 298 people who were killed when Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine by Russian-controlled forces. The Australian government dispatched 150 Australian Federal Police officers and ADF personnel to Europe to assist with the international effort to recover bodies as part of Operation Bring Them Home.[2][3] As of 31 July, two RAAF Boeing C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft and a KC-30 transport were stationed at Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands. The Globemasters were flying daily sorties to Kharkiv alongside Royal Netherlands Air Force aircraft to transport Australian and Dutch police and supplies and repatriate bodies.[4] A small number of ADF personnel were deployed to Ukraine; these included a liaison officer, several planners and a team of bodyguards for retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston who led the Australian effort.[5]
A detachment from the elite Special Air Service Regiment arrived in the UK on approximately 24 July 2014. These soldiers were held in readiness to deploy to Ukraine alongside British and Dutch special forces to secure the MH17 crash site if the situation there deteriorated.[6]
Operation Kudu
Following the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 the Australian Government provided large quantities of military equipment and other aid to Ukraine.[7] As of February 2023, most of the equipment had been transported to Europe by RAAF Globemaster aircraft.[8] ADF personnel were also deployed to Europe to work at the International Donor Coordination Centre, which is responsible for coordinating requests made by the Ukrainian Government with countries who participate in the centre's activities.[9] These personnel are responsible for managing the delivery of equipment to Ukraine and contributing to other tasks.[10] Australians have regularly attended meetings of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.[9]
In July 2023 the Australian Government announced that a RAAF E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft and up to 100 personnel will be deployed to Germany for six months from October that year. The aircraft will join international efforts to protect the flow of supplies to Ukraine.[11]
The Wedgetail arrived at Ramstein Air Base on 19 October.[12] As of December 2023, the Australian force at Ramstein mainly comprised members of No. 2 Squadron RAAF. It also included elements of No. 1 Security Forces Squadron and No. 1 Combat Communications Squadron. The Australians found the cold winter weather in Europe to be challenging and needed to develop anti-icing procedures.[13] The deployment concluded in early April 2024. By this time the aircraft had flown sorties totalling 250 hours.[14]
Recent ceremonial deployments
Australia's Federation Guard (AFG) provided the ceremonial guard for Buckingham Palace on alternate days from 1 to 20 July 2000. The 150-strong contingent included four women, who were the first servicewomen from any country to perform sentry duty at the palace.[1]
Death of Elizabeth II
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In June 2022 41 members of the AFG travelled to London to represent the ADF in the pageant organised to mark the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[15] In September that year 39 ADF personnel took part in the Queen’s funeral procession through London. The head of the Australian Defence Staff in London and representatives from ADF units with a relationship to the Queen also attended the funeral.[16]
In May 2023 40 members of the AFG were deployed to London for the Coronation of Charles III. They and other ADF personnel took part in processions involving military forces from other Commonwealth countries.[17]
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