defences. The force's headquarters remained until 28 February 1946 when it was converted back into the 7th Military District. Subordinate units The main units deployed to protect Darwin during the war were: 2nd Brigade (September 1943 – September 1944) 3rd Brigade (March 1942 – March 1943) 12th Brigade (July 1943 – end of war) 13th Brigade (March 1943 – November 1944) 19th Brigade (March 1942 – June 1943) 23rd Brigade (March 1941 – September 1943) Darwin Fortress Company, RAE (December 1941 – December 1944) 2/4th Pioneer Battalion (15 December 1942 – 15 October 1944) 2/6th Cavalry Regiment (15 December 1942 – 15 December 1943) Commanding officers The following officers commanded the formation during the war: Major General Edmund Herring (April–August 1942) Major General Jack Stevens (August 1942 – March 1943) Major General Arthur Samuel Allen (March 1943 – October 1944) Brigadier Robert Harold Nimmo (acting; October 1944 – January 1945) Major General John Murray (March 1945 – January 1946) Notes References Further reading Australian World War II divisions Military units and formations established in 1942 Military units and formations disestablished in 1946 1940s in the Northern Territory