The Second Army was a field army of the Australian Army, during World War II. Raised in April 1942 from the existing HQ Home Forces, the formation remained in Australia throughout the war and was responsible for commanding forces in the Australian eastern states. Initially, the formation controlled several divisions, including several US formations; however, as the focus of the Allied war effort shifted north the formation was reduced in size over 1943. Throughout 1944 and 1945, the formation's combat forces were greatly reduced and eventually it became a largely training and line of communications headquarters. The war ended in August 1945, and the formation ceased to exist in early 1946. History The formation was created in February 1942, initially with the designation of HQ Home Forces, which was established at Ivanhoe, Victoria. It had been planned that the formation would move to Tamworth, New South Wales, but a reorganisation in April 1942 took place and the move was cancelled. At this time, the formation's designation was changed to Second Army, when the commander of Allied land forces in the South West Pacific Area, General Thomas Blamey, gave it responsibility for land forces in the Australia's most populous areas: Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, subsuming Southern Command. On 9 May 1942, the war diary maintained by the formation's headquarters began referring to itself as the "Second Aust Army", although a subsequent entry in the same document for 29 May refers to the "Second Australian Army". Initially, the Second Army consisted of the 2nd Motor Division and the Victoria Covering Force in Melbourne, the US 41st Infantry Division in Seymour, Victoria, and the 12th Brigade Group (which formed Tasmania Force). The US 32nd Infantry Division was also assigned in April 1942, but had not arrived in Australia at the time. Upon arrival, the 32nd were established in Adelaide, South Australia. In May 1942, the formation moved to Mount Martha, Victoria. Responsibility for central and southern New South Wales was assumed in August 1942, as a result of the movement of forces to Queensland and Western Australia. This included the US divisions which were shifted to Queensland prior to their commitment to the fighting in New Guinea. After assuming control of the 1st, 10th and 1st Motor Divisions, the formation's headquarters moved to Parramatta, New South Wales, where it would remain until eventually disbanded after the war. The 10th Division was disbanded