 In March 1916 , the infantry units of the AIF were transferred from Egypt to Europe for service on the Western Front . Initially they were organised into I Anzac Corps and II Anzac Corps alongside the New Zealand Division . The 2nd Division was the first to arrive in France , followed by the 1st Division , while the 4th and 5th left Egypt later in June 1916 . The 3rd Division was the last to arrive , having been formed in Australia in March 1916 , and moving to England for training in July 1916 , before being sent to France in December 1916 . For the next two and a half years the constant rotations in and out of the line were punctuated by a number of major battles , during which the Australians earned for themselves a formidable reputation . On 1 November 1917 the Australian divisions were re @-@ grouped together to form the Australian Corps . 
