 The force was evacuated from the peninsula in December 1915 and returned to Egypt , where the AIF was expanded . In early 1916 it was decided that the infantry divisions would be sent to France , where they took part in many of the major battles fought on the Western Front . Most of the light horse units remained in the Middle East until the end of the war , carrying out further operations against the Turks in Egypt and Palestine . Small numbers of Australians served in other theatres of war . While the main focus of the Australian military 's effort was the ground war , air and naval forces were also committed . Squadrons of the Australian Flying Corps served in the Middle East and on the Western Front , while elements of the Royal Australian Navy carried out operations in the Atlantic , North Sea , Adriatic and Black Sea , as well as the Pacific and Indian Oceans . 
