The Great War came at a terrible cost, be it in human, material or financial terms. For the young Commonwealth of Australia the raising, sending and maintenance of an expeditionary force that eventually totalled 330,000 men was a massive undertaking.

This book examines the fruit of this endeavour, the Australian Imperial Force. In doing so it seeks to outline and analyse the institution from its inception to its disbandment after the war.

The book considers the creation of the force, the way that it expanded, the organisation of its fighting units and formations, how it used its human resources, its command and its administration. It also draws on up-to-date statistical information drawn from the AIF Database, a database created as part of a long-term research project undertaken at the University of New South Wales Canberra (located at the Australian Defence Force Academy).

Contents:1 Prelude: The Creation of the AIF -- 2 The Fighting Organisation -- 3 Command and Manpower -- 4 The Composition of the AIF -- 5 Service in the AIF -- 6 The Al F Behind the Lines -- 7 The End of the War 8 The Legacy of the AIF -- Appendix A: Keeping the AIF' s Personnel Records -- Appendix B: Commanders of Corps and Divisions in which Australians Predominantly Served -- Appendix C: Commanders of AIF Infantry and Light Horse Brigades -- Appendix D: Divisional Commanders Royal Artillery -- Appendix E: AIF Infantry Order of Battle, July 1916-November 1918 -- Appendix F: AIF Light Horse Order of Battle, 1916-18 -- Appendix G: AIF Artillery Order of Battle, 1917-18 -- Appendix H: Monthly Enlistments During the War -- Bibliographic Essay.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 207-220) and index.