What is the difference between AIF CMF and AMF ?
Before Federation each of the Australian colonies had their own armies composed of a mixture of Regular (paid full-time soldiers), Militia (paid part-time soldiers) and Volunteer (unpaid part-time soldiers) units. In March 1901, the Commonwealth Government assumed responsibility for defence matters and the colonial armies were merged to form the Commonwealth Military Forces. Throughout the next 47 years the Australian Military Forces (AMF), as they soon became known, remained a part-time force of citizen soldiers with only a small regular component. These forces were restricted by law to service on Australian territory, so a new force was needed, made up of men who had volunteered for overseas service. Two special volunteer forces, both known as the Australian Imperial Force, were formed for service overseas during the two world wars. The overarching military remained the AMF as it was a permanent structure. Both AIF were raised for the duration of the war. Citizens’ Military Forces (C
