Australia's Involvement In World War I

Australia`s involvement in the First World War began after The British Empire entered the war against Germany on August 4, 1914 . When The Great War broke out, it was welcomed with great enthusiasm in Australia and many young men were rushing to sign up and to take arms. Having in mind that Australia was part of the British Empire, the moment Great Britain entered the war Australia became part of the conflict. Prior to looking back at the motives and numbers of Australia’s involvement in WWI, I would like just to mention that AIF (Australian Imperial Forces) were not part of the regular Australian Armed Forces, but a solely voluntary type of forces. When we take into consideration the 416 thousand soldiers taking part on
the front in Egypt, Gallipoli, the Middle East, and on the Western Front (France and Belgium) where majority of Australians fought and laid their lives for the freedom of Europe , out of 5 million inhabitants , it is an undoubtedly a heroic sacrifice by the Australian people.
When analysing the extent of Australia`s involvement in the WWI, I must repeat the fact that no soldier of the AIF was conscripted.
Following the Commonwealth Defence Act passed on January 1, 1911, determining the military obligation for all men between the age of 12 and 26, but not forcing them to enter conflicts outside Australian borders . However, Prime Minister Billy Hughes tried two times to amend the Act, aiming at necessary deployment of Australian troops to the Fronts, but the attempt was dismissed by a majority of voters.
At the outbreak of the War, Australia`s military forces were focused on guarding the coastal lines and protecting important strategic military and state property.
Taking a completely unbiased point of view, many would argue that the outcome of the war would not have a direct significance on Australia, in the sense of territory loss, death of military and civil population, destruction of infrastructure, etc. Having in mind the eventual defeat of the British people would have a vast negative economic effect on Australian economy, but Australia being so far away from Europe and definitely in ability to set up economics ties with countries in its surrounding would inevitably provide with an economic buffer from an economic and financial downfall caused by a grim ending of the Great War. All that being said, we must therefore look at what were personal motives of people enlisting in the Army and travelling thousands of miles, facing danger during the trip
and marching into almost certain death on the many fronts of the Great War.
Following the fact that great majority of Australians were very sympathetic to their British fellowmen, it was normal for them to help them in combat against the enemy. According to the article “A United Empire”, by the “The Sydney Morning Herald, on Monday, 3 August 1914” , we can see that Australian people would not hesitate in helping the British and the rest of Europe in fighting against Germany, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empire. The Australian people were in debt to the British Empire for all the Empire has done for them, both in cultural and economic sphere. We can clearly see the urgency for acting while the Europe is taking arms. Good people of Australia were convinced that triumph of Triple Entente would mean the triumph of humanity and ensuring of peace, as well as the progress of modern civilisation. One very important thing is that, according to the Article, the Australian Government had absolute support for ruling government in the British Empire. Those political ties ensured the pressure by the government on the media in order to “boost” the moral of the population and spark the massive enlisting in AIF. The article also pointed out the eminent danger to security and independence Australian people in the case of Germany and its allies winning the war. This probably awakened fear and anxiety with Australian people and had them consider the War as it was on their own territory.
As we can see from many articles, memoirs and letters of people who enlisted in the AIF, there was a call for adventure. However this was correct for the early stage of The Great War, when casualties were far less in numbers than those of following years. We can also see that the media played a significant role in motivating people to enlist and go to Europe and fight.
Following personal letters from people taking part in the Great War we can see that even people who either spent a short period of their lives in Australia or who were farmers, accountants, and generally members of the working class, were eager to sign up in the Australian Imperial Forces and pledge their allegiance to the “Mother Country” and bravely fight during the First World War. According to the official records, the highest numbers of people in the AIF were Tradesmen and Labourers, going to Clerical, Seafaring, and more than 2000 Nurses . All this shows that Australia`s “donation in men and women” goes beyond symbolic numbers and services, but shows a significant effort made by all these brave people. Reasons for enlisting vary from person to person. Some of the people belonging to the class of farmers were in difficult financial positions and decided to take part in this great endeavour hoping to help their families. On the other hand, not looking at the financial perspective of the Great War and being the reason for enlisting, it is important to emphasize the general conscious of the people during that period. Due to the fact that so many people started enlisting and have gone to the battlefields, there was a feeling of shame for those who were healthy, young and fit, but stayed home. I would like to point out that sense of national proud and bravery by referring to a letter by a Lance Corporal F.C. Mulvey where he hopes that people will acknowledge his actions and understands the significance of taking part in the battle; he also points out the fact that there are three sons in the family, and that at least one should join the noble cause. People were enlisting by the thousands, and no one was surprised, but on the contrary, they applaud the courage and good spirit of young man, of whom some were so young that they had to lie about their age to be allowed to join the AIF.
I would also like to pay special tribute to all the brave women involved in the fighting, both on the home front and on the actual battle fields of Europe and Africa.
The role of women whose husbands, brothers, sons and fathers went to fight for what was right was so big and it had a huge part in maintaining the high level of motivation back in the homeland. Women who were part of the nationwide movement of “war effort” were replacing men in industries such as clothes and footwear production, food and printing industry, clerical and teaching positions. Women showed great initiative in being more involved directly with the military, taking their role as cooks, munitions workers, stretcher bearers, but they did not receive authorization from the authorities. Some brave women went to the front where they were nurses helping wounded soldiers. Number of those brave women came back with medals. They were also involved in poster making and whole propaganda about recruiting, being portrayed as dependable and in seek of protection, and also as the ones who will primarily acknowledge bravery and be fond of men in uniforms, additionally enhancing aspiration of men to
enlist.
All these reasons led to more than 300.000 Australians going to the front and bravely fighting the enemy. In the beginning of the Great War fighting solely as AIF, and in 1916 in Egypt expanding to ANZAC Corps .
Brave soldiers of Australian forces should never be forgotten