Examples Of Conscription Issues In Ww1
Although many men did enlist for war, there were many who strongly objected. In the beginning of the First World War, there were so many enlistments that the recruitment officers were forced to reject people. Nonetheless, as the war went on, casualty rates increased and the number of men volunteering to enlist declined. This quote by Prime Minister Billy Hughes expresses the emotion of majority of Australian people at the time. “The conscription issue is the greatest issue ever put before a free people. If we turn tail, and, like cravens, desert the Empire… Then, indeed will fall upon us the doom we deserve.” The Prime minister eventually decided to propose a referendum to the people of Australia. It was held on the 28th of October 1916, the