Why Did Australia Volunteer To Fight So Readily In 1914 Essay
‘Why did Australians volunteer to fight so readily in 1914?’
The outbreak of The Great War in 1914 was the first battle The Commonwealth of Australia fought in as a separate nation. Having been an extremely young nation, federating in 1901, the country of Australia was still very much tied to their true ‘mother country’, Great Britain. Britain was in charge of Australia’s defence in that point in time and had certain obligations to Britain, particularly in times of war and conflict. Australians during this period were eager to help Britain any way they could and did so by calling for volunteers. Initially, entry was strict, however once replacements were needed these restrictions, such as height and level of experience, were lifted. A multitude …show more content…
Being a new, recently independent nation, the outbreak of war provided the opportunity not only to fulfill their obligations to Britain, but also for Australia to establish itself as a country that has the manpower and support behind them to exhibit the traits of an established nation. ‘There was also a belief in society that war was a testing ground for individual and national character’[2] Australia was a product of the successful British military quests and here was the chance to prove themselves worthy on a world stage.’ What the war represented was an opportunity to say, ‘here we are right, look at us fighting’10. If society believed that war was a testing ground for individual and national character, this was certainly achieved at Gallipoli in 1915. Despite being a failed battle with ‘7823 Australians being killed and 19441 wounded with a further 70 becoming prisoners of war’[3], the ANZACS represented the values and qualities of the whole society which is still reflected in our nationalism today. Welborn (2002), describes the historic event as ‘the proving of a nations soul’[4].In essence, the failed landing at Gallipoli evoked at least the sense of nationalism many young men were inspired to enlist as a result
The outbreak of The Great War in 1914 was the first battle The Commonwealth of Australia fought in as a separate nation. Having been an extremely young nation, federating in 1901, the country of Australia was still very much tied to their true ‘mother country’, Great Britain. Britain was in charge of Australia’s defence in that point in time and had certain obligations to Britain, particularly in times of war and conflict. Australians during this period were eager to help Britain any way they could and did so by calling for volunteers. Initially, entry was strict, however once replacements were needed these restrictions, such as height and level of experience, were lifted. A multitude …show more content…
Being a new, recently independent nation, the outbreak of war provided the opportunity not only to fulfill their obligations to Britain, but also for Australia to establish itself as a country that has the manpower and support behind them to exhibit the traits of an established nation. ‘There was also a belief in society that war was a testing ground for individual and national character’[2] Australia was a product of the successful British military quests and here was the chance to prove themselves worthy on a world stage.’ What the war represented was an opportunity to say, ‘here we are right, look at us fighting’10. If society believed that war was a testing ground for individual and national character, this was certainly achieved at Gallipoli in 1915. Despite being a failed battle with ‘7823 Australians being killed and 19441 wounded with a further 70 becoming prisoners of war’[3], the ANZACS represented the values and qualities of the whole society which is still reflected in our nationalism today. Welborn (2002), describes the historic event as ‘the proving of a nations soul’[4].In essence, the failed landing at Gallipoli evoked at least the sense of nationalism many young men were inspired to enlist as a result