Description
At the outbreak of World War I, Australia had been an independent nation for only thirteen years. As a dominion of the British Empire, it enthusiastically joined its mother country in declaring war on Germany in August 1914. Many Australians were of recent British descent and felt a strong sense of kinship and loyalty to England. In addition, it was widely believed that Britain would repay Australian enlistment in the war with financial assistance in the future. A desire for adventure combined with persistent drought conditions at home inspired over 50,000 Australian men to volunteer for military duty in the first few months of the war, far exceeding Britains request for 20,000 soldiers. But as news of Australian casualties trickled in, enlistment rapidly declined and efforts to introduce conscription were defeated at the polls.
Details
- Work Date:
- 1915
- Credit Line:
- Adelaide, Australia: Printed by A. Vaughn; Published by the South Australian Government