Australians+at+War+1+-+Lionel

What factors influenced the decision of young men to enlist? What were their expectations of life on the battlefield compared with their life at home? Were these expectations valid? Are young people as enthusiastic to enlist in the armed forces today? What is different and why do people enlist today?

The outbreak of war in August 1914 seemed to unleash a huge wave of enthusiastic support for Britain, and support for Australia’s part in the war. All major political parties, churches, community leaders and newspapers seemed to support Australia’s entry. It was seen as a moral and necessary commitment. There was a rush to the recruiting offices, and, at this stage, only the very fittest and healthiest men were accepted.

The whole country seemed to be both enthusiastic for the war, and united in support of it. There is, however, some evidence that this is an incomplete and even distorted impression. There are hints and suggestions of the fracture lines in society that would later lead to great bitterness and divisions in Australian society. There were also some who actively opposed Australia’s entry into the war, though their voice seems to have had few ways of being heard at the time. It was a moral dishonour for you not to fight for your country. A white feather would then be sent to your home and this represented cowardness.Women would reject and abuse men who did not enlist in the first World War.

The landing at Gallipoli was a major event in the war. Even though the Gallipoli campaign was a military defeat, it helped to provide Australians with a new sense of their identity and place in the world. The reporting of the landing also influenced people’s reactions to the event. Young, brave men were dying and other Australians were expected to die for their country as well. These expectations were valid because if you were courageous and brave, you would die for your country. There was no conscription at the time that forced you to.