military history australia world war australia outbreak world war greeted considerable enthusiasm britain declared war germany august nation pledged support alongside states british_empire immediately began preparations send forces overseas participate conflict campaign australians involved hastily raised force known australian naval military expeditionary force dispatched australia seize german possessions pacific september time expeditionary force initially consisting men known raised service overseas departed australia november delays presence german naval vessels indian_ocean arrived egypt initially defend suez_canal early decided carry amphibious landing gallipoli peninsula goal opening second securing passage dardanelles australians new grouped australian went ashore april months alongside british french allies fought costly ultimately unsuccessful campaign turks force evacuated peninsula december returned egypt expanded early decided infantry divisions sent france took major battles fought western light horse units remained middle_east end war carrying operations turks egypt palestine small numbers australians served theatres war main focus australian military effort ground war air naval forces committed squadrons served middle_east western elements carried operations atlantic north_sea adriatic black_sea pacific indian oceans end war australians far nation involvement cost australian lives left unable work result injuries impact war felt areas financially costly effect social political landscape considerable threatened cause divides nation social fabric conscription possibly contentious issue ultimately despite having conscription home service australia combatants use fighting australians nation involvement world war gallipoli campaign seen symbol emergence international actor notions australian character exist today origins war day commemorated national holiday outbreak war following britain declaration war germany august australia members british_empire automatically involved prime minister stating august empire war australia given predominantly british heritage australians time considerable support corners country large numbers young australian men reported recruiting centres country enlist following months prime minister came power september reiterated cook statement saying worst happen australia rally help defend man days plans australian expeditionary force completed staff officer major white white proposed force men australians new proposal approved prime minister cook increased offer british men serve destination desired august london acceptance force asked sent soon possible recruiting offices opened august end volunteers accepted strict physical fitness guidelines place german new_guinea germany north eastern new_guinea nearby island groups outbreak war germans colony wireless radio base supporting threatened merchant shipping region consequence britain required wireless installations destroyed shortly outbreak war following request british government august australian naval military expeditionary force began forming objectives force german stations comprised battalion infantry men enlisted sydney naval sailors organised companies serve infantry men queensland militia battalion volunteered overseas service sent garrison thursday island forces placed command colonel officer militia time commander 6th brigade secretary task force sailed sydney august port waited escorts arrive port holmes decided queensland militia soldiers concerns action escorted cruiser sydney battlecruiser australia task force reached september found port free german forces sydney destroyer landed small parties naval settlements german gubernatorial capital south east parties reinforced sailors later infantry transport small man force naval subsequently landed bay continued inland capture radio station believed operation miles south australians resisted mixed force german native police forced fight way radio station nightfall radio station reached found abandoned mast dropped instruments machinery intact australians killed wounded defenders lost german non commissioned officer killed german wounded later alleged heavy losses troops result australians captured fighting result engagement able australian fatality war army fatality medical officer captain died day nightfall september landed infantry battalion following afternoon governor surrendered territory ceremony carried signal british occupation german administration withdrawn inland dawn september subsequently bombarded ridge near town half battalion advanced town supported field gun firepower sufficient start negotiations ending siege following surrender remaining garrison germans native police german territory surrendered september successful operation arguably managed australians effectively delayed half trained native force regardless australians prevailed unexpected ability fight close terrain german positions opponents losses light context later operations sufficiently heavy given relatively modest gain losses compounded unexplained disappearance australian submarine patrol september men aboard following capture german possessions region provided occupation forces duration war january holmes handed command brigadier general sir secretary holmes returned australia enlisted men replaced known specially enlisted service tropics established administrative structures remained period military occupation required international law follow german forms government territory gradually acquired appearance british colony start war australia military forces focused militia regular forces existed serving artillery engineers assigned task coastal defence provisions defence act sending overseas outbreak war realised totally separate volunteer force need raised force known began forming shortly outbreak war brain child bridges white formation consisted infantry division 1st colonel 2nd colonel australian politician minister defence 3rd colonel british regular officer australian_army war 1st commanded colonel australian regular divisional artillery commanded colonel early stages men selected toughest criterion army world war believed roughly cent men applied rejected medical grounds order enlist men aged years age believed men old young managed enlist foot inches tall centimetres chest measurement inches centimetres strict requirements lifted later war need replacements grew casualties initial volunteers high original soldiers survive end war initial response good september decision raise 2nd 3rd light horse brigades commanded colonel prominent melbourne civil engineer businessman continued grow war eventually numbering infantry divisions mounted divisions mixture units sixth infantry division partially formed united kingdom february casualties battle caused disbandment partially formed unit allow divisions brought strength gallipoli background 1st division departed australia albany western australia november convoy transports escorted british australian japanese warships initially bound british controlled egypt ceylon convoy delayed times fears interception german warships area fears later proved valid german cruiser sighted convoy steered avoid threat australian cruiser engaged heavier guns engagement lasted minutes sydney emerged victorious threat convoy able continue voyage arrival egypt november 1st division moved near cairo defend suez_canal turkey declared war october time australians commenced period training prepare combat western expected sent england deployment european theatre waited australian new_zealand forces egypt time formed australian command lieutenant general consisting australian 1st division composite new_zealand shortages equipment england meant decided egypt european winter time undertake training order prepare eventual use trenches france despite training australians new received time considered rudimentary nature despite popular opinion time little prepare come background moves commit australians new later november winston_churchill capacity lord admiralty forward plans naval attack dardanelles plan attack invasion gallipoli peninsula eventually approved british cabinet january decided australian new_zealand troops operation outnumbered british indian french contingents fact overlooked today australians new objective invasion open open black_sea entrance mediterranean dardanelles allow shipping russia year round failure naval attacks decided ground forces necessary eliminate turkish mobile artillery allow clear waters larger vessels british secretary state war field marshal lord appointed general sir command carry mission consisted orient russian troops participate capture occupation constantinople landing invasion plan 29th division land tip peninsula advance forts land north coast advance peninsula prevent retreat reinforcement assault force australian 1st division began ashore shortly dawn april intended landing zone broad centred mile north possibly navigational error unexpected current landing went boats concentrated mile half north intended shallow cove north hell spit south cove officially known confronted confusing spurs descended heights range sea landing lightly opposed scattered turkish units commanding 19th division threat posed landings rushed reinforcements area race high ground contest heights decided second ridge line turks fought called baby position changed hands number times day turks having advantage higher ground battleship hill took final possession advance checked turks counter attacked trying force invaders shore failed gained trench perimeter quickly developed bloody stalemate ensued august hamilton decided concentrate resources sector withdrew colonel moved sea subsequent second battle brigades suffered casualties including ill advised daylight advance open ground occupied dark loss turkish particularly active shot fatally wounded body returned australia buried hill overlooking canberra australian government sent major general australia replace turkish counter attack turkish launched assault perimeter naval reconnaissance aircraft troops alert position reinforced return 2nd arrival 1st egypt line attack met immediate disaster turkish attackers swept away rifle machine gun fire defenders exposed parts perimeter turks managed enter trenches encountered lance corporal drove action australian win victoria_cross war august offensive repeated failure allies capture progress led hamilton pursue imaginative new plan campaign night august fresh landing infantry divisions miles north strong assault range breaking defended sector north perimeter offensive preceded evening august assaults diversion futile battle gains heavy casualties sides attack turkish trenches lone pine infantry brigades australian 1st division rare victory cost men australians inflicted casualties turks effective attack vital position effective attack carried australians war drawing turkish reserves main assault aimed peaks hill successful force striking nearer peak comprised came metres peak dawn august able seize summit following morning delay fatal consequences supporting attack morning august 3rd coincide new attacking rear turkish defences new held days relief provided battalions wiltshire massive turkish counter attack led person swept battalions heights landing bay lightly opposed british commander lieutenant general sir early objectives little beach seized turks able win race high ground hills rendering case static trench warfare landing reinforced arrival british 53rd 54th divisions divisions plus unfortunate 29th division shifted push final british attempt offensive came august attacks hill hill control hills united fronts battle achieved success fighting ceased august battle heights battle peninsula effectively evacuation months bloody fighting decided evacuate entire force gallipoli peninsula troop numbers progressively reduced december performed fool turks prevent discovering allies departing troops maintain utter silence hour curious turks venture inspect trenches open fire numbers trenches rifles rigged fire water pan attached trigger ironically best planned operation campaign evacuation completed dawn december single casualty ultimately gallipoli campaign disastrous failure achieve objectives given justification inexperience high commanders high number casualties participating troops result combat widespread disease resulted poor lines breakdown casualty clearance resupply logistics systems estimated course campaign australian casualties killed allied casualties killed wounded included new british french war bad conditions high casualties troops resulted reasonably prevalent view australia incompetence british officers commanding australian troops disregard casualties resulted poorly planned ill conceived attacks claims valid little doubt entire campaign poorly conducted result military lessons learnt applied later campaigns despite australians new gallipoli campaign come important milestone emergence nations independent actors world stage development sense national identity today date initial landings april public holiday known day australia new_zealand year thousands people gather memorials nations turkey honour bravery sacrifice original subsequently lost lives war egypt palestine reorganisation egypt gallipoli campaign australian troops returned egypt underwent major expansion involved raising infantry divisions 3rd 4th 5th establishment march infantry began france cavalry units stayed area fought turkish troops arab tribes threatening british control egypt mounted troops particularly important defence egypt australian troops saw action major battles campaign seeing combat apart horsemen mounted troops included 1st organised mounted infantry brigade battalions 1st 3rd composed australians 2nd british 4th half australian half new_zealand participated fighting egypt palestine brigade disbanded july australian new_zealand components traded horses 5th fighting arabs response growing threat pro turkish islamic arab sect known composite british force command officer major general sent late november force included composite regiment australian light horse horse transport 1st division series sharp battles arabs ensued december january british casualties comparatively light killed wounded including australians arab losses higher hundreds killed fighting number australian light horse units returning gallipoli sent south guard edge 1st armoured car section involved guarding sent palestine 1st light car patrol end took place near egyptian town miles east suez_canal august goal turkish german army control destroy suez_canal denying use allies aiding 52nd saw action german turkish force making contact advancing german turkish force july harassed alternately australian 1st 2nd light horse brigades night august day battle commenced brigades involved fighting midday august turkish german force pushed australian brigades point 52nd trenches able attack turkish right flank arrived deployment protecting suez_canal extend australians line left flank turkish german advance stopped fire brought bear combined british infantry australian british new_zealand mounted forces deep sand midday summer heat extremely tough conditions british infantry unable effectively retreating german turkish force following days unable stop retreating force withdrawing eventually base base abandoned day attacked august ending threat suez_canal remainder war battle cost allies casualties killed died wounds wounded half australians following victory pushed german german turkish forces defensive retreated august egyptian turkish frontier day attacked turkish rearguard action fought german turkish force retired september hills october strongly defended position attacked allied force based suez_canal positions subsequently abandoned november aerial bombing raid largest air attack organised east carried beginning december railway reached development lines communications garrisons support services possible plan advance december night march miles commanded entered abandoned german turkish force retreated mounted force won fierce engagement strong constructed defences manned determined defenders situated british right flank egyptian outpost miles south south east desert mediterranean coast turkish forces defensive position main obstacles standing way advance palestine agreement commanding arrived earlier day set attack turkish forces leaving midnight december position december enemy fires miles away 1st reserve sent north north east cut possibility retreat followed telegraph line straight 1st advanced mounted attack fierce fire forced advance bed midday brigades despite support machine guns artillery engaged aerial reconnaissance australian british aircraft scouted turkish positions greatly assisted attack turkish positions obscured effect dust clouds fighting began going tough hearing turkish defenders possession water area decided attack message reached commander 1st australians preparing assault main message deliberately attacked commenced 1st light horse progress capturing prisoners turkish defenders began surrender entire turkish garrison surrendered having suffered heavy casualties town captured victory cost australians dead wounded battle half weeks later evening january mounted units desert column commanded rode strong turkish garrison based attacking force comprised australian 1st command battalions long night march attacked strongly entrenched position fierce day long battle resulted mounted troops fighting capturing town nightfall loss killed wounded turkish garrison suffered heavily killed taken prisoner fighting early formed 3rd 4th light horse brigades british mounted brigades division saw service battle occurred southern march noon mounted brigades attacked north east turkish position ring closing tightly decision dismayed soldiers british commanders decided attack retreat delivering victory turks second attempt capture april time turkish defences formidable task confronting british difficult battle known second battle played minor role battle suffering casualties suffered second battle disastrous defeat allied forces june renamed august placed command included australian mounted divisions australian command corps achieve rank lieutenant general failure second battle assault launched october november units took battle battle complete success allies line completely overrun turkish soldiers captured surrendered critical moment battle capture town day australian light horsemen australian brigadier general charged miles turkish trenches overran captured wells capture australians lost men killed wounded horses lost turkish men killed captured artillery pieces number machine guns pieces equipment fighting advance november strong turkish southern maritime plain close mediterranean coast held heavy fighting time able withdraw good order rearguard garrisons able retire cover darkness night november november surviving units 7th 8th turkish armies delayed advance commanded 52nd lowland division 75th division units come end lines communication units 54th east division resting rear transferred transport 53rd welsh division corps cavalry deployed line near north 60th london resting 10th irish division resting infantry divisions involved series engagements days leading battle day began november brigade 52nd lowland division brigades commanded successfully pushed establish turkish right flank brigades command major general ran turkish rearguard left flank village mounted troops occupied village november unable advance intense turkish artillery fire continued day november preparations battle following day ordered attack 52nd lowland division extend position right flank reinforced additional brigades ordered advance encountered determined substantial turkish counterattack counterattack forced mounted division territory gained day fighting morning battle ridge occupied following days villages area found abandoned later morning november new_zealand mounted ran determined entrenched turkish rearguard near attacked fierce close quarter fighting continued afternoon severely threatened eventually prevailed went occupy days later fought november 52nd lowland division centre right flank infantry left flank battle divided stages pause artillery brought forward following successful charge ridge crucial fortified villages captured elements 52nd lowland division victory resulted subsequent occupation vital railway station lines communication jerusalem jerusalem australian mounted troops took late operations included battles fought november december fought maritime plain subsidiary battle december series battles involved british_empire fighting 8th army north mediterranean coast failure widespread determined turkish fought november december 7th evacuated jerusalem troops mounted troops enter jerusalem december end december british empire forces battle succeeded pushing turkish armies north strong british defensive line established remained place mid september line stretched north mediterranean coast west north east jerusalem extended middle february jordan valley captured eastern end line secured operations march april australian new_zealand mounted troops british infantry took raids east jordan river salt village palestine kilometres west raids unsuccessful encouraged turkish commanders believe main british effort launched jordan launched coastal plain operations commence necessary capture country east jerusalem attack turkish 26th 53rd infantry divisions 60th london february road jerusalem captured day evening captured february occupied divisions final offensive final offensive september divisions australian mounted troops 1st light car patrol squadron took september decisive british victory turkish soldiers taken prisoner attacked cutting north north west exits damascus september september head column turkish german troops annihilated australian light horsemen attempted withdraw west australian troops enter damascus fell october following advance kilometres captured october turkish government signed armistice october surrendered outright days later following armistice went camp tripoli having borne entire campaign suffered heavily malaria australia role palestine campaign later acknowledged field marshal commander chief allied forces middle_east having considerable total australian battle casualties campaign including dead western transfer europe march infantry units transferred egypt europe service western initially organised alongside arrive france followed 4th 5th left egypt later june arrive having formed australia march moving england training july sent france december half years constant line punctuated number major battles australians earned formidable reputation november australian divisions grouped form 1st division arrived reunited mechanical transport september army decided supply mechanical transport 1st division formed company new_south_wales victoria mechanical transport units australian_army nearly vehicles purchased units departed melbourne egypt december unfortunately vehicles long tons prohibited cairo bridges hold weight possessed vehicles weighing long tons arranged continue england arrived february lived tents hauled gravel roads sent france july australians serve western australian formed england august australian medical practitioners unit australians women allowed serve doctors australian nurses accepted unit left france august october based 2nd joined june july australian absorbed british_army group australians arrived france june 1st formed command lieutenant colonel australian_army director artillery service western half men unit permanent gunners garrison artillery brigade departed melbourne england july landed france february 54th equipped inch 55th siege battery inch majority france base organisation transferred united_kingdom training units moved establishing depots arrived moved camps area men returning hospitals sent returned units established wool depots men moving united_kingdom france established june swapped canadians depots reducing travelling time headquarters established road london colonel anderson businessman appointed commandant anderson negotiated new method payment services provided british_army capita payment battle april took positions quiet sector south known nursery australians spared participating disastrous day weeks beginning allied offensive divisions committed battle having recently arrived england australia positioned left flank action july suffering casualties single day entered line july taking assault initially succeeded carrying german positions relatively small losses germans recovered directed intense artillery barrage town resulted heavy losses time relieved 2nd division july suffered casualties days taking line 2nd division thrown hastily planned attack resulted casualties germans spotted australians forming subjected weight artillery machine guns attack launched august met success resulted heavy casualties division relieved day following attack australians called attack august divisions committed effort force breach german lines north task initial advance fell august suffered casualties resisting final german counter attack ensuing battle lose times number australians suffered hands german artillery finding frontage kilometres germans able concentrate weight defence attacks course weeks australians fought way shell countryside farm forced shortly concentration german artillery divisions fared slightly better attacks end engagement australian casualties totalled men battle dragged brought withdrawn line organise reform having suffered casualties course days involved badly having losses suffered october finally returned line joined 1st 2nd near march flying columns 2nd pursued german capturing town april consisting 4th 12th brigades assaulted battle battle disaster casualties taken prisoner germans april 1st 2nd divisions struck german counterattack dawn near town force battalions germans attempted advantage weakness developed allied line following british offensive australians initially forced abandon town germans process artillery batteries lost successful counterattack launched australian battalions resulting town recaptured guns reclaimed later brigades 2nd division 5th 6th took second battle succeeded taking sections eventually managed hold gains relieved committed relieve 1st remaining line battle ended mid battle resulted victory allies effort cost casualties ultimately ended plans expand sixth division june british corps consisting australian 4th division attached launched operation flanders region southern belgium near objective eliminate developed line south ridge providing germans good observation fields fire threaten major offensive british planned launch later year attack commenced pounds explosives placed underneath ridge separate tunnels completely destroying german trenches following explosions allied advance virtually unopposed germans stunned resistance went australians way major general suffered heavy casualties shelled gas shells moving line departure division managed position start attack strong german launched day supported concentrated artillery fire advance able continue mess concrete germans erected continued objectives taken australian casualties amounted nearly men july mortally wounded german surveying battlefield premier new south wales battle september november took number actions belgium allies launched campaign order capture belgium collectively actions come known battle australians commonly known names places individual actions took place road wood committed weeks start battle september having marched night 1st took position trenches main ridge attack came september road australians experienced success making considerable gains enemy loss casualties september 4th 5th divisions attacked captured later october successful attack main ridge australian divisions involved fought clashed head german counterattack launched time australians risen carry assault result rout australians german line broke following attacks german ridge captured attacks successful allied commanders began believe breakthrough possible attacks october october despite heavy rain turned ground muddy attacks ultimately doomed failure heavy casualties attacks mud battle decided time australians withdrawn line completed november course weeks involved fighting suffered casualties german spring offensive march having capitulation russia german_army launched spring offensive allies divisions miles allies began fall tremendous weight offensive march australian 3rd rushed south holding line german offensive lasted varying intensity months time divisions france involved fighting attempted stem tide german advance achieved large territorial gains stage looked like ultimately secure remarkable victory germans pushed miles paris late time australians involved number actions actions july notable action relatively minor terms scale previous operations mounted western notable set piece operation planned carried newly appointed commander lieutenant general model successfully carry combined arms attack aircraft artillery armour effective combination infantry attack space minutes planned minute operation achieved objectives allied line taking town australians advanced line kilometres kilometres process taken roughly german prisoners machine guns trench mortars anti tank weapons australians suffered casualties days offensive effort germans win war came grinding halt mid july followed brief period time australians undertook series small unit actions aimed capturing parts german line limited support actions known essentially cross trench raids patrolling success relied heavily leadership initiative junior commanders ability soldiers employ principles fire long allies soon ready launch offensive known days offensive ultimately bring end war offensive began august allied divisions including australian struck combined arms techniques developed earlier allies achieved territorial gains start war australian sector 4th initially spearheaded advance 2nd advanced kilometres secure secondary objectives attack successful later described black day german_army following allied offensive continued months right end war second battle fought actions taking final engagement war october australian casualties battles high coupled drying reinforcements australia rejection proposal introduce conscription granting home leave men serving meant end war severely stretched limit consequently height offensive decided battalions 36th 47th 52nd order reinforce units engagement contribution war line training armistice declared november total australian casualties western numbered including died men wounded approximately taken prisoners war theatres war ended australian soldiers france england egypt palestine syria small numbers serving theatres australian troops 1st provided communications british forces participated number battles including march september year following russian revolution collapsed leaving open special force known commander formed hand picked british officers organise remaining russian forces civilians ready fight turkish forces australian officers served party captain instrumental protecting thousands refugees australian nurses staffed british hospitals india formation formed march soon deployed german new_guinea aircraft crew dispatched colonies surrendered plane operational flights occur half flight called assist protecting british oil interests iraq corps later saw action egypt palestine western remainder war organised operational squadrons france middle_east training squadrons england remained half flight half flight known australian half flight unit active service february received request air assistance assistance fighting turks forming provide ground staff half flight unit known half flight captain appointed commander contingent sailed bombay april left arriving end flying unreliable aircraft half flight suffered high attrition rate losing killed captured strength pilots arrival reinforcements allowed formation squadron squadron november original pilots remained squadron mainly involved unarmed reconnaissance later small pounds bombs added aircraft october australian aircraft bombed arab tribe known hostile unsuccessful attempt bring surrender siege australian pilot captain dropped supplies garrison surrendered ground crewmen located city captured seven later dying captivity flew remaining egypt december squadron effectively marking end half flight service operations middle_east late began forming complete squadrons british request squadron dispatched egypt officers ranks equipped british aircraft including squadron operated palestine syria years supporting ground forces major battles palestine campaign turks missions included aerial reconnaissance bombing enemy positions communications artillery spotting involved air air battles german aircraft theatre australians encountered anti aircraft fire squadron equipped aircraft types replaced notably time lieutenant awarded victoria_cross rescuing australian pilot shot ground fire forced land close turkish positions march squadron took actions september witnessed destruction bulk british fighting western additional squadrons began forming australia service western squadrons arriving france august december squadron equipped subsequently involved battle november conducting patrol duties ground bombing enemy troops positions casualties high squadrons aircraft shot pilots lost squadron equipped supporting final phase flanders conducting mainly artillery spotting duties squadron equipped arrive france assigned army lens notably march squadron engaged aerial combat aircraft commanded red baron shooting german aircraft loss lens sector relatively quiet march germans launched major offensive squadron heavily engaged low level bombing support australian squadrons played limited role allied advance august squadron engaged reconnaissance contact patrols help identify locations forward troops undertook extensive aerial photography aid locating german artillery positions period nos squadrons area involved patrols raids railways vicinity germans retreat september squadrons felt considerable pressure keeping regardless squadron took spectacular action weeks war october australian encountered german action largest air battles war australians gained upper hand shot loss damage time western squadrons mainly fighter role squadron primarily reconnaissance squadron successful fighter squadron france accounting enemy aircraft squadron credited destruction total casualties western included killed wounded taken prisoner following end war november squadron australian unit assigned arriving germany december based cologne squadrons subsequently handed equipment raf february returned australia disbanded legacy despite australian military aviation infancy identity separate national force considered important mention unusual thousands new_zealand canada flew unified successor force april royal_air_force war gaining benefits command administrative experience came independent air service end war squadrons seen active service officers ranks served men served british flying services casualties included dead wounded captured subsequently disbanded war replaced royal_australian_air_force operations outbreak war consisted battlecruiser light cruisers sydney melbourne brisbane construction destroyers submarines destroyers construction squadron command rear admiral sir british admiral deck australia departed england naval operation war support australian naval military expeditionary force occupation german new_guinea naval portion force included australia melbourne sydney encounter submarine loss occurred disappeared september taking officers men major ran victory war occurred cruiser sank german light cruiser islands indian_ocean november australians killed engagement wounded ships ran helped provide naval cover ambitious landings gallipoli submarine broke blockade dardanelles harass turkish shipping later sunk crew captured light cruisers melbourne sydney deployed atlantic worked alongside royal_navy north american engaged surveillance operations large number german ships taken refuge neutral american ports war broken continued september cruisers moved north_sea joined australia assisting royal_navy blockade german high seas fleet time ran continued carry operations pacific indian oceans german ships taken refuge ports presence ships close australia sea lanes connected nation united_kingdom middle_east cause concern navy middle cruiser sloop sent conduct patrol operations later year october force destroyers yacht cruiser encounter sent search german munitions base reported area found patrol served german efforts carry subversive activities number british possessions british government requested assistance australian government dealing increasing threat posed german boats destroyers swan sent response request undertook anti submarine operations adriatic working italy barrage decorated ran unit war train reserve unit commanded lieutenant commander supported british gallipoli campaign constructing piers bay served egypt palestine taking amphibious assault battle disbanded number members later went serve ran war ran lost men killed including officers sailors officers sailors loan royal_navy home home service main focus australia military world war overseas europe middle_east necessity maintain troops australia home service carry number essential tasks engaged duties necessity fell soldiers militia small number regular soldiers early stages number militia infantry battalions called carry guard duties infrastructure considered important war effort munitions factories communications facilities ammunition transportation centres men kennedy regiment sent thursday island garrison island response possible threat german forces pacific additionally militia troops establish guard camps garrison artillery engineer units militia assist regular units manning coastal defences end naval situation pacific eased large extent sinking decided longer need maintain guards important facilities instead decided concentrate home defence network maintaining coastal defences guarding ships port larger precautions required commitment considerable resources requiring men provide security requirement militia undertake duties eased special corps raised men rejected service corps garrison military police served added later militia garrison artillery engineers required war man coastal defences despite fact decided small garrisons required active service militia ordered maintain readiness case required called importance placed role large extent barred joining overseas service february large scale effort militia enlist artillery units raised prevented called man coastal defences threat posed german commerce believed pacific lasted april garrisons reduced ban men serving militia artillery engineer units overseas service lifted april militia artillery time month news german commerce raiders wolf entered australian waters previous year june number troops actively employed home service regulars time navy took task providing guards ships harbour communications facilities allowing militia troops released training decided increase period camp training militia days conscription world war australian forces deployed overseas volunteers home considerable debate issue conscription conscription contentious issue federation initially raised decided volunteer force provisions defence act sending overseas war progressed casualties deployed forces began reach rates flow reinforcements recruits began drop issue conscription rose australia public opinion matter divided australians opposed issue moral grounds feeling situation desperate require drastic measure felt necessary order achieve final victory hughes labor government decided hold matter october matter decided narrow margin cent cent vote prevailing despite result issue split pro conscription prime minister ultimately left party joined members opposition supported conscription form new party known manpower shortages western began acute second held december time defeated greater margin votes effectively end plans expand france ultimately led severe manpower shortages france experienced result plans expand force 6th division shelved manpower distributed divisions divisions amalgamated banner effectively allowing struggling maintain numbers act depot formation corps divisions providing combat power war continued manpower shortages continued wounded men pressed service cases combat refusal 1st battalions september ordered breakup strength battalions reinforce battalion source pride identification men regiment british_army cases order defied men eligible draw rations unit longer officially existed lived stealing food sharing units rescinded order eventually heads australians called senior officers enforced change marching companies night different battalions change ultimately proved unnecessary war ended shortly censorship special measures global nature war meant functions previously individual australian state governments placed control commonwealth government additionally war meant government required power enact certain laws constitution normally able order enable occur war precautions act introduced october providing commonwealth government wide ranging powers period months duration war main provisions act focused allowing commonwealth enact legislation required smooth prosecution war main areas legislation enacted war precautions act prevention trade hostile nations creation loans raise money war effort introduction national taxation scheme fixing prices certain goods people considered danger war effort compulsory purchase strategic goods censorship media outbreak war people born germany austria-hungary living australia large scale german migration late 19th century number people german origin maintained affinity ancestral roots australians believed men german origin enlisted concerns members german austrian communities camps set suspected acts sent total believed people interned provisions war precautions act australians australian born following end war deported considerable public backlash way provisions war precautions act applied particularly relation certain sections community trade unions sections community reasons sympathetic british cause wider community following suppression prominent trade union members charges sabotage australia war effort danger breaking war continued operation war precautions act led considerable social political unrest late number violent incidents broke notable called red flag riots brisbane economy outset war australia economy small dependent largely agriculture resources industries export earnings manufactured products imported overseas immediately uncertainty continuation foreign trade led rise unemployment estimated couple days britain having declared war men new_south_wales concerns continued availability foreign markets australian produce initial concerns short lived beginning british government provided assurances large war risk insurance shipping order allow trade commonwealth continue shortly wartime direction trade began british asked australian government place certain restrictions overseas trade order secure resources vital war effort limit ability central powers obtaining goods commonwealth nations neutral parties extent restrictions served reduce ability australian producers find buyers products initially cases british stepped buy goods australian concerns significant reduction standard living understanding proved particularly beneficial wool wheat industries british government undertook buy australian products shortage shipping meant chance receive australian commerce expanded war cost war considerable australian government borrow considerably overseas fund war effort terms value australian exports rose cent number australians employed manufacturing industry increased cent reduced ability traditional sources continue supplying australia manufactured products necessity stimulated development australian manufacturing industry terms goods produced estimated inability traditional suppliers deliver manufactured goods trade shipping shortages new articles produced australian factories result war insignificant number transformation australian economy result world war means significant occurred world war expansion steel industry occurred time laid foundation future despite increase domestic manufacturing industry significant items priority military consumption production necessarily civilian considerable raw materials components required manufacturing lack shipping available united_kingdom limitations placed flow goods britain increased requirements result domestic prices went cost exports deliberately kept lower market value effort prevent pressures worldwide result cost living average australians increased considerably increase trade union movement inevitable war years considerable increase membership unions despite considerable rises costs basic items government sought maintain wages largely average weekly wage war increased cent inflation result considerable discontent workers extent industrial action followed disputes economic factors result violent opposition issue conscription trade opposed result estimated industrial disputes resulting working days lost lost wages overall war significantly negative impact australia economy real aggregate gross domestic product declined cent period personnel resulted cent decline civilian employment population growth continued war years half rate capita declined sharply falling cent war following end hostilities europe australian government decided contributing australian forces occupation forces sent germany post war settlement begin early lieutenant general sir appointed director general oversaw process britain lieutenant general took charge efforts middle_east employing system returned men units employment categories decided system saw men away longest period time returned size forces deployed overseas roughly personnel france britain egypt logistical requirements bringing home process lengthy important occupy troops waited order achieve prepare men return civilian employment education scheme set troops britain offered educational courses civilian work placement opportunities programs successful hoped thousand soldiers took advantage australians decided delay departure instead joined british_army went serve russian civil war officially australian government refused contribute forces campaign swan served black_sea conflict egypt early number australian light horse units quell nationalist uprising waiting passage australia despite shortages shipping process returning soldiers australia completed faster expected september men left britain waiting main transports conveying australian troops left england december arriving australia early year later april officially disbanded process end return australia effort shifted placing returned soldiers employment education taking care badly injured work order meet needs commonwealth established tasked managing placement returned soldiers employment training education housing eventually included task managing provision war managing hospitals homes total cost provisions considerable june estimated cost approximately total spent defence war order advocate thousands returned servicemen women services organisations sprang prominent probably established representatives state based organisations existence following war organisation grew political influence numbers grew active process advocating financial veterans securing concessions soldiers returning civilian employment estimated members fell dramatically legacy war affected australia ways arguably greatly european nations directly involved economically war number significant impacts great depression later prove far significant australian industry greatly transformed following world war political landscape transformed resulted issue conscription smaller extent role women society evolved women entered workforce cent increase employment women mainly areas women traditionally employed equally women employed nurses great involvement women military war legacy manner led emergence albeit independence australian foreign affairs previously australian foreign interests largely handled britain australia sent delegation began role regional affairs pacific peace conference prime minister hughes pushed aggressively australian mandate german new_guinea stance conflicted liberal inspired fourteen points forward american president regardless following war little real change imperial relations dominion affairs result war arguably lead significant change australia perception role world profound change occur following japanese crisis ultimately saw australia pursue foreign policy independent britain alliance united_states greatest effect war psychological heavy losses deeply affected directly war memorials built country people sought remember killed despite size australia contribution fighting australians actual experience realising having witnessed impact war hand instrumental editing writing official history australia involvement war advocated need national memorial main architects establishing australian war memorial canberra experience war notions australian character national identity endure day australians performance soldiers particularly failed gallipoli campaign served highlight nation emergence member international community bringing fore belief australians natural ability soldiers attitudes australians war greatly affected widespread large scale destruction loss life occurred desire occur regards led general defence military matters war arguably led nation lack major conflict evident australian strategic behaviour day statistics world war australians served military serving overseas australians lost lives wounded percentage forces committed casualty rate cent highest casualty rates british empire forces financial cost war australian government
Military history of Australia during World War I