australian military world war australian military world war involved men women military supporting transition civilian life reducing armed services peacetime strengths planning process began thousands servicemen women discharged years war response shortages labour domestic war economy general military began october completed february process largely successful military personnel stationed complained australia slow disposal surplus military equipment took place time size services reduced disposal process managed limit economic impact equipment transferred government agencies sold destroyed end planning planning australian military began end formed department involved drawing plans determining veterans assistance provided discharged personnel help settle civilian life included planning delivery training housing ensuring jobs available important consideration ensure civilian employment opportunities created appropriate rate size military reduced order achieve decided continue wartime economic regulations price controls order limit inflation direct resources believed needed australian war cabinet approved proposed principles govern june key element principles order personnel based points system service men women allocated points basis period service age marital status employment training prospects extensive plan developed inter service committee following consultation trade unions employers returned servicemen plan accepted basis planning war cabinet march rate personnel discharged set day days week capable increased event emergency final plan assigned differing scales points service men women service men allocated points year age based age points month service dependent children points service women received points year age point month service women children given priority followed married end war service women married war ask early discharge grounds men eligible early discharge health grounds skills important australian economy accepted time training course limited began final years war order meet needs war economy soldiers released australian_army october reductions took place august soldiers personnel royal_australian_air_force discharged government implemented policy service men women completed years service including years outside australia volunteer discharge post war plan action august day japan surrendered time military strength men women australia serving britain parts world personnel discharged august september prisoners war long period service general begin october intervening months dispersal centres established state territory capital city centres provide information employment land settlement housing training loans tools trades benefits service personnel processed lieutenant general appointed september prisoners war given high priority australia discharge planning recovery prisoners japanese held harsh conditions begun 2nd 3rd australian prisoner war reception groups established singapore manila respectively august end september prisoners recovered singapore java sumatra returned australia half recovered area transport shortages delayed australian prisoners japan korea way home mid september line plan approved september general conducted stages stage ran october january involved discharge personnel higher targets members soldiers airmen specified plan second stage personnel left military february june slightly lower target stage ran july december time services reduced personnel considered strength necessary military post war tasks remaining servicemen wish volunteer continuing service military released fourth stage began january end process military strength fallen personnel possible service men women placed leave allowed return home awaiting discharge military included disbanding female branches services women auxiliary australian air force formed enable women serve military disbanded military service restricted men service women provided similar assistance male members military placed pressure return traditional family roles return australian personnel delayed shipping shortages need maintain force area garrison duties military provided personnel training courses prepare civilian life courses basic subjects english run training began teachers instructors courses service personnel selected basis civilian addition sport competitions conducted men busy men believed process slow december men staged protest march demanding shipping available return australia soldiers complained having remain island war ended prime minister plane apparent protest visit december minister largely blamed military personnel result lost seat election comfortably retained office despite dissatisfaction men process generally proceeded smoothly men returned australia january percent middle year leaving military service men women attended dispersal centre naval depot provided medical examination interviewed rehabilitation officer provided information benefits eligible responsible placing discharged personnel employment providing identity documentation training courses available veterans completed university technical rural training courses training began training withdrew completing course included establishing arrangements medical care service personnel war responsibility medical treatment gradually transferred services army hospitals transferred commission meeting immediate need facilities proved necessary build new hospitals treatment tuberculosis mental disorders specialised army hospitals established treatment conditions respectively unsatisfactory returned government new south wales responsible providing assistance veterans disability caused military service led foundation disposal military equipment disposal military equipment materials key priority end war equipment civilian uses motor vehicles clothing housing needed counter shortages civilian economy timing equipment release carefully planned avoid employment creating manufactured goods planning disposal equipment began established oversee sale destruction equipment september commission established government decided military equipment offered government agencies available public sales public basis processed existing trade channels public auction fair market prices payment required cash special priorities established farmers given priority motor vehicles machine tools allocated servicemen training colleges special consideration given needs red_cross overseas domestic charitable associations preparations disposal equipment began second half war cabinet directed military survey stocks indicate general commander chief army hindered preparations believed premature army stocks needed maintained japan defeated position opposed acting minister army raaf ran attempts identify successful delaying work july result relatively little military equipment sold september june war ended rapidly disposed large stocks military equipment consumer goods raw materials immediately manufacturers items sold sales motor vehicles grew rapidly military vehicles important contribution meeting transport shortages rural areas dissatisfaction priority given agricultural sector way vehicles sold sales important meeting shortages clothing housing industrial construction equipment military stocks food donated sold export disposal military equipment particularly outside australia presented challenge end war inadequate preparations storage equipment new_guinea stores stolen soldiers native new salvage pirates damaged tropical conditions sales stocks areas completed end low prices equipment stolen specialised military equipment proved difficult dispose given civilian purposes bombs explosives destroyed scrap metal recovered large numbers combat aircraft scrapped worldwide training aircraft equipment sold public government agencies demand tanks converted greater expected activities peaked sales generally went smoothly accordance principles set government significantly disrupt normal commerce commission generally operated efficiently mistakes occurred clothing scrap metal sold beneath market value volume sales dropped rapidly disbanded july time commission sold worth equipment
Demobilisation of the Australian military after World War II