What was the Australian attitude in ww1?

When Australia joined the war in August 1914, the reaction was one of excitement, especially among young men. Australian men answered the call to war with a sense of adventure, duty and enthusiasm. As Australian armed forces grew from 3,000 to 50,000, some soldiers struggled with the discipline of military life.

How were Australian soldiers treated during ww1?

Wounded men were transported to military hospitals, where doctors and nurses would care for around 1000 patients at a time. Men remained in hospital until they could be returned to their unit or evacuated to Britain.

How were Australian soldiers perceived in ww1?

Like the other Dominion divisions from Canada and New Zealand, the Australians were viewed as being among the best of the British forces in France, and were often used to spearhead operations. The exploits of the AIF at Gallipoli, and then on the Western Front, subsequently became central to the national mythology.

How did Australia’s relationship with Britain change in ww1?

During the war, Australia’s supplies and rations were being sent to Britain and Britain’s interest in Australia was slowly dimming. Slowly the strong relationship with Britain was being replaced with a relationship with the USA. The battle of the Coral Sea was a major turning point for this relationship.

What was the attitude regarding war in 1914?

Within all armies and societies in 1914-1918, acceptance was expected and celebrated, whereas refusal was punished.

How did the British Empire begin to recruit soldiers?

Lord Derby, a politician, encouraged men to join up with their friends as a way to recruit more soldiers. People who already knew each other would be good for the army. They would keep each others’ spirits up. These groups became known as ‘Pals Battalions’.

Why did Australia support Britain in ww1?

An expectation had arisen of a clash between Europe’s two major trading nations, Britain and Germany. Australia was in the middle of an election campaign when war came. Both leaders, Joseph Cook, Prime Minister, and Andrew Fisher, leader of the Labor Party, promised Australian support to Britain.

What was the attitude of the Australian soldiers to the British in Gallipoli?

Although some Australians went to war with a sense of England as the “Motherland”, this also led to a perceived attitude by some “Tommies” that the Australians were backward and coarse “Colonials”.

What seems to be the attitude of the British soldiers?

Good after being shelled with nothing to do.” Thus it can be seen that, across the years of the conflict, very few British servicemen held a single attitude, whether of enthusiasm or disillusionment, towards the war.

What did the soldiers think ww1 was going to be like?

Most men didn’t realize how deadly this war was going to be, and they thought they would be able to have a great adventure with their friends and the other men in their family. They were desperate to fight for their country, and experience the sense of nationalism.

Why did Australian soldiers volunteer to fight in ww1?

But there were many more reasons for Australians wanting to enlist, including: Loyalty to Britain, ‘the mother country’ Some volunteers had served in British campaigns in the past. The need for regular pay.

What was the relationship like between the British and Australian troops?

There is some debate about the smoothness of relations between the Australian troops and the British troops. Although some Australians went to war with a sense of England as the “Motherland”, this also led to a perceived attitude by some “Tommies” that the Australians were backward and coarse “Colonials”.

What were Australian soldiers’ attitudes towards the Germans like?

Attitudes towards the Germans among Australian soldiers ranged from seeing them purely as the evil “enemy” who must be stopped, to identifying with the common situation that all soldiers found themselves in, regardless of nationality.

Why did Australians feel aggrieved by the British Invasion of Australia?

Australians felt particularly aggrieved because they increasingly felt different to them. The evidence of Australian attitudes towards British troops is found in abundance in soldiers’ writings held in the collections of the Australian War Memorial (established by Charles Bean) and other libraries.

What was it like to be an Australian soldier in WW1?

Germans recorded that Australians were magnificent in build but not what the considered soldierly in attitude. This was in part because the Australian soldier was a volunteer and also their attitude. Respect was earned and the Australian of the time was really quite egalita The Australian soldier in WW1 is a conundrum.