1. Introduction

WW1 INTRODUCTION

Saluting their Service - Grahame Old

Overview of the First World War 1914-1918 (source AWM)

The First World War, also known as the Great War, was to be a terrible experience for the newly federated nation of Australia. A war that became a baptism of fire, killing tens of thousands of young men creating the foundation for new traditions of patriotism, and an increasingly distinct national identity. When Britain declared war against Germany in August 1914, Australia with its ties to the British Empire was also at war. At the outbreak of WW1, the population of Australia was around 5 Million, 400,000 men and women volunteered for service, almost ten per cent of Australia’s entire population. Soldiers embarked for the battlefields of Gallipoli, the Middle East and the Western Front. Of this number, around one Australian serviceman in every seven would die.

Initially the war was greeted with great enthusiasm, men and boys rushed to join the great adventure. The enthusiasm however was short lived. By 1917, as the casualty rate continued to rise, reinforcements from volunteer enlistments became more difficult to find. Mothers refused to send more of their sons to the killing fields of the Western Front. The Government of the day twice attempted to introduce conscription but was defeated on both occasions. Almost every Australian family had a connection with casualties of war, for every one of those young men who struggled, suffered and died in France, there was waiting at home, a weeping mother, father, perhaps a wife and children, or a sweetheart, brother or sister.

BLACKBOY HILL

On August 17, 1914, just 12 days after war was declared, the first volunteers arrived at the newly formed Blackboy Hill camp at the foot of the Darling Ranges, east of Perth. It was the birthplace of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in WA and over 32,000 men passed through the camp before heading off to war.

The Navy and Air Force in WW1

Australians also served at sea and in the air. The RAN came under command of the British Royal Navy and was first to see action when HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider SMS Emden in November 1914. WW1 was the first conflict in which aircraft were used, 3000 Australian Airmen served with the Australian Flying Corps in the Middle East and France (the RAAF was not formed until 1921).

Gallipoli

Australian forces underwent their baptism of fire in the disastrous Gallipoli campaign. After four months of training in Egypt, elements of the AIF went ashore on the 25 April 1915. The Turkish defenders held the high ground and the ANZACS (acronym formed from the initial letters of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) were forced to dig in on the steep slopes. What followed was a stalemate with heavy loss of life on both sides. The disaster continued for the remainder of 1915. The Australians eventually evacuated without loss of life, in what was the only successful operation of the campaign.

France and the Western Front/Trench Warfare

After Gallipoli the AIF was reorganised and expanded from two to five infantry divisions, all of which were progressively sent to France, beginning in March 1916. The light horse Regiments, which had served as Infantry during the Gallipoli campaign remained in the Middle East. When the Australians arrived in France the war on the Western Front had become one of defensive operations. Trench systems now extended from Belgium to the Northern border of France. The war became one of attack and counterattack on heavily fortified trench positions. Both sides suffered horrific loss of life, whole Battalions of men were cut down in ‘no man’s land’ for little gain. The development of machine guns and heavy artillery had a devastating effect on trench warfare tactics. However, this barbaric loss of life continued throughout 1916 and 1917.

The Final Push

In March 1918 Germany launched ‘Operation Michael’, a massive attack along the whole of the Western front hoping for victory before the might of the United States Army entered the war. The allied trenches were overrun in many places and the German Army advanced further into France. However, the allies regrouped, and counter attacked. The war was no longer one of defensive operations but had turned to offensive tactics. The Australian Divisions now came into their own, with this style of warfare, and they spearheaded the counter attacks driving the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. The war was over for Germany and they signed the Armistice on 11 November 1918.

The Australian Light Horse

In the Middle East the Australian Light Horse troops fought a mobile offensive war against the Ottoman Empire in conditions entirely different to the Western Front. The troops endured extreme heat, desert and water shortage but as in the Boer war, the Australian horsemen excelled. The desert campaign began in 1916 and lasted three years during which time the Australian Light Horsemen charged into the history books. Turkey sued for peace in October 1918, the war over. In comparison to France, casualties were light, 1,394 Australians killed or wounded during the three years of fighting.

Women at War

Australian women volunteered for service in a number of roles; nurses, cooks, drivers, interpreters, munition workers, and farm workers. There were also a number of Red Cross volunteers who provided comforts to the troops.  Australian Nurses were expected to be single or widowed. The Nurses served in Egypt, France, Greece and India often in trying conditions, they were exposed to shelling, aerial bombardment and outbreaks of disease. Several Nurses were killed whilst on active service.

Wars End

For Australia, WW1 remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and wounded. From a population of fewer than five million, around 500,000 enlisted, of whom more than 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner. When the war ended the soldiers still suffered, many were severely disabled whilst others carried mental scars to their deathbeds. Many could not resume a normal life, many committed suicide, the exact numbers will never be known.

WW1 Collie Boys

The population of Collie was around 3300. Of this number 563 ‘Collie Boys’ embarked for overseas service, and 133, around one in five, were killed in action or died of wounds.

                                                                                 ‘Lest we Forget’

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