Ww1 Essay

It shows the harsh and terrible conditions, which the Australian troops, experienced, whilst in the trenches. “Great, sleek, corpse-fed rats ran in squads between our legs” depicts the dirty conditions of which, the Australians experienced, where sixteen per cent died from typhoid, dysentery and gastroenteritis. This was the major cause of death in Australian troops. In the winter the weather would get down to below zero. There were reports of Australians toes falling off, after freezing and contracting gangrene. This would occur when the trenches were filled with mud up to their ankles in a trench two metres wide and 2 metres high. When the Australians arrived at the Western front, the first thing they saw were the lines of wounded soldiers being taken to the rear. As they got closer, they could feet the earth shake, and hear the constant ‘crump’ of artillery shells. This was known as trench foot and not uncommon in Australian soldiers. George states, “It is one of the things Kipling forgot to tell us” differing much from what they had expected the war to be like. The hard work and enduring sacrifices that they made in these harsh conditions evaluates the contribution of Australian soldiers to the Western Front

Source 4 mentions two common sayings to do with Australian realisations entering the war, "here Australia became a nation" and Blightly [Britain] is a failure, take me to Australia" (Stanley, 2011). The service of 320 thousand Australians stimulated the first growth of a self-conscious Australian nationalism. At the landing at Gallipoli Australian troops expected to learn from the British but instead looked down on them as amateurs and were disappointed with their performance, efficiency and supplies. "Real sense of inequality of sacrifice" (Carrodus, Delany, Easton, Howitt and Smith, 2014). Source 5 makes notice of the fact that by the middle of 1915 the reality of war began to dawn. Australians became disillusioned with the news of deaths upon deaths and war waged on with no visible end. Endless, helplessness, unfairly treated feelings. Australia was divided due to the working class feeling exploited and the middle and upper classes being affected less by the war. "It was a hollow mockery for citizens to celebrate the glories of ANZAC Day unless they were prepared to fulfil their promises and do their duty to the men who had fought and suffered through the war." (Brand, 1925). Source 6 is a quote from a recent time after WW1, it shows the pride Australians had in their soldiers, that they thought they were brave and to

The First World War was the first war that Australian’s ever fought as a Federated nation. World War one was a time of great change for Australia. World War one had an enormous impact on Australian society and I will be support this argument by looking at how the loss of troops meant that more men had to be enlisted to fight and how the role of women changed during the war. I will also be examining the use of propaganda used to influence the civilian population. World War I had a significant and lasting impact on Australian society.

Prior to World War 1, Australians on the whole suffered due to their geographical isolation, which technology had yet to defeat. Transport was solely by arduous sea journey, which restricted travel and communication with the rest of the world. The mass transfer of Australian youth to fight in Europe enabled the world to see for the first time the unique culture which was developing in this far away land. Recognition and respect was quickly given for the courage, good humour and strength in adversity displayed by Australian soldiers. The easy going egalitarian troops challenged the military norms of their British counterparts. While this

The Gallipoli campaign was described as the baptism of the newly federated Australia, and a chance for Australian soldiers to prove themselves to the world. They were not ultimately victorious, but the soldiers came to represent the character traits of the new country: fit and healthy, duty bound and courageous, good humored and egalitarian. The ANZAC image allowed Australians to both demonstrate loyalty to Britain, and claim an identity of their own. There is much to challenge the factual accuracy of the ANZAC image.

New weapons and defensive techniques were implemented here, a huge turning point for battle tactics and causes of death for the remainder of WW1. Hazardous gases were used alongside new machinery such as military tanks to form a stronger defensive stance, and although trenches were used in Gallipoli warfare, they became increasingly more popular in attacking techniques at the Western Front. The major Battle of Fromelles was also a great struggle for Australian soldiers as their enemies held higher grounds where possible, and there was little experience in working the artillery fire as it was the first ever battle for the AIF (Australian Imperial Force). Additionally, the Australian troops were placed majoritively on the front line at all times by the British. This accounted for the large number of losses and sacrifices of the ANZACs at the Western Front battles compared to the soldiers of other nations who also fought alongside the British. A quote from Lieutenant Hugh Knyvett, 59th Battalion, 15th Brigade (1916) expressed the great hardships that the soldiers were soon to face on the Western Front, unprepared and inexperienced. Knyvett is a credible source as he was one of the soldiers who fought on the Western Front, and was a Lieutenant during these battles. Knyvett says: “We had not been two days in the trenches before we knew that we were destined for an attack on the trenches opposite and we had not had time even to know the way about our own lines” (Wilkinson 2011). In addition, a letter sent home by John Alexander Raws, a credible SA Soldier who also took part in WW1 (1916) furthermore displays what hardships presented itself on the Western

Although both the World Wars had significant impacts on Australians, the statement that wartime controls in World War One had a greater impact on Australians than they did in World War Two is fairly inaccurate. There are a number of reasons as to why this was the case, as demonstrated through the government 's wartime controls. One of the wartime controls that was utilised by the government in both World Wars but had greater impact on Australians in World War Two was conscription. Another wartime control that had a higher degree of impact on Australians in World War Two than in World War One was the detainment and isolation of ‘enemy aliens’ when the government again took steps to protect their national security. With such a large number of servicemen deployed overseas, the role of women in Australia also changed drastically to meet the needs of the armed forces, the government and the economy and this influenced Australian life more in World War Two. Therefore, although both wars affected the lives of many Australians in mental, physical, social and economic aspects, the wartime controls of World War Two had a much greater impact on Australians than in World War One.

World War One is regarded as a major turning point in history and modern warfare which has impacted Australia monumentally, scarring the nation’s history. Australia played a significant role in World War One and the Gallipoli campaign, which is considered the birthplace of the ANZAC legend. These events have immensely shaped Australia as the nation we know of today. World War One began in 1914 from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and ended in 1918 on November the 11th which is now recognised as a day of mourning and a time given recognition to the lives taken on the battlefield. To a prominent extent, the ANZAC legend is significant to the concept of Australian identity and nationalism through the origins of the ANZAC legend, the key events that have helped form Australia as an independent nation, and in addition to how ANZAC day is commemorated today.

In conclusion, there were many changes that occurred to soldiers and civilians as a result of the Great War. The aspects of trench warfare and weaponry, women on the home front and conscription played a significant role in changing soldiers and civilians throughout the war.

In order to understand why the Anzac legend became so prominent, an understanding of Australia’s reasons for entering the First World War must be understood. Firstly, it was the first major war Australia would participate in as a state in its own right, less than two decades after Australian became a federation in 1901. According to Stanley,

Keating's speech addresses the changing attitudes to war and to the Anzac legend. When he states: ‘ this Australia and the Australia he knew are like foreign countries’ he is using contrast to show us exactly how much has changed.

In August 1914, after the outbreak of World War I, an immense wave of support flooded Britain from her ally, Australia. All Australian political parties, community leaders, newspapers and churches were on-board with this major movement to help the mother country. All believed it was a morally right and necessary commitment . World War I, 1914 – 1918 had a significant and long lasting impact on the Australian home front. ‘The civilian population ’ had to undergo many changes to cater for the war. At this time women’s push for a larger role in the war effort caused a significant and long lasting impact on the Australian home front, which has helped shape workplace gender equality today. Conscription also impacted the Australian home front, meaning, compulsory enlistment of people in military service. As well as the massive impact on Australia’s economy from the many trading cancellations through abandoned or cut off allies, which has helped build Australia’s economy to what it is today.

However, the Marines failed to scout the woods. As a consequence, they missed a regiment of German infantry dug in, with a network of machine gun nests and artillery.[7]

‘We’re all Australians now’ draws the reader to see the war from a positive Australia home front perspective. Texts from

World War I (1914-1918) was considered the 'Great War' and Australia’s Gallipoli campaign has always been considered as the pinnacle of the Australian military feats. This is due to the constant glorification of the event despite the fact it was an unmitigated failure. However, the work of the Australian army force in the most important battleground of WW1 the 'Western Front' is often cast under the shadow of Gallipoli. The battles on the Western Front took place in France, Belgium and parts of Germany and this is where some of the most pivotal battles were fought. The contribution and success of the Australians will be assessed through the analysis of several sources related to four major contributions related to the Western Front. These include the amount of Australians involved, the external opinions of Australia in the Western front, The Battle of