Australia's Gallipoli Campaign Analysis

The Australian home front during WWI was drastically altered politically through the conscription vote that Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, believed necessary. 50,000 Australian men had signed up for the war before the year of 1914 had come to an end – which was a rate of over 10,000 per month – but the enlistment numbers dropped way down to 6,000 for the month of the Gallipoli landing in 1915. Once again, however, the numbers rose sharply on the home front after the news of the landing came back home, as many wished to avenge their fallen countrymen, and nobody could question the solemnity of the conflict. With five whole divisions overseas, Australia had to stay committed to their recruitment for the

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.

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 Battle of Gallipoli, or the Gallipoli Campaign, was fought during the First World War. It is known by either name because the Battle of Gallipoli featured many different battles and phases that comprised the entirety of the campaign. This engagement began on February 17, 1915 and ended on January 9, 1916. The Allied forces were tasked with attempting to secure the strait. The purpose of this was twofold: first, it provided the Russian Empire with much-needed shipping access, and second, it would serve to cut the Ottoman Empire in half. The Allies also planned to capture the capital of the Ottoman Empire during this operation. The British and the French attempted to launch a combined naval offensive

Being that Australia was apart of the British monarchy Australia sent many thousands of troops to fight for Britain during the First World War between 1914 and 1918. Thousands lost their lives at Gallipoli, on the Turkish coast and many more in France. Both Australian victories and losses on World War I battlefields contribute significantly to Australia's national

Additionally, the Australians began to commemorate the events that occurred in Gallipoli. The pride in the Australian soldiers was strengthened due to the Australian troops fighting on the Western Front. Commemorations to show reverence continues to be held for the 63 163 Australians who were killed in the war and also for the surviving soldiers. Today and in the future, there needs to be a shared focus on both the Gallipoli and Western Front campaigns in these commemorations as the Australian soldiers who fought dauntlessly, endured the hardships and sacrificed themselves had a vital role to play in the victory of the Allies in the war and the freedom of Australia

World War One was the cause of many significant changes in the world’s society. However, did it deeply affect the Australian home-front? The answer is different to many different people because the experiences differ. Some points of view would say that Australia was not deeply affected because the war wasn’t fought on Australian soil. On the other hand, people could argue that World War One saw a dramatic change in the Australian economy and the way of life for people on the home-front.

The Australian’s being part of the British army continued to help fight resulting in many more deaths. Australian casualties from World War One totalled over 60,000 dead 156,000 gassed, taken prisoner or wounded.16 The 40,000 dead from 1917 made up two-thirds of all Australian deaths in WW1 and 40% of Australians dead out of all wars.17 October 1917 (the battles of Poelcappelle and Passchendaele) was the worst month alone with around 6,400 dead.18 In proportion to forces fielded, Australia's casualty rate was almost eighty-five percent, the highest in the British Empire.19 One of the main reasons for this being Australians were often exposed to the front line in massive numbers. The sheer scale of loss in 1917 was the reason it is considered to be the worst year for the young nation of

WWI provided an appropriate event to form the grounds of an independent national image. Peter Stanley, Principal Historian at the Australian War Memorial concurs: “Australians early in the 20th century… thought of themselves as 'Australasian Britons', bound to Britain… the Great War would offer the first substantial challenge to that view and would stimulate the growth of a self-conscious Australian nationalism.” The ANZAC soldiers played a crucial role in the separation of this identity during WWI. News of ANZAC soldier refusing to salute British officers were recorded in cartoons and exposed to the nation. “'"Why do you not salute?" a British colonel demands of a slouching Australian private. "To tell you the truth, digger", he replies, "we've cut it right out"… ANZACs were… defined by their differences with Britain… disregard of rank… specifically contrasted with the qualities of the British regular. “(P. Stanley). This division of attitude marked only the beginning of Australia’s distinction from their British forefathers and is also evident in Mettrick’s comment: “They gained a fierce

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.

But they were meant to be the lucky ones, as over 60 000 men were killed in World War I. By going to war for our alliance to Britain, Australia, just 13 years old, was killing off such a large majority of our male population out of the measly 5 million we had at that time. And the fact was that when enlistments first came, men weren’t signing up to die, this wasn’t a choice of free will of wanting to die, all they wanted was to show bravery and fight for their country. But war came, and due to Australia’s continual alliance to Britain, Bill Gammage describes “they knew they would die, and they were determined to die bravely, by running swiftly at the enemy”. Were these deaths worth the thousands of men dying over? And in Gallipoli, our greatest defeat when enlistments peaked during 1915 to 36 575 just in July, there were 26 111 Australian casualties in that operation with 8 141 deaths, showing the immense sacrifice Australia had made for Britain, with Gallipoli having no influence on the course of the war. Were these deaths worth the thousands

Australian had only just become a federated country when war broke out and the British command had asked for the Australian and New Zealanders to join them their military, this was Australia’s first war as an independant country. At the time Australia’s government saw this as a chance to show the world that they weren’t just a nation descended from convicts and deserved a place in Britain’s great military tradition (Darlington, 2012; wiliam, 2017). The Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) were then established, with approximately 500 000 Australian men enlisted thinking they would be home by Christmas, 40% of these men were aged between 18 and 45 (Macmillan, 2012), more than 60,000 of

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.

The Great War was known as ‘the war to end all wars’ as it had such a dramatic and tragic impact on soldiers and civilians alike. Many aspects of the conscription debate, the home front, trench warfare and weaponry had a significant impact on Australia and its involvement in the war.

The Western Front was fought between 1914 and 1918 where the Australians contributed in many different battles. After the outbreak of WW1 in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. Australian forces contributed to 26 battles across Germany, Belgium and France, however often ending in stalemate. Australians contributed through the enhancement of warfare and tactics, conditions and cures and the commemoration of fallen soldiers. The Australians contribution the battle of the Western Front is second to none and is highly recognised in the current community.