1914 Essay, Research Paper

In 1914, Australia joined the First World War. Although it was seen as a European war, the Australia authorities decided that Australia should back up its & # 8216 ; Mother Country & # 8217 ; , Britain. The prime-minister at the clip, Joseph Cook, stated Australia & # 8217 ; s place: & # 8220 ; Whatever happens, Australia is a portion of the Empire, right to the full. When the Empire is at war, Australia is at war. & # 8221 ; Many Australians objected to the state & # 8217 ; s engagement in the war, but the bulk of the population agreed with the authorities & # 8217 ; s determination. Australia joined the war for many grounds, but two chief grounds were: Australia ( as a counry ) felt a trueness towards the & # 8216 ; mother state & # 8217 ; , Britaain and that the war would be a good chance to better Ausrtalia & # 8217 ; s international repute. Many single Australians besides joined the war for a assortment of grounds. Some felt a strong trueness to Britain who had supported Australia, and now, they felt, was the clip for them to & # 8216 ; make their spot & # 8217 ; . Others enlsted merely to turn out they were brave adequate to contend, but some enlisted because their friends had. Some merely enlisted because they needed a occupation, wage, and regular repasts, but many enlisted in the ground forces for an escapade, non cognizing the true horrors of war. Private A.J. McSparrow ( former railroad worker from Parramatta, NSW ) , was one of the many work forces whwo enlisted because he felt that it was his responsibility to back up the & # 8216 ; mother state & # 8217 ; & # 8230 ; & # 8221 ; I have ( enlisted ) & # 8230 ; and I don & # 8217 ; t repent it in the really least. I believe that it is every immature chap & # 8217 ; s responsibility & # 8221 ; and & # 8220 ; & # 8230 ; we are the kind of work forces who should go. & # 8221 ; Private Antill enlisted because he needed the money, apparels and nutrient and besides because it was easier

work than cabinet making …”I tell you what I have just joined the Australan army … it’s not bad money here 5/- a day and clothes and food that’s nearly as good as cabinet making and not half as hard.”Lieutenant D.G. Armstrong (former bank clerk from Kyneton, Victoria), thought that the war would be great opportunity to prove his strength and to show that he was not a coward…”I am going to have a try for the war … I think I ought to go, they want all they can get and … I think it’s the greatest opportunity for a chap to make a man of himself, those that come back from this war will be men of the right sort that anybody would be proud of.”Corporal R.E. Antill, (former cabinet maker from Windsor, Victoria), joined up because he was eager to shed German blood…”… I am itching to get a dig at a few Germans … we have all got the war fever … I am too excited to give my mind to writing…”However, after experiencing the horrors of war, Coporal Antill was not so blood thirsty…”I honestly say I will be highly delighted when this war is over for it is simply terrible, for to see your pals shot down beside you…” and “The first night … I tried to get a couple of hours rest, and where I was I could not shift my position so I had to use a dead man’s legs for a pillow.”Many Australians enlisted in the army with the wrong impression of what war would be like. Many thought that it would be glamourous and exciting, but the reality was that they were living in filthy trenches, alongside their dead comerades, who couldn’t be burried in the rush. Austraians joined the war with ignorance. Most of the Australian soldiers enlisted to support Britain because they were not aware of the full extent of war.