World war i newspapers and journals historic newspapers and magazines written during world war i provide a rich resource on the conscription debate. Trade unions and group workers believed that if conscription was voted in then there wouldnt be enough men to run the factories. The modern system of nearuniversal national conscription for young men dates to the french revolution in the 1790s, where it became the basis of a very. Ross mcmullin, a divided australia, wartime 80, 2017, pp. This required men to undertake six months military training, and some 240,000 registered for service. The following article on conscription in world war two conscription definition is an excerpt from barrett tillman dday encyclopedia. Conscription is the compulsory enlistment or call up sometimes known as the draft of citizens for military service. Are you in favour of the government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of this war, outside the commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the commonwealth.
Many people believed that sending more troops overseas only to be killed in the war, was utter stupidity on australias part and that the patriots were putting the british empire before australia. Hughes is denying the people their democratic right to debate this issue. The popular press calls them traitors for simply disagreeing with his vote. The federal liberals, sensitive to strong francophone feelings on this issue, repeatedly pledged not to resort to compulsory enlistment for overseas military service. See more ideas about ww2 posters, world war and ww2 propaganda. World war i provide a rich resource on the conscription debate. Conscription was the most divisive issue in australian politics during the first world war. However, in march 1939, both the liberal party and conservative party accepted a program rejecting conscription for possible overseas service. Obligatory service in the armed forces has existed since ancient times in many cultures, including the samurai in japan, warriors in the aztec empire, citizen militiamen in ancient greece and rome, and aristocrats and their peasants or yeomen during the middle ages in europe.
There are a number of arguments from both sides that led to the overall decision including that it was giving a blank cheque to the government and it would mainly target the workingclass given by the negative side led by archbishop daniel mannix. An alburybased historian looks for answers to why australia voted no to sending men overseas to fight during the world war i. The actual conscription debate began in 1916 when prime minister billy hughes visited the. The modern system of nearuniversal national conscription for young men dates to the french revolution. Visit us to view these collections detailing the conscription debate. Conscription literally means compulsory military service. Known as military service from 1916 to 1920, the system of conscription from 1939 to 1960 was called national service, but between 1939 and 1948, it was often referred to as war service. Conscription during the first world war, 19141918 conscription during the first world war, 19141918 at the outbreak of the first world war, the number of people volunteering to enlist for the australian imperial force aif was so high that recruitment officers were forced to turn people away. Many people believed that sending more troops overseas only to be killed in the war, was utter stupidity on australia s part and that the patriots were putting the british empire before australia. Conscription in the united kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The japanese successes in the pacific meant that australia faced a serious threat of invasion. Conscription is a hateful thing, which is certain to bring evil in its train.
Students are organized into three groups and conduct research on the arguments made by their assigned group for or against conscription. On his return to australia, he then voiced his thoughts of conscription as his view was that australia needed more soldiers. It was conducted during the battle of the somme in france, which historian joan beaumont says infused the. Military conscription, for example, is mandatory military service rendered by civilians for a certain period of time which many nations enact to prepare their people in the event of war. Compulsory military training in new zealand wikipedia. Conscription australians in world war 1 research guides at. Jan 14, 2017 this new book on wwi conscription issues, aims to offer new interpretations of the conscription issues, conflicts and policies in the englishspeaking countries involved in the war, with a particular focus on australia as the one country to decide against conscription by popular vote. Conscription in australia, or mandatory military service also known as national service, has a controversial history dating back to the first years of nationhood. Ifoulds intention was to acquire the original diaries and letters written during the conflict from servicemen and women returning from the war. By that time australia had lost more than 61,000 men, with another 160,000 returning wounded.
What was the conscription rate for australia for world war. This plebiscite was held due to the australian governments desire to introduce conscription to increase the recruitment of forces for overseas service during the ongoing world war i, to a total of 7,000 men per month. Australians voted twice against the governments proposed conscription policy to force eligible australian men into military service overseas. The 1916 australian plebiscite was held on 28 october 1916. All of the historical documentation refer to the ballot as a referendum, even though it did not involve a proposal to amend the australian constitution. The no party had posters saying that australia has already done enough for the war and that conscription would lead to their death. Conscription, sometimes called the draft, is the compulsory enlistment of people in a national service, most often a military service. The 1916 referendum failed when 51 per cent voted no. The 1916 conscription debate national library of australia. The world war i collecting project was initiated by principal librarian william ifould.
At the outbreak of world war i, great britain adopted conscription and used it again in world war ii. In 1965 a group of concerned australian women formed the anti conscription organisation save our sons, which was established in sydney with other branches later formed in wollongong, melbourne, brisbane, perth, newcastle and adelaide. Was there any systematic understanding of how women and children would cope with the sudden disappearance of their father or their husband. The institution of conscription, which was increasingly justified by statesmen on grounds of national defense and economic stimulation, spread to other european nations and japan in the 19th cent. Free essays on conscription debate australia and world war i. Politics, religion, social classes, families all separating themselves into two groups. The authors attribute the australia decision, confirmed in two separate referenda, to a number of factors, among them the countrys strong democratic tradition, its powerful labor movement, and even the inept propaganda from some proconscription advocates. Unlike the other countries engaged in world war i, conscription was not introduced in australia. Arguments over conscription while 50,000 men had signed up before the end of 1914 a rate of more than 10,000 each month the numbers of enlisting fell to 6,000 for the month of the gallipoli landing in april 1915. This assertion is based on the theory that if every man is a soldier or a potential soldier, the men of a country will do their utmost to escape the horrors of war and so will use their influence against it. One of the countrys oldest and most prolific volunteer organisations is the australian red cross society. Twice during the first world war australians were asked to vote in a national referendum on introducing conscription. Prime minister billy hughes made two attempts to introduce conscription.
Compulsory military training cmt, a form of conscription, was practised for males in new zealand between 1909 and 1972. The selective scheme used for the vietnam war rendered all 20yearold males potentially liable, but actually selected only those whose birth. Will australia reintroduce military conscription in a war. The conscription crisis of 1944 was a political and military crisis following the introduction of forced military service for men in canada during world war ii. Australian society for the study of labour history, canberra region branch. Are you in favour of the government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service. By the late 1930s, as the threat of a new war in europe became acute, the question of military conscription again caused lively political debate in french canada. As in 1916 and 1917, the government had the power to conscript men for home service, but not for overseas combat.
The armies of europe were deadlocked and the war had worsened. The expeditionary force which the australian government offered to britain in august 1914 was composed only of volunteers, since earlier legislation forbade the deployment of conscripts overseas. Australia twice voted against the introduction of conscription during world war i. After world war i conscription was based wholly on a universal compulsory scheme for service entirely in australia. Conscription in australia during ww1 meant that there was a policy of ordering all ablebodied young men to do compulsory military service during the war. Billy hughes prime minister of australia and leader of the labor party, in 1916, proposed for a change to the boys conscription all boys 1020 years old, had to undertake basic military training but didnt have to join up or serve overseas to a full conscription where any able bodied man between 1840 must serve overseas. At the beginning of world war ii, direct attacks on the australian mainland were expected, and the government had no trouble recruiting young men to join the armed forces.
The alp senator for western australia, pj lynch, was another early advocate of conscription, declaring on 9 june 1915 that i feel convinced that if a vote was taken of those men whose names appear on the roll of honour, they would vote for conscription, and i believe, also, that the soldiers who are behind the trenches would vote for it. Because it was not an amendment to the constitution, 1 it had no legal force, 2 it did not require. In november of 1942, the prime minister at the time, john curtin, argued at a special federal conference of the labor party that conscription was necessary for the war effort to compel service in the southwest pacific area this area was comprised of australia, new guinea, the philippines and the. Ifould wanted to capture the authentic voices of those who served for future generations. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names. This plebiscite was held due to prime minister billy hughes desire to conscript young australian men for overseas service during world war i. How and why the conscription debate divided australia. Conscription conflicts in wwi well detailed in new book.
Conscription australia international encyclopedia of the. Two decades later, as the threat of a new war in europe became serious, the question of military conscription again caused lively political debate. Conscription the sequel australian society for the. Members of the citizen military forces cmf remained in australia to ensure home defence. Compulsory training continued briefly, gradually reducing in effectiveness to the point that the scullin labor government, seeking to reduce expenditure in the early days of the great depression, abolished the scheme in 1929. Conscription during the first world war, 19141918 the. In australia today the word referendum refers specifically to a vote to change the australian constitution. Arguments over conscription while 50,000 men had signed up before the end of 1914 a rate of more than 10,000 each month the numbers of enlisting fell to.
Students learn about the conscription crisis in canada. The major debate within australia caused people to start questioning the unity of australia. Dr no we wont and no, it isnt possible or even sensible australia never had conscription during wwi and wwii. I make no apology for putting australia first and the empire second. Conscription debate in australia during world war i anzac portal. It was conducted during the battle of the somme in france, which historian joan beaumont says infused the debate with the passion and. In february 1942 the labor prime minister, john curtin an opponent of conscription in the first world war, expanded the definition of home defence to cover the southwest pacific. Conscription crisis of 1917 project gutenberg self. Prior to and after this period military training in new zealand has been voluntary. It was conducted under the military service referendum act 1916. This paper will briefly examine the aftermath of the failed attempts to introduce conscription for overseas service into the australian military forces during world war i.
Recruitment and conscription world war i and australia research. Home, however, included new guinea, where australia had a protectorate, and therefore conscripted troops could be and were sent to the war front where they were needed most. Conscription was a huge deal during ww1, and like most debates there are always two sides, for and against. On sunday 3 september 1939, prime minister robert menzies declared to the nation that australia was at war with germany. This meant that all males aged 12 to 26 years of age would receive compulsory military training. It was conducted under the war precautions military service referendum regulations 1917. How and why the conscription debate divided australia essay. Australias involvement in world war one was not a unifying experience for all australians because of the massively debated conscription topic. Nov 17, 2017 the eightweek conscription campaign split communities. So conscription played into the complex internal politics of the protest movement, but it was certainly a major element in encouraging 20yearolds.
When the japanese entered the war, members of the cmf fought together with the second aif in new guinea. The federal government enacted conscription in both the first world war and the second world war, creating sharp divisions between englishspeaking canadians, who tended to support the practice, and frenchspeaking canadians, who generally did not. The library began collecting the personal diaries and correspondence of men and women who served in the first world war soon after the armistice. Trade unions and group workers believed that if conscription was voted in. It had not maintained substantial armed forces during the years of peace. Australia currently only has provision for conscription during times of war. Conscription debate canada and the first world war.
It was similar to the conscription crisis of 1917, but was not as politically damaging. Hear arguments from both sides of the debate and cast your vote. This new book on wwi conscription issues, aims to offer new interpretations of the conscription issues, conflicts and policies in the englishspeaking countries involved in the war, with a particular focus on australia as the one country to decide against conscription by popular vote. Ifoulds intention was to acquire the original diaries and. However, many catholics raised in australia supported conscription and the war. The eightweek conscription campaign split communities. This, however, did not force them to participate in the war itself when the time came. In two referendums 1916,1917, prime minister billy hughes offered australians the chance to vote for conscription. Conscription dividing australia conscription during wwi.
Although the australian government promoting the yes case had more resources at its disposal, the no side created some extremely effective cartoons and leaflets, some of which were extraordinarily influential. During world war 2, the issue concerning conscription had arisen once again cause public debate. On 1 january 1911, the commonwealth defence act 1911 cth was passed. Ww1 and the fight against conscription in australia the. The first was from 1916 to 1920, the second from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963. Conscription was the most divisive issue in australian politics during the. Conscription billy hughes at war museum of australian. The conscription referendum of 1916, led by william morris hughes was a debate that divided australia. If conscription hadve been introduced these figures would no. Plans for limited conscription applying to single men aged between 20 and 22 were given parliamentary approval in the military training act in may 1939. Facts about conscription wikisource, the free online library. It was the first nonbinding australian plebiscite, and contained one question concerning military service.
Conscripts fought in papua, in world war ii, because it was an australian territory. Conscription australians in world war 1 research guides. Conscription for military service can be either universal within a specific age group or selective by some criterion andor by gender. When the labor party assumed power on the 7 october 1941 the defence of australia included the defence of australian territories in papua and new guinea. Unlike other european countries, britain had always relied on volunteers to fight in. Even though darwin and sydney would come under japanese attack in 1942, the sense that australia was directly threatened was difficult to keep in peoples minds. The australian war memorial encyclopedia briefly covers many topics including conscription, with references you can follow up. Conscription debate all provinces and territories except quebec. List of books and articles about conscription online. The second area i wanted to talk about was the huge social effect of conscription. There are several pros and cons to military conscription, and here we discuss the most notable. All the australians who fought in world war i were volunteers. Historically australia has been able to maintain an army significantly larger than the present force by means of voluntary enlistment. Conscription the sequel australian society for the study.
Australia, south africa, and india were the only participating countries not to introduce conscription during the first world war. Propaganda and the conscription debate old treasury building. It formed part of the larger debate on conscription in australia throughout the war. On the day britain declared war on germany, 3 september 1939. During the second half of world war one, the first australian imperial force experienced a.
At the beginning of world war ii, direct attacks on the australian mainland were expected, and the government had no trouble recruiting young men to join the. The conscription debate generated an enormous volume of propaganda material. It only ever had conscription after wwii and was fully removed during the latter part of the vietnam war, when the whitlam governm. The book was launched, fittingly enough, by the labor. During the late 1960s, domestic opposition to the vietnam war and conscription grew in australia. What was the conscription rate for australia for world war 1. However, the need for training means that it would not deliver personnel fast enough to solve the timor rotation problem. The 1917 russian revolution helped end the war on the eastern front but the conflict dragged on until late in 1918. The actual conscription debate began in 1916 when prime minister billy hughes visited the war front himself. Conscription australia international encyclopedia of the first. The 1916 conscription debate reflect on the deep divisions this referendum imposedand its longterm effects on australian societywith professor joan beaumont, dr john connor, dr michael mckernan and professor peter stanley.
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