Australia’s Involvement in World War I

This essay analyses the physological, man power and home front aspects of Australia’s involvement.

Australia’s involvement in World War I (WWI) was significant and paramount to the success of the war. Australia’s participation took the form of recruitment of soldiers, training and fighting. In particular, by studying the historical data and movements of WWI soldier, William Gould Balcombe (ex-Barker student) of the 14th Battalion of the 5th Field Artillery Brigade in the Australian 2nd Division, a clearer understanding of Australia’s involvement in WWI was analysed. This included the participation of Australia’s 2nd Division in recruitment at the home front, training in Egypt, fighting in the Battle of Pozières and training of troops at Officer Training Corps. The number of Australian casualties reflected Australia’s involvement and heralded Australia as a competent, young nation through the eyes of the world.

The recruitment of hundreds of thousands of Australian civilians – which assisted the war effort – is testament to Australia’s involvement in WWI. In the late 1910’s, Australia’s population was less than five million. Notwithstanding this, Australia was committed to the “Mother country” and according to statistics from a secondary source on the internet, Australia managed to muster “almost 417,000 men…raised between 1914 and 1918” (Parle 2008). The statistics are written by Michael Parle. Since the source originates from the internet, its reliability and accuracy is questionable. However, Parle’s material seems to be reliable and accurate as the general content corresponds to content from other more reliable sources such as textbooks. The number of volunteers choosing to fight for “King and Country” signalled to the global arena that Australia was dedicated to fighting and being involved in WWI. This obligation was echoed by Australia’s ex-Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, during WWI: “To our last man and our last shilling” (Mason 2007, p.57): secondary source history textbook aimed for educational purposes, written by James Mason, a knowledgeable historian with almost forty years teaching experience. It accurately quotes Cook – a primary source. One of the recruits was William Gould Balcombe (service number 7348). Born in 1894, he attended Barker College in 1905 to 1910. Prior to the war, he was a station master living in Wahroonga. Attracted by the earnest pay of 6 shillings a month and being 21 years old and 3 months, 5 foot 10 inches, 120 Ibs and having a white complexion, Balcombe enlisted on 8 September 1915 in the National Park, NSW. He symbolised the perfect soldier who reinforced the ravaged 2nd Division. Thus, one of Australia’s involvements in WWI was through the recruitment of soldiers including Balcombe.