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RAN was Formed
The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was formed. The image of the current RAN logo is a secondary source. Forming an Australian naval force gave our nation the advantage of being able to attack and defend ourselves off land, and travel over water masses. -
Compulsory Military Training for Australian Troops
Compulsory military training was introduced to increase the abilities of Australian troops. This is a Primary source. This shows the progression of the Australian Army. The Australian Government recgnised they would need to send fully equipped soldiers into battle. -
HMAS Sydney Arrives
HMAS Sydney, the Royal Australian Navy's light cruiser, built in the United Kingdom, arrived in Australia in 1913. The image above is a secondary source, it was painted after the fact. This ship was a large help to the accomplishments of the sydney portion of the RAN. -
Assassination of Franz Ferdiand
Franz Ferdinand and his wife, Sophie, were assassinated in Sarjevo, Bosnia (province of Serbia) by Serbian Nationalists during a tour of the country. Ferdinand was the archduke of Austro-Hungary and was thus a very important political figure. The aim of his tour of Serbia was to persuade the people of Serbia that Austro-Hungary and Serbia should form an alliance. This photo of ferdinand and his wife is a primary source. The assasination of Ferdinand was the short term cause of WW1. -
Britain declares war on Germany
Great Britain and Poland had a mutual aid treaty that required either country to come to the aid of the other in the event of war. When Germany invaded Poland, Britain (and the Commonwealth) was obligated to come to the aid of Poland by declaring war on Germany. this is a primary source. This event subsequently signified the start of WW1. -
Australia declared they would allie Britain in WW1
When Australia declared they would help Britain in the war, Prime Minister Andrew Fisher, who was leading Australia at the time said, "...Australia will stand behind the mother country to help and defend her to the last man and our last shilling.”
This was important to the war because it expanded the allies forces
This picture is a primary source. It shows Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. -
Landing at Gallipoli
Australian troops landed at Gallipoli, Turkey, with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. Churchhill decided to launch an attack on Turkey, starting off by gaining power of the Gallipol peninsula. Gaining power over the Gallipoli peninsula meant that the alies had power over the strech of coastline and a waterway.
This is a picture of the Gallipoli landing. It is a primary source, because it was taken at the time of interest. -
Gallipoli
This would allow them to take control of the capitol city and hopefully the rest of the country would follow. -
Australian Red Cross and Enquiry Bureau Established
Vera Deakin, daughter of ex-Prime Minister Alfred Deakin, established the Australian Red Cross Missing and Wounded Enquiry Bureau in Cairo, Egypt. During the remainder of the war the Bureau handled thousands of enquiries from Australian families seeking information about wounded and missing soldiers -
Advance from Egypt/ campaign in the Middle East.
The ANZAC Mounted Division was formed in Egypt under the command of Major General Harry G. Chauvel. In August the Division defeated a Turkish advance to Romani, and forced the enemy back to the line Gaza-Beersheba.
This is a photo of a regiment of the Australian Light Horse on a march near Jerusalem. It is a primary source. -
Battle of the Somme
The Somme offensive was a series of battles fought in the Somme valley in France. The main fighting the Australian troops did at the Battle of the Somme was around Pozières and Mouquet Farm between 23 July and 3 September. It didn't work out as planed. The battle was partly intended to divert the German forces from the French fortress, Verdun, they were attacking.
The battles altogether lasted about 4 and a half months.
This photo is a primary source because it was taken during the battle. -
First Referendum for Conscription
A referendum took place to give the public the opportunity to say YES or NO to a draft. The referendum failed despite a vigorious conscrition campaign by Bill Hughes. 1087557 people voted in favour of the proposal and 1160033 against the proposal.This is a primary source. The referndum defined who went to war, and if those who did go, chose to. -
Advance to the Hindenburg Line
Australian troops advance to the Hindenburg line where the Germans had withdrawn to. Along the way they passed through towns where more German troops were posted to hold them up. They fought their way through through these towns, one by one, capturing them untill they got to the Hindenburg line where the majority of the Germans where held up.
This is a charcol drawing of strecher bearers in a town, on the way to the Hindenburg line. It is a secondary source. -
Battle of Bullecourt
At the Battle of Bullecourt the Australian infantry managed to seize and temporarily hold a section of German line without the help of normal renforcments. German forces had withdrawn into a small area so that it was easier to defend. So the Australians, along with the British reacted by advancing on them.
This picture is a primary source because it was taken at the time of interest, between the exchange of gunfire. It is a photo of Australian troops preparing for an attack at Bullecourt. -
Battle of Bullecourt
The main point of the battle was designed to support a major French assault a few days later on German positions further south. -
Battle of Messines
The overall aim of the attack was to drive the Germans from the Belgium coast to deprive the German submarines of their bases at Belgium. It was important to the war, because it was hoped that if they suceded, that it would 'wear down' the German army.
It was overall a huge sucsess, though the Australians had suffered almost 6,800 casualties.
This is a photo of bombing in progress at the Douve Valley, Messines. It is a primary source, because it was taken at the time of the fighting. -
Battle of Passchendaele (Third Ypres)
The battle of Passchendaele was actually a series of smaller battles around the village of Passchendaele. The battle field was very muddy when the Australian troops fought. They fought for about a month, but they were losing too many men and they couldn't hold their ground for long. On the 15th of November they handed it over to the Canadians. It was important because it freed up the Belgium coast for the British.
This is a secondary source because it was created after the event had happened. -
2nd Referendum for Conscription
Bill Hughes' attempts to introduce concription in the first referendum resulted in the Labor Party expelling him from office. Hughes tried to introduce Conscritpion through a 2nd referendum with his newly formed Nationalist Party.Voting for the second referendum took place on 17 December of 1917, however, again the referendum failed.This is a secondary source. The conscription affected the public so much, a second referendum was attempted. -
John Monash commands Australian Corps in France
Appointment of Lieutenant General Sir John Monash to command the Australian Corps in France. The Corps brought all five Divisions of the First AIF under an Australian commander. This is a primary source. -
Battle of Hamel
The battle of Hamel was a big sucsess for the Australians and the US troops. The battle only lasted a little over 90 minutes. The reason for the battle was to take the village of Le Hamel which was a key German defence position and taking the town was important for succeding in the war.
This is a photo of troops in the Pear trench,on the 4th July, the ruined village of Le Hamel in the background.
This is a primary source. -
Battle of Mont St Quentin - Peronne
The Australians weren't able to hold the sumit of Mont St Quentin when the Germans attacked, but they held on just below the sumit until the next morning when renforcements recaptured the sumit. Later that day the Australian troops managed to break into a nearby town, which they later completely took hold of. In the next few days the Australians caused the Germans to withdraw. The taking of Mont St Quentin and the nearby town, Peronne, is thought of one of the finest feats on the Western front. -
Mont St Quentin
Eight Victorian Crosses were awarded because of action taken place during this battle.
This was important as it was the last battle the Australians fought on the Western front.
This is a secondary source, because it was made after the event had happened.
This is a photo of a diorama at the Australian War Memorial, it depicts troops in a trench at the base of Mont St Quentin. -
World War I Ended
Toward the end of 1918 World War 1 was declared over. A ceasefire came into effect at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. The picture included is a primary source.
