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The Start of the World War One
A global war centred in europe started on this day. -
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Early Involvement of Australian Military
Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force landing on 11 September 1914 taking over German New Guinea 17 September 1914. -
Austalians Serving at Sea
Australians also served at sea and in the newly formed flying corps. The Royal Australian Navy (RAN), under the command of the Royal Navy, made a significant contribution early in the war, when HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider Emden near the Cocos Islands in November 1914. -
Members of Australian Imperial Force Landing in Galipolli
Members of the Australian Imperial Force landed in Galipolli with troops form New Zealand, Britian & France. -
ANZAC Cove
Australians departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula, with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. The Australians landed at what became known as ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915 and established a tenuous foothold on the steep slopes above the beach. During the early days of the campaign, the allies tried to break through Turkish lines, while the Turks tried to drive the allied troops off the peninsula. Attempts on both sides ended in failure and the ensuing stalemate continued for the rema -
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Losses on the Western Front
Losses on the Western Front were heavy and the gains were small. -
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Defenses and Artillery
Australians and other allied armies repeatedly attacked, preceded by massive artillery bombardments intended to cut barbed wire and destroy enemy defences. After these bombardments, waves of attacking infantry emerged from the trenches into no man's land and advanced towards enemy positions. The surviving Germans, protected by deep and heavily reinforced bunkers, were usually able to repel the attackers with machine-gun fire and artillery support from the rear. -
Photo of Australia Bringing in Turkish Prisoners
9th Australian Light Horse bring in Turkish prisoners in the Sinai, 13 April 1916. -
Casualties and Battles
Australian infantry were introduced to this type of combat at Fromelles, where they suffered 5,533 casualties in 24 hours. By the end of the year about 40,000 Australians had been killed or wounded on the Western Front. In 1917 a further 76,836 Australians became casualties in battles, such Bullecourt, Messines, and the four-month campaign around Ypres, known as the battle of Passchendaele. -
Photo of Machine Gunners from Australia
3rd Australian Light Horse Regiment machine-gunners in action at Khurbetha-Ibn-Harith, near Palestine, 31 December 1917. -
The Final Offensive War from Germany
German army launched its final offensive of the war, hoping for a decisive victory before the military and industrial strength of the United States could be fully mobilised in support of the allies. The Germans initially met with great success, advancing 64 kilometres past the region of the 1916 Somme battles, before the offensive lost momentum. Between April and November the stalemate of the preceding years began to give way, as the allies combined infantry, artillery, tanks, and aircraft, -
The Final Offensive War (Continued)
more effectively, demonstrated in the Australian capture of Hamel spur on 4 July 1918. The allied offensive, beginning on 8 August at Amiens, also contributed to Australian successes at Mont St Quentin and Péronne and to the capture of the Hindenburg Line. In early October the Australian divisions withdrew from the front for rest and refitting; they were preparing to return when Germany surrendered on 11 November. -
Battle of Hamel
Australia had reached the peak oif their fighting performance. -
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German Surrender
The Austrlians took part in a series of decisive advances on 8th of August until Germany surrendered on the 11th of Noverment 1918,
