Why did Australian soldiers enlist in World War I?

Answer 1

Because Australia was part of the British Empire. New Zealand, Canada, and India fought for the same reason. Then, as now, most Austrailians were of British descent and strongly supported Britain in the war.

Answer 2

1) A sense of patriotism. Most Australians in 1914 were of British descent and many still referred to Britain as the 'motherland'. Many stated that they were willing to fight 'for King and Country'

2) Australia was a member of the British Empire, with strong cultural ties

3) A sense of adventure and the opportunity to travel back 'home' at government expense

Answer 3

Australians volunteered to go to war for three main reasons.

Firstly, Australians were patriotic towards Britain although it had been 14 years since Britain had direct control of Australia; but we still had close ties to the mother country and they thought that they should help the mother country. Australians had a strong sense of nationalism. Roughly, 98% of Australians non-indigenous population was of British descent. Therefore, they felt unbelievably devoted towards the British Empire. Most Australians saw them selves as 'Australasian Britons' they believed that they where Australian by name but Briton by heart. Australian men and women felt apart of the British empire just as much as an actual person living in Britton at that time.

Secondly, peer pressure played a huge part in people joining the army. If they did not, they would be scorned upon by society. If men and women didn't volunteer they would receive white feathers in the mail, the while feathers was a symbol of being a coward. That was one act of peer pressure that influenced the choice of going to war for many young men and women from all over Australia.

Thirdly, the advertisements: the government advertised the war as being fun, and as a new exciting sport. There were many advertisements that begged Australian men and women to go to war. Women who went to war were used as nurses but there was a great need for them. Men were always volunteering to go to war because the government would give regular pay to soldiers and give great bonuses for anyone to join that attracted young men in young families to join so they could support their families.

Answer 4

They were very loyal to Britain. it was an adventure to them. they had no idea what they were getting into. Australia was the absolute backwoods in those days and for a lot of the volunteers it was probably the only chance the would have to see Europe which many of them called home regardless of the fact that they had never been there.

Answer 5

There were two main reasons why Australians enlisted in World War I.

The first was nationalistic pride in the aftermath of Federation. Australians, young men in particular, wanted to support their newly-formed country and show "Mother England" that the country could stand on its own two feet.

The second reason why Australians enlisted was a lingering loyalty towards England, and this was experienced more by older Australians who still held fond memories of English rule.

Then of course there were other usual reasons such as the desire for adventure and to see the world. They wanted to support their mates, and they did not want to be seen as cowards.

Answer 6

Nearly all of the men who fought in WW1 were drafted. As for the people who did volunteer, they wanted to get away from home, wanted to serve their country, or just wanted to fight, since no trench veterans are still alive today, we will never know why they wanted to fight.

Answer 7

On the 4th August 1914, England declared war on Germany, and Australia was drawn into the war because she was a member of the British Commonwealth. The attitude of the Australian Government was that we would defend Britain "to the last man, and to the last farthing," (This was spoken by the future Prime Minister Andrew Fisher). Australians rallied to the cause with over 52 000 volunteers in 1914. The reasons for volunteering included: Support for Britain. Australia was a Commonwealth country and was governed under the monarchy. Australia was there and ready to defend and support their mother country and allied with Russia, France and Belgium. Together with the Triple Entante, Australia was ready to defend their Britain.

Answer 8

Because Australia was a colony of Britain and they volunteered to come and help Britain

Answer 9

they thought it would not last long and it would be quite fun