Enlistment World War 1

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To What Extent did Australians enlist to defend the ‘Mother Country’?

Thesis: As the was continued, enlistment to defend Britain declined significantly

What was Australia’s reaction to enlistment?

• First reaction positive with very high amount of enlistment
• Good way to earn money in a country of economic difficulty
• Was seen as a chance to adventure the world
• 20,000 men first enlisted
• End of first year had a total of 50,000 men enlisted of ‘best fit’ with thousands of other men rejected due to medical requirements

What were the restraints on recruiting and on enlistment?

• The minimum requirements was a height of 5ft 8 in with a chest size of 34in
• If a man was missing teeth and/or had fillings currently he would have been rejected
• The restraints were changed to a more reachable limit of height 5ft 6in in an effort to increase enlistment of less qualified

How were enlistment techniques attempted to be improved?

• The Australian conscription propaganda caused a hugely negative view of the Germans and a view to idealise the Australian troops
• False portrayal of life in the trenches and how enlisting was an opportunity or a ticket to adventure Europe as the Australians thought the war would end by Christmas
• Spread of conscription became larger with the enlistment techniques being dispersed among society in various ways
• Targeted advertisements for specific age, gender and occupation
• The portrayal of a soldier to an average day worker was contrasted creating negative views of the average worker and a positive more heroic and adventurous view of the troops

How were the enlistment techniques dispersed amongst the public?

• Poster and banner with art and slogans showing the Germans as the aggressors in the...

... middle of paper ...

...0,000
Queensland 57,705
New South Wales 164,030
Victoria 112,399
South Australia 34, 959
West Australia 32,231
Tasmania 15,485

Enlistment Requirements

Through the war, desperation for troops caused for enlistment requirements to become more lenient. From the beginning through the first year, approximately 33% of recruits were rejected. August 1914 age/physical requirement was 18–35 years, height of 167cm and chest measurement of 34 inches. Due to growing need for troops, in June 1915 the age range and minimum height requirements were changed to 18–45 years and 157cm, with the minimum height being lowered further to 152cm in April 1917. Due to desperation over time and lenient physical and age requirements, previously useless men were now eligible for enlistment. Recruits were checked for British Army tattoos labelled BC and D. Meaning Bad Character and Deserter.

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