Australia and the First World War

The First World War

Period: Jul 28, 1914 to Nov 11, 1918

Britain declares war with Germany

Aug 4, 1914

During an election between; Joseph Cook and Andrew Fisher, they both agreed to support Britain through the War.

Australia enlists recruits, voluntarily for WW1

Aug 10, 1914

Australia attempted to initialise conscription, however, recruitment was labelled voluntarily.

Australian Navy and Military Forces take over German New Guinea

Sep 17, 1914

Australia's first contribution to the war started with taking possession over German New Guinea and the neighbouring Archipelago. The Royal Australian Navy; HMAS (Her Majesty's Australia Ship) in Sydney destroys a German raider; SMS Emden (His Majesty's Ship Emden).

Australian troops travel to Egypt

Nov 26, 1914

Australian and New Zealand troops land in Egypt to protect the Suez Canal against the Ottoman Turks. This war was disruptive to their contribution to the German Army.

Australian Imperial Force lands in Gallipoli; Turkey, with allied troops from New Zealand, France and Britain.

Apr 25, 1915

The battle in Gallipoli lasted for approximately seven months, before Australia and other allied forces departed Gallipoli.
Australians battle in ANZAC Cove along with British and New Zealand. British land in Helles along further up on the Gallipoli peninsula. French landed in Kum Kane, the allied troops managed to defend the land due to suitable terrain.

Australia and New-Zealand attack Baby 700; Turkish Occupation

May 2, 1915

Australia and New Zealand suffered approximately 1,000 casualties after Turkish spread fire across the flank of the ground.

Burial truce between Turkish and Australians

May 24, 1915

Australians and Turkish established a short-term peace-treaty to find their fallen soldiers and bury them appropriately.

August Offensives

Aug 6, 1915

British attack Gallipoli peninsula in an attempt to capture the Anzac and Cape of hills of Kilid Heir Plateau and the Sari Bair Range. Attacks were aimed to draw the Turkish and Australians hit the Lone Pine Nek by conducting operations. The Victoria Cross awarded Australia for their contributions in the Lone Pine.

Australian Light Horsemen, attacked Turkish dismounted and resulted in failure

Aug 7, 1915

140 horsemen wounded and 234 killed. The attack on Turkish trenches at the Nek went amiss as soldiers declined from heavy exposure to weaponry.

'Her Majesty's Australia Ship (HMAS) sinks German raider; 'His Majesty's Ship (SMS)'

Nov 9, 1915

Australia-New Zealand defeat threat of Germans by sinking the convoy in which was coming towards Europe.

Allied troops evacuate Gallipoli

Dec 19, 1915

British, New Zealand and Australians leave ANZAC Cove, with approximately 26,000 casualities.

British Offensives

Jul 1, 1916

II ANZAC land in France and battle Germans in the Somme. This was a major British offensive in the purpose to create a rupture in the German side to aviod their conflict with the French.

Australia's First Conscription Referendum for WW1

Oct 28, 1916

The Western front deprives Australia enlistment. Conscription begins to boast army numbers. This proposition was commonly rejected.

The Battle of Beersheba

Oct 31, 1917

The Australia Light Horse was established. and attempted to capture Gaza. The Light horse brigade attacked Turkey and Australia took over Beersheba. The Turks abandoned Gaza in November 6.

Australia fights operations on the Western Front in the Middle East

Jul 4, 1918

Australia struggles in the battle until they fought in Hamel; Western Australia where they dominated the war from August 8 until Germany surrendered on November 11.

Last battle in the Western Front

Oct 5, 1918

Australians fight at the Western Front for the last time at Montbrehain. The Corps had been fighting for six months straight and resulted in 27,000 troops lost in the battle

The Middle East Campaign began in Egypt.

Oct 30, 1918

Australia defence takes part in the Suez Canal and soon after the Sinai Desert. In 1917, Australia overthrew Gaza and Jerusalem in Palestine. Soon after Australia had control over Lebanon and Syria and Turkey pleaded for peace in 1918.

The End of the First World War

Nov 11, 1918

The German Government initiated an armistice in which they signed to end the Great War. 61,512 Australians had been killed or died and 152,000 suffered from disease or wounds.

The British and Australian Battle in Fromelles against the Germans

Jul 19, 2017

The British and Australian divisions fight Germans in Formelles. Allied troops intended to stop Germans moving reserves to Somme. This was the beginning of the Western Front.

Turkey signs truce to cease battle in the middle east

Oct 30, 2017

Turkish Government establish armistice to end the battle in the Middle east.