Transcript anzacportal.dva.gov.au

Who was the “typical”
World War 1 soldier?
• Using your handout, Resource 10,
read the information about
the average or typical
Australian soldier who served
In World War 1.
• Label the features of the soldier’s
uniform by using the
information
on the following slide.
Bayonet
attached
Rifle - .303
Slouch hat
Anzac Badge
Webbing
Tunic – pleated
jacket with belt
Trousers –
khaki, woollen
breaches
Boots – heavy,
brown leather
ankle boots
Puttees – 9 feet of
khaki material
wrapped around the
leg
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
• Around 400 Aboriginal serviceman fought in
World War 1, although records were inaccurate
because technically they were forbidden because
of their race.
• For most indigenous men it was the first time in
their lives they were treated as equals. They
were paid the same as white soldiers and
received the same conditions.
• Interestingly by 1917, recruiters were becoming more
desperate for new recruits so restrictions were relaxed
somewhat. A new Military Order stated: "Half-castes
may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force provided
that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one
of the parents is of European origin.“
• It was also thought that white men who had not enlisted
so far might be shamed into joining once they found out
that Aborigines were enlisting. In April 1916 a
commentator said, ‘It is a crying shame that any [non
volunteering white men] should so far demean
themselves as to be taught their duty by dependants of
an aboriginal mission.’ http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/07/22/aboriginalenlistment-in-the-first-aif-useful-when-needed/Indigenous Australian servicemen
Women
• More than 2300 Australian women served
overseas in the Great War as part of the
Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS).
Women also worked as Red Cross Volunteers.
Nursing sister,
Florence Annie
Nicols, AANS,
WW1.
http://www.awm.g
ov.au/collections/P
00379.001
• Nurses were expected to be single or widowed
although some married women did get through
the recruitment checks and some married during
their period of service.
• The official enlistment age was 25.
• Even though women were not directly involved
in fighting, 7 women received the Military Medal
for bravery under fire and several died of injuries
or disease.
References
Australian War Memorial,
http://www.awm.gov.au/collections/P00379.001
‘The Soldier’ from The Courier Mail, 23-24 April, 2005, p 7.
Indigenous Histories
http://indigenoushistories.com/2013/07/22/aboriginalenlistment-in-the-first-aif-useful-when-needed/Indigenous
Australian servicemen
“Unit 2: Australian Women in WW1 1914-1918’ in Australian
Women in War, DVA Education Resource, March 2008.