Enlistment Rates for the Australian Army in 1916

Australia joined World War 1 in 1916.

In 1914, Australia joined World War I and declared their support for Great Britain. Prime Minister W.M. Hughes gave a call for volunteers, and by the end of 1914 over 4,800 Australians had enlisted in southern Australia alone.

History

By 1915, over 18,000 men had enlisted in southern Australia; but in 1916, the total enlistment only added about 10,000 more volunteers. As a result, it was decided that Australia needed reinforcements of at least 5,500 enlistees per month.

1916 Referendum

With the depletion of enlisting troops, Prime Minister Hughes proposed a referendum on October 28, 1916. The Prime Minister proposed that men who were undergoing compulsory training would be forced to serve overseas, but the referendum lost by over 72,000 votes.

Propaganda

In order to promote enlistment, the government issued letters, posters, news editorials and even poetry. A print advertisement read "Enlist! Enlist!" and included a letter from a serving soldier to his father describing the agony of war and claiming that further reinforcements could save lives.

References

• Australian War Memorial: First World War 1914--18
• National Archives of Australia: Army -- World War I: 1914--18
• SA Memory: Conflicts : World War One : Recruitment and Enlistment
• Australian War Memorial: Encyclopedia
• National Archives of Australia: Fact Sheet 161
• SA Memory: Enlist! Enlist!