Where have Australians fought?
Australians have been in many wars and peacekeeping missions throughout its short history and these have had a significant input in developing our nation. Over 100,000 Australians have lost their lives through war and many more thousands have been wounded and affected. Only during WWII has war been brought to our shores and apart from this Australians have mainly fought on distant lands in wars started by others.
Anglo-Maori (New Zealand) - 1860 - 1864
For many years British troops were having battles with Maori warriors as the British took their land. This escalated in 1860, and the call for reinforcements was met by the British soldiers stationed in Australia as well as colonials forming a militia. Around 2,600 Australians were involved from 1863 mainly in the Waikato region. They went under the promise of confiscated land for military service and less than 20 deaths were recorded.
For many years British troops were having battles with Maori warriors as the British took their land. This escalated in 1860, and the call for reinforcements was met by the British soldiers stationed in Australia as well as colonials forming a militia. Around 2,600 Australians were involved from 1863 mainly in the Waikato region. They went under the promise of confiscated land for military service and less than 20 deaths were recorded.
Sudan - 1885
In the early 1880s the British-backed Egyptians in Sudan were threatened by an indigenous rebellion. In 1883 the Egyptian/British army were defeated and a famous British General killed. This caused outrage throughout the British Empire and in an extraordinary display of enthusiasm and loyalty to the 'Mother Country', Australian volunteers swarmed into the recruiting office. The contingent left Sydney amid much public fanfare, generated in part by the holiday to farewell the 770 troops, and the send-off was described as the most festive occasion in the colony's history. The colonial troops saw little action but there were nine reported deaths. The battle honour, 'SUAKIN 1885', became the first battle honour awarded to any unit of the Australian Army.
Boer War (South Africa) - 1899 - 1902
From 1899 to 1902 conflict raged across South Africa between Britain and the two self-governed Boer Republics. Tensions were always high but war was inevitable with the discovery of gold and diamonds and the British need to just take it. As part of the British Empire, Australian colonies were quick to send troops to aid the British. The Boer War was the first full commitment of troops by all the Australian Colonies to a foreign war and with the formation of the Australian Commonwealth on 1st January 1901, it became our country’s first military involvement as a nation. Approximately 17 000 enlisted and 589 died and 538 wounded. The reputation of the Australian soldier was cast.
World War I - 1914-1918
When Britain declared war on Germany in 1914, most Australians greeted the news with enthusiasm and volunteers rushed to enlist for an adventure which was expected to be over by Christmas. For Australia, as for many nations, the First World War remains the most costly conflict in terms of deaths and casualties where from a population of fewer than five million, 332,000 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 155,000 wounded or maimed. Most of the men accepted into the army in 1914 were sent first to Egypt to meet the threat Turkey posed to British interests in the Middle East and the Suez Canal. After four and a half months of training near Cairo the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) departed by ship for the Gallipoli peninsula. The ANZACs landed at what became known as ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915 and the rest is history.
Following Gallipoli, Australian forces fought campaigns on the Western Front and in the Middle East. When the AIF arrived in France, the war on the Western Front was already a stalemate with armies facing each other from trench systems extending from the English Channel to the Swiss border. Tactics employed guaranteed heavy losses for both sides. In 1916 Australian infantry were introduced to this type of combat at Fromelles, where they suffered 5,533 casualties in 24 hours. Australians also fought in battles, such Bullecourt, Messines, Ypres, Passchendaele, Hamel, Mont St Quentin and Péronne.
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Unlike the Western Front, Australians in the Middle East fought a mobile war against the Ottoman Empire in conditions completely different. The light horsemen and their mounts had to survive extreme heat, harsh terrain, and water shortages rather than mud, rain and snow. Nevertheless, casualties were comparatively light, with 1,394 Australians killed or wounded in three years of war. This campaign included the defence of the Suez Canal and the capture of the Sinai peninsular, Gaza and Jerusalem and also included the famous battle at Beersheba.
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World War II - 1939-1945
The First World War had been called the ‘war to end all wars’ but somebody forgot to tell that to the politicians as tensions throughout the world increased during the 1930's. Germany, Italy and Japan expanded their territories but the invasion by Germany of Poland on 3 September 1939 led Great Britain and France to declare war on Germany. Australia moved quickly to support Great Britain and also declared war.
With the coming of war Australia had to make a decision on whether to look after home defence due to the fear that Japan might try and expand its power, or to commit troops to help England. Japan had pledged its neutrality, and England had assured Australia that it was secure from Japan with the British naval base at Singapore, so Australia committed itself to a European War. Later the entire British and Australian garrison at Singapore was captured by the Japanese who decided that they no longer wanted to be neutral.
A million Australians, both men and women, served in the Second World War. They fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as against Japan in south-east Asia and the Pacific. The Australian mainland came under direct attack for the first time, with Japanese aircraft bombing towns such as Darwin and Japanese midget submarines attacking Sydney Harbour.
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Australia's major effort from 1942 onwards was directed at defeating Japan and defending Australia. Militia were bolstered by returning troops from overseas and together they fought in many hard battles in New Guinea and Borneo including the famous battle on the Kokoda track. Throughout the war Australia lost nearly 40, 000 troops and had near to 67, 000 wounded.
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Korean War - 1950-1953
Problems in Korea started at the end of the WWII, when Korea formerly occupied by Japan, was entrusted to the Allies. The United States and the Soviet Union divided responsibility for the country between them. By 1950 tensions had escalated and the North Korean army crossed into the south and advanced towards the capital Seoul. The United Nations Security Council asked all its members to assist in repelling the North Korean attack, twenty one nations responded including Australia who sent up to 17,000 troops over the three years, losing 340 dead and 1200 wounded.
China entered the war and moved a huge army into North Korea, attacking the UN forces. Battles went on whilst the UN tried to negotiate a ceasefire. As the war settled into stalemate it became apparent that a negotiated truce was the only solution. This agreement technically brought the war to an end, but a state of suspended hostilities continues to exist between North and South Korea.
Malayan Emergency - 1950-1960
The Malayan Emergency was declared after three estate managers were murdered in northern Malaya by guerrillas of the Malayan Communist Party. The airforce was involved for 5 years before the army entered with ground troops in 1955 and conducted anti-communist operations. Thirty-nine Australian servicemen were killed in Malaya and 27 were wounded.
Indonesian Confrontation - 1962 - 1966
Between 1962 and 1966 Indonesia and Malaysia fought a small, undeclared war which came to involve troops from Australia and Britain. The disagreement that gave rise to confrontation was when small parties of armed men backed by the Indonesians began infiltrating Malaysian territory on propaganda and sabotage missions. These cross-border raids were eventually joined by the Indonesian regular army. The Australians fought alongside the British and there were 23 deaths of Australian troops recorded.
Vietnam War - 1962 - 1975
Australian support for South Vietnam in the early 1960s was in keeping with the policies of other nations to stem the spread of communism in Europe and Asia. In 1961 South Vietnam repeatedly requested security assistance and Australia responded with 30 military advisers. By 1965, when it had become clear that South Vietnam could not hold off the communist insurgents and the North Vietnamese for more than a few months, the US commenced a major escalation of the war. As part of the build up, the US government requested support from other countries and the Australian government responded.
In 1966 a company of 6RAR was engaged in one of Australia's heaviest actions of the war, near Long Tan. After three hours of fierce fighting, during which it seemed the Australian forces would be overrun by the enemy's greater numbers, the Viet Cong withdrew leaving behind 245 dead and many more casualties. Eighteen Australians were killed and 24 wounded. The battle eliminated communist dominance over the province.
By late 1970 Australia had begun to wind down its military effort in Vietnam and the last Australian troops were withdrawn in 1973. Nearly 50,000 Australians, including ground troops and air force and navy personnel, served in Vietnam, 521 died and almost 2,400 were wounded. The war was the cause of great social and political dissent in Australia due to conscription. Many draft resisters, conscientious objectors, and protesters were fined or gaoled, while soldiers met a hostile reception on their return home. |
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Gulf War - 1990 - 1991
Iraq invaded its oil rich neighbour Kuwait in 1990, and the invasion was condemned by the United Nations Security Council. The United States assembled a multinational task force in the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia from thirty countries. When Iraq under Saddam Hussein failed to withdraw, the US led troops attacked without respite until the UN called for a stop. Up to 1900 Australians were deployed mainly on the naval blockade in the Persian Gulf.
East Timor - 1999 - ongoing
The Portuguese colony of East Timor was invaded by Indonesia in 1975 and after almost 25 years of bloodshed in the territory, the Indonesians agreed to allow the East Timorese to vote on their future. The United Nations conducted the vote in 1999 and the result was for independence. Unfortunately, pro-Indonesian militias with the support of the Indonesian security forces, didn't like this result and launched a campaign of violence throughout the territory.
As the violence remained uncontrolled the UN asked Australia to organise and lead a force to restore peace, security and facilitate humanitarian assistance operations. Over 5,500 personnel took part and there were 2 deaths. Australia has continued to support the UN peacekeeping operation in the region.
Afghanistan - 2001 - ongoing
As a result of the 9/11 attacks the United States and its allies formed a coalition and launched a war against Afghanistan, the main stronghold of the Islamic terrorist group, Al-Quaida, the group responsible for the attacks. Australia again provided military support to the coalition under the ANZUS treaty and today provides military advisors to the new Afghanistan government. There have been 41 Australian deaths and 261 wounded and this war will be discussed in more detail on another page.
The Second Gulf War - 2003 - 2009 Having not been allowed by the UN to totally destroy Iraq in the first Gulf war, the United States decided to go back and finish the job. Claiming that Iraq was still concealing weapons of mass destruction and alleging links with terrorist groups such as al Qaeda, the United States demanded military action against the Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi regime. Unable to obtain UN backing, they pressed ahead with a “coalition of the willing” – the chief participants were the United States, Britain, and not surprisingly Australia. There were more than 20,000 ADF personnel rotated through and 2 deaths. |
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