Focus Questions: 

Why was Australia involved in WWI?

How did the Australian Government encourage men to enlist? 

Why did Australian men enlist? 

During World War I, approximately 416,809 Australian men enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).At the time, Australia’s total population was around 4.9 million (1914 census).This means about 38% of eligible Australian men aged 18-44 volunteered to serve—a significant proportion compared to other nations. By 1918, 331 781 Australians had served overseas. Of these, 59 372 were killed and 152 171 were wounded.

Why did Australians Enlist? Summarise

Loyalty to Britain & the Empire – Australia was part of the British Empire, and many felt a duty to support Britain in war.

Australia was a new nation and wanted to prove itself

Germany had a colony in New Guinea & a strong navy– possible threat

Sense of Adventure – Many young men saw war as an opportunity to travel and experience adventure. Romance of war – it would be over by Christmas...

Peer and Social Pressure – Society expected men to serve, and those who did not were sometimes labeled as cowards.

Peer pressure – join your mates who had already enlisted

Economic Incentives – Enlistment provided a steady wage, which was appealing during financial hardship.  Best pay in any army – 6 shillings per day

Nationalism & Propaganda – Government propaganda encouraged enlistment by appealing to patriotism and masculinity.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) – The belief that the war would be over quickly made many eager to enlist before it ended.

Question 4: Rank the reasons for men enlisting from most to least important. Explain> Justify your ranking choices. 

Using Sources to learn about why men enlisted. 

Enlistment Posters were generated by the Government trying to persaude men to enlist, the posters used a variety of strategies that played on emotions, duty, and social pressure. Here are some key techniques:

1. Emotional Appeal (Pathos)

• Posters used fear, pride, guilt, and patriotism to motivate enlistment.

• Example:

  • "Your Country Needs YOU!" – Creates urgency and a personal call to action.

  • Images of soldiers in distress – Evokes sympathy and duty.

2. Peer Pressure & Masculinity

• Posters implied that real men enlist and that staying home was shameful.

• Example:

  • "Will you stand by while your mates fight for you?"

  • "Are YOU doing your bit?" – Challenges masculinity and honor.

• Images of strong, heroic soldiers reinforced this idea.

3. Nationalism & Loyalty to the British Empire

• Posters emphasized Australia’s duty to Britain and the Empire.

• Example:

  • "Fight for the Empire!"

  • Images of the British flag alongside the Australian flag.

• Suggested that enlistment was a moral obligation.

4. Fear & Threat of the Enemy

• Posters depicted Germany as a monstrous threat, encouraging Australians to fight.

• Example:

  • "The Hun is at your door!" – Refers to Germany as the "Hun," making them seem barbaric.

  • Images of destroyed villages and suffering civilians.

5. Adventure & Travel Appeal

• Some posters made war sound exciting and full of adventure.

• Example:

  • "See the world – Enlist today!"

  • Posters showing happy, well-dressed soldiers enjoying military life.

6. Family & Future Generations

• Posters suggested that enlisting was necessary to protect future generations.

• Example:

  • "Daddy, what did YOU do in the Great War?" – Implies future shame if one did not enlist.

  • Images of children looking up to their soldier fathers.

8. Choose 5 of the following posters and answer the questions for each. 

10. Activity> Make an Enlistment Poster. 

Using what you know about the techniques used to persuade Australian men and women to enlist, create your own enlistment poster using one of the strategies we identified. Remember images are the most important thing, limited written text that must be clear and direct. Written text must compliment the message relayed in the images.  

Not all Australians were eager to enlist in World War I. Many refused or opposed enlistment for several reasons:

1. Fear and Personal Concerns

• Some men simply did not want to risk their lives in a dangerous war.

• Families discouraged sons and husbands from enlisting due to fear of losing them.

2. Economic and Work-Related Reasons

• Men with steady jobs, particularly in essential industries (e.g., farming, mining, manufacturing), were reluctant to leave.

• Some breadwinners needed to support their families and could not afford to enlist.

3. Religious and Ethical Beliefs

• Pacifists (including some Christian groups like Quakers) opposed war on moral grounds.

• Some Augustinians and other religious groups emphasized peace over violence.

4. Political Opposition & Anti-War Movements

• Trade unions opposed conscription, arguing that workers should not be forced to fight in a "rich man's war."

• Socialists saw WWI as a conflict that benefited the wealthy while the working class suffered.

• Irish Australians (many of whom disliked British rule in Ireland) resisted fighting for the British Empire.

5. Health and Physical Fitness

• Many men were medically unfit due to poor health, past injuries, or disabilities.

• Strict enlistment standards (e.g., height, chest size, eyesight) meant many were rejected.

6. Indigenous Australians and Discrimination

• Initially, Indigenous Australians were banned from enlisting because they were not considered "white."

• Some tried but were turned away, while others eventually enlisted after restrictions were relaxed.

11. Outline the reasons why some men did not or refused to enlist? 

12. Why would indigenous men sign up to fight in a white man's war?