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TIMELINE OF AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT
In any study of history it is always important to gain a sense of time and
place. This is important especially when we look at battlefield conditions
and events that the soldiers had to face.
Date
Event
1901
Australia becomes a nation
1914 August
Australia declares war and confirms support for
England. Prime Minister Fisher declaring they would
defend the mother country - “to the last man and the
last shilling”.
1915 April
Gallipoli campaign that involves two AIF Divisions.
1916 March
April
1
st
& 2
nd
Division move to France & settle around
Armentieres a village not far from the major railway
junction of Amiens.
1916 July
5
th
Division suffer heavy defeat at Fromelles, 1
st
,2
nd
& 4
th
Divisions suffer heavy casualties under heavy
shelling at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, despite
heavy losses Pozieres is captured.
1917 April
4
th
Division engaged in First Battle at Bullecourt
1917 May
1
st
, 2
nd
& 5
th
Division in Second Battle of Bullecourt
1917 June
3
rd
& 4
th
Divisions fight in Battle of Messines – the
3
rd
division's first major battle after training in
England. While some ground is captured the overall
enemy front is maintained at the pre battle positions.
1917 July to
November
All divisions fought in the Battle of Passchendaele
1917
A crucial point in the war with the Germans
defeating Russian forces on the Eastern Front, but
not able to exploit that advantage because of the
transfer of German troops to the Western Front when
the United States forces start to enter Europe in large
numbers.
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