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their previous fellow country men particularly when Britain and France
were suffering significant losses.
VOLUNTEERS VERSUS CONSCRIPTION
The very heavy casualty rates suffered by the AIF meant that many people
believed that conscription needed to be introduced.
In particular, the Prime Minister, William Morris (Billy) Hughes was a
strong advocate of conscription and argued strongly for its introduction.
He had visited soldiers on the Western Front and was encouraged by their
needs to have more troops supplied.
The question of conscription to force citizens to serve in military forces
outside Australia was put to the Australian voters on two occasions, by a
Referendum held in October 1916 and another in December 1917.
Just before the first Referendum he said “We must supply the men asked
for. It is the price we are asked to pay for our national existence and our
liberties”
Studies in School Certificate History
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Following a trip to Britain where he was lobbied by the British
government for more soldiers he argued that the numbers required
couldn’t be gained by falling monthly volunteering rates.
The main opponent to conscription was Dr. Daniel Mannix, the Catholic
Archbishop of Melbourne, who argued “If you surrender your freedom by
accepting conscription, what assurance have you that the rights you give
away will be used to the best advantage of Australia”
From the War’s beginning Australia’s political leaders of all persuasions,
were willing to defend the mother country in a continental war. This
involved Australian troops being placed under the overall command of
British Generals, as Australia saw their best interests in supporting the
mother country. However, the typical Newcastle coal miner had little in
common with British Generals from the upper classes. Hence, the British
higher command were often ridiculed by the average Australian soldier,
particularly when they were called to assist the British and poor decisions
were made at the Battle of the Somme and when they sacrificed
Australian soldiers to protect the flanks of the British attacks at the Battles
of Fromelles and Pozieres.
Both referendums were narrowly defeated.
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