Where Australians served during the First World War

Australia and the First World War

From the beginning of the First World War, Australia engaged in military operations in support of Britain. The inaugural campaign, carried out by the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force in German New Guinea was Australia’s earliest contribution to the war effort.

Diverse roles across the forces

Australians served across various branches of the armed forces, illustrating our widespread contributions to the war:

  • Sailors of the Royal Australian Navy patrolled seas globally.
  • Soldiers and medical personnel, part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), played crucial roles on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Western Front, and in the Middle East.
  • Airmen and ground crews in the Australian Flying Corps operated in Egypt, the Middle East, and Europe, serving in both Australian and British squadrons.
  • Some Australians enlisted in the British armed forces.
  • The Merchant Navy provided an invaluable lifeline to Allied countries and to armed forces through the delivery of personnel, supplies, equipment and ammunition. 

Declaration of War

The United Kingdom’s declaration of war on Germany on 4 August 1914 meant that Australia, as a British dominion, was also at war. Australia immediately took responsibility for naval operations in the south-west Pacific capturing German colonial territories in the region.

An Australian gun crew at Fort Nepean on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria is said to have fired the first shot in the war by the British forces on 5 August 1914. A German merchant ship, SS Pfalz, tried to escape from Port Phillip Bay just after Britain declared war on Germany. Australian troops fired a warning shot from a powerful coastal battery gun, and the captain returned Pfalz to the port and surrendered.

Embarking for Europe

The first contingent of soldiers departed from Albany, Western Australia on 1 November 1914. A convoy of 26 Australian transports and 10 New Zealand transports set sail, transporting not only soldiers and nurses, but also 12,000 horses, and medical and military supplies.

The German raider SMS Emden was a threat to the convoy as it crossed the Indian Ocean. To safeguard the convoy, the British Admiralty dispatched an escort comprising HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Sydney, HMS Minotaur, and HIJMS Ibuki, a Japanese battle cruiser.

HMAS Sydney engaged SMS Emden in the Battle of Cocos on 9 November 1914. While four of Sydney's crew perished, the Australian ship destroyed Emden, driving her aground on North Keeling Island, leading to widespread praise for the Royal Australian Navy. 

Diverted to Egypt

After a stop at Colombo, the convoy reached Alexandria on 3 December 1914. The Australians and New Zealanders had expected to disembark in England, but the transports were ordered to complete their voyage at Alexandria in Egypt. This shaped the course of the Anzacs’ involvement in the war.

The unexpected turn led to the soldiers continuing their training in Egypt. After the Ottoman Empire (Türkiye) entered the war on Germany’s side in October 1914, a failed Anglo-French naval assault on the Dardanelles led to plans for infantry landings on the Gallipoli peninsula. 

Gallipoli

The Gallipoli campaign began early on the morning of 25 April 1915. Australians, New Zealanders, and other Allied armies faced determined resistance. After eight months of fighting on the peninsula the Allied forces withdrew. Although a military defeat, the campaign established the reputation of the original Anzacs.

Sinai and Palestine Campaign

The majority of the AIF went to France in 1916, after the Gallipoli campaign ended, but the mounted units remained in Egypt to continue the fight against the Ottoman Army. The Ottoman threat to the Suez Canal ended with the victory of the Allies in August 1916 at Romani. Then the Australians and other mounted units in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF) advanced across the Sinai.

In 1917, after defeating the Ottoman forces in Egypt, British forces entered Palestine. In 1918, the EEF advanced into modern-day Jordan and Syria. The Ottoman Empire surrendered on 31 October 1918, when they signed the Armistice of Mudros a few weeks after the capture of Damascus.

Western Front

Australians participated in major battles on the Western Front, earning recognition in significant campaigns, including Fromelles, the Somme, Passchendaele, and Villers-Bretonneux. More than 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front between March 1916 and November 1918, with more than 46,000 losing their lives.

Prisoners of War (POWs)

More than 4,000 Australians were taken prisoner by German and Ottoman forces during the First World War. More than 3,800 were captured by the Germans on the Western Front and some 217 became prisoners of the Ottoman forces — most of these were captured during campaigns in the Middle East, including the crew of the submarine AE2, or in the Sinai and Palestine campaigns. A small number were captured in Mesopotamia. A total of 395 Australians died in captivity.

The Armistice and continued service

The Allies signed an armistice with Germany on 11 November 1918. This did not mean the war was over. Peace treaties with the belligerent nations still had to be signed. Before that happened, Australians continued to serve overseas, awaiting transport home. Many Australians, including an Australian Flying Corps squadron, served in occupation duties in Germany.

The story of Australia’s involvement in the First World War was one of tragic losses and widespread bereavement, as well as one of pride, commitment, sacrifice and resilience. The war contributed to the development of Australia’s national identity. 

Facts and figures

Australians who served

  • More than 416,000 Australians enlisted during the First World War.
  • More than 330,000 served in the AIF, including the Air Force overseas.
  • Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force over 3,000.
  • Australian Army Nursing Service over 2,000 (this number does not include the approximately 120 volunteers for the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service.
  • Many served in more than one theatre
  • Some 60,000 Australians served at Gallipoli
  • Some 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front
  • More than 30,000 Australians served in the Middle East.

Major Units

  • The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) included infantry, artillery, engineers, medical units, mounted units, the Australian Flying Corps, service units, and the Royal Australian Navy.

Casualties

  • More than 60,000 Australians died during, or as a result of, service in the First World War
  • Some 155,000 Australians were wounded during the First World War, many more than once
  • Over 400,000 suffered from sickness or non-battle injuries.

Resources

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