When Did Australia declare war in WW1 World War One ?

Australia declared war in WW1 on Germany and Belligerents (Central Powers ) on the 5th August 1914.

Historical Dates from an Australian Perspective.
28th June 1914 - Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and wife, heir to Austro-Hungarian Empire.
28th July 1914 - Is accepted as the Start of World War One when Austro-Hungarian Empire declared war on Serbia.
31st July 1914 Friday -Prior to this date a Federal Election had been called in Australia. Thus the Prime Minister Joseph Cook and the Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher were electioneering when WW1 commenced. Two historic speeches were given on consecutive nights by the then Federal Opposition leader, Andrew Fisher (in Colac on Friday night the 31st July 1914),and followed the next night by Prime Minister Joseph Cook (in Horsham on the 1st August 1914). The two speeches declared Australia`s commitment to follow Britain into World War One, with Opposition Leader Fisher declaring "Australia will stand by the mother country to our last man and our last shilling" and Cook`s opposing speech on the Saturday night in Horsham with "If the old country is at war, so are we."
3rd August 1914 Monday - Germany declares war on France
3rd August 1914 Monday - Following Canada and New Zealand, PM Cook announces that Australia offers a 20000 man force to the Motherland.  
4th August 1914 Tuesday - Germany enters Belgium, Britain responds by declaring war on Germany.
5th August 1914 Wednesday - The then Governor General, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, received the cable that Britain had declared war on Germany at midday local time on 5 August. Prime Minister Cook then advised the people that Australia was at war with Germany. Australia did not have to 'declare war' as back then it had no constitutional right. Suffice to say, if 'Britain was at war', that meant Australia was at war.
The first hostile shot of the war (British and Dominions) occurred in Australia when the Victorian Fort Nepeanfire fired at the German merchant ship Pfalz trying to leave Port Phillip Bay.
10th August 1914 - AIF recruitment commences.
19th August 1914 - Australian Forces depart to capture German interests in New Guinea and Islands.
1st November 1914 - Convoy first AIF Leaves.

So It Begins, at the start of Great War Australia pledged 20000 men by the end of WW1, on the 11th November 1918, 330000 odd Australians had been sent to the front.
information sourced from Australian War Books

9th Battalion & 10th Battalion AIF WW1 Commander Honoured in new book

Australian 10th Battalion CO

A Magnificent Anzac The Untold Story Of Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Wilder Neligan CMG, DSO and Bar, DCM, Croix De Guerre MID 5 times

In 1980, the author, Peter Holmes worked in the Research Section at the Australian War Memorial. While at the AWM he assisted Mr Clarrie Wrench in researching his 9^th Battalion History book, ‘Campaigning With The Fighting 9^th Battalion AIF’. Clarrie Wrench had been a Lieutenant in the Australian 9th Battalion during WW1. In the latter part of 1918, during the Allied Offensive, he was awarded the MC medal for gallantry while leading his 9th Battalion platoon against a German machine gun post. After the war, he became a leading advocate for the 9th Battalion Association. It was said that he, ‘lived for the Battalion’.

During the many hours of discussion between Peter Holmes and Clarrie Wrench it become obvious that Clarrie had a deep affection for the 9th Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Wilder Neligan. Peter Holmes become fascinated with the stories, life and mystery of this highly decorated Australian WW1 Commander. He has just released a new Australian Military Book about Wilder Neligan.

Australia's Official Historian and WW1 Commanders bestowed many tributes on Wilder Neligan not least,
'a restless adventurous spirit’
'the most brilliant raid that Australians undertook’
'an impetuous dare devil officer'
'clever soldier and inevitably a leader'
'The best show ever done by a battalion in France'
'never a greater organiser'
'a dashing leader'
Click to read more of this Magnificent Anzac Book 10th Battalion commander

Pompey Elliott Famous Australian WW1 leader

Pompey Elliott WW1 Hero

Harold 'Pompey' Elliott

'POMPEY' ELLIOTT was a famous Australian leader of WW1. In civilian life, he was a respected Melbourne solicitor and Federal Senator from Ballarat Victoria. Before World War One he fought in the Boer War where he was awarded the DCM medal for ‘particular daring’ gallantry.

During the Boer war he was promoted with a Officer’s commission. Upon his return to Australia he continued with law study and the militia.  At the start of the Great War, due to his Boer War and Militia service he immediately joined the AIF and was made the CO of the 7^th Battalion.
 
 He was an outstandingly successful military leader who was able to ‘train men to become soldiers’. Amongst his men he was known as 'the bravest of the brave' and was given the nickname 'Pompey' or just 'Pomp' 'Brig', he was renowned for never sending anyone anywhere he was not prepared to go himself.

Elliott was wounded in the ankle while landing at Gallipoli with the battalion. The boot he wore is now part of the Australian War Memorial collection. He returned to Gallipoli in June 1915 and was present at the Battle of Lone Pine when men from his Battalion were awarded 4 Victoria Cross Medals. After Gallipoli in 1916, he was given command of the 15th Brigade shortly before the disastrous Battle of Fromelles. He was present at the Battle of Fromelles when his Brigade was decimated; he was never able to forget this loss. He went on to lead at the Battles at Polygon Wood, Villers-Brettoneux, Peronne and the Hindenburg Line. During the war Pompey Elliott was MID eight times, made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1917, Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1918, and his other decorations included a  Distinguished Service Order. Besides his Commonwealth decorations, he was awarded the Order of St Anne, 3rd Class and the Croix de guerre.

After WW1, in 1919 was elected to the Australian Senate. He was plagued with the bad memory of the war years. He made an attempt to suicide by gassing himself at his home. The next day on the 23rd March 1931, while in hospital for this problem he did commit suicide – he was 52 years old. Pompey Elliot was buried on 25th March 1931 at Burwood Cemetery, the inscription on his grave reads, 'This was a Man'. 

The former PM, Stanley Bruce, attended the funeral and later wrote to Elliott's wife Kate:

'I have just returned for his funeral and I have never seen a greater tribute paid to a man ... it must be some comfort to you to see the universal regard, esteem and even affection in which he was held.' 

Recently, his memory was preserved in Ballarat when a magnificent statue was dedicated to him in the main Street of Ballarat.

Above information sourced from Australian Boer War Books

What was the Desert Mounted Corps in WW1?

What was the Desert Mounted Corps in WW1?

 The Desert Mounted Corps was a major Allied Cavalry Force of the Middle East campaign during World War One. In June 1917, Sir Edmund ‘Bull' Allenby took command of the Allied Forces (Egyptian Expeditionary Force) in the Middle East. He set about reorganising this Force. The Desert Mounted Corps was to be commanded by the Australian Sir H.G. Chauvel. Leading up to the formation of the Corps, Chauvel had been successful at the Battles of Gaza, Romani and Rafa while commanding the Anzac Mounted

Desert Mounted Corps HQ Staff - Harry Chauvell
 first row 2nd left

Division. In 1916, the Anzac Mounted Division had became part of the newly formed Desert Column under command of Major-General Sir Philip Chetwode, In August 1917, Chauvel learned that Allenby was to rename the Desert Column, he requested it be called the Desert Mounted Corps. At that time, Chauvel received a major promotion when he was given command of the Desert Mounted Corps. The Desert Mounted Corps consisted of the Anzac Mounted Division, the Australian Mounted Division (both of which comprised in part of various Australian Light Horse Regiments), the newly formed Yeomanry Mounted Division and the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade (French Cavalry being added in the final stages of the war)

The Corps took a major roll in pushing the Ottoman (Turkish) forces from the Suez Canal area, and then into the Sinai Desert and further into Palestine. Under Chauvel’s leadership the Corps took part in many famous Battles which included the Battle of Beersheba in October 1917, Allenby’s Battle of Megiddo in 1918 and the subsequent capture of Damascus.  
Above information from Australian Light Horse History Books

When "A" Badge stood for an Anzac

What does the brass letter "A" stand for or mean worn on the shoulder of the uniform or over a WW1 Australian Soldier's arm battalion colour patch?

In 1916 at the first Anzac Day Parade in France, Monash noted that as a special privilege, ‘every soldier who had served on Gallipoli could wear a blue ribbon on the right breast and also that those who had actually landed on 25th April 1915 could also wear a red ribbon.’

Birdwood also liked the idea of some distinction to be worn by Anzac veterans. In August 1916 he told all five divisions that a brass “A” could be worn on the colour shoulder patch. Formal adoption was made in AIF Order No 937 (November 1917) and later orders made the wearing of the “A” compulsory and laid down the strict eligibility rules.

Initially, there was some resentment especially from soldiers who had taken part in the hell of Pozieres or other Western Front battles. They felt that their suffering was far greater when compared to the Gallipoli campaign but were not being acknowledged. The brass “A” was also respected as it showed a long serving member of the AIF. The “A” identified or represented an experienced combatant, someone who could be relied upon by new soldiers to the front. As the war dragged on into 1918 the numbers of Anzac veterans in the field reduced due to casualty/illness attrition.

Fellow soldiers also felt sorrow when an “A” man was ‘knocked’ after all the years of front-line service.

 

Condensed from Australian War Books

What is Australia's Oldest WW1 Memorial?

 Remembering Our WW1 Memorial Heritage

They have been with us all our lives. Like a sentinel of our community, those stone faced men, arms reversed, which have forever stood on top of a variety of obelisks. The dead of our early conflicts never did come home to Australia. So the people wanted somewhere to mourn the loss of love ones. Due to Australia’s higher involvement in WW1, during the 1920’s most towns made one. Lists of names adorn most of the memorials. They were made as a physical symbol to the emotional response to the war.
Our war monuments have a major historical significant no matter where they are located from our largest city to the smallest town.

What is Oldest Australia's Oldest WW1 Memorial? 

Interesting, the oldest WW1 Memorial in Australia was made in the small Australian village of Tambar Springs NSW. Notice the youthful appearance of the soldier. The principal benefactor of the memorial lost his son who was only 17 years old – thus it is believed to be in his likeness.
THEIR NAME LIVETH

http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/content/tambar-springs-war-memorial
http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww1

55th Australian Battalion WW1 History Snowy to the Somme

History 55th Battalion AIF WW1 Snowy to the Somme 1916-18

After near 100 years the 55^th Battalion is finally remembered with this valuable addition to Australian military history, Snowy to the Somme A Muddy and Bloody Campaign, 1916-1918 by Tim Cook.

55th Battalion Australian Military History Book
Click to buy / see the book on website

At 397 pages in length this Battalion History book is an impressive record. Genealogists / Family History researchers will be happy that included are Nominal, Honour, Honours and Awards, and extensive end notes are shown with a great index. The Author has researched most available collections for personal recollections / memoirs - 35 personal veteran files being used from the Australian War Memorial. Therefore, when reading the book the high detail included in the narrative gives an impression that the writer must have been present in the trenches. Importantly, the history is value for money. 

Short History of The 55th Battalion 
During the Gallipoli Campaign, there was a large increase in Australians recruiting for service in World War One. 
After the return of the AIF from Gallipoli in December 1915, the amount of new reinforcements that arrived from Australia meant that the AIF could be doubled.
One of the new units was the 55^th Battalion 5th Division.  The Battalion was made by taking half the Gallipoli veterans of the 3^rd Battalion and making up the another half from fresh recruits. These recruits had arrived from New South Wales and thus like the 3rd Battalion was mostly composed of men from New South Wales.
After training in Egypt, the 55^th Battalion was transferred to the Western Front, arriving into France on the 30th June 1916. Within two weeks the 55^th Bn entered the frontlines at Fromelles. Eventually taking part in the Battle of Fromelles on the 19th July 1916. Fromelles was the worst disaster in Australian history when in a 24 hour period, 1917 men were killed in action with some 5000 casualties.
In 1917, they took part in the defence of the Hindenburg Lines at 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt. The 55^th Battalion had a major role during the Battle of Polygon Wood in September 1917. During the German Offensives, the Battalion valiantly defended to the north of Villers-Bretonneux and held these even after the German capture of the village.
On the 2^nd September 1918 the Battalion fought to capture Péronne. The Battalion’s last major battle of WW1 was at St Quentin Canal. The Battalion was Honoured when Private John Ryan was awarded the Victoria Cross.
My advice buy it before it goes out of print!
To see further details click here 55th Battalion Book