Overview of Australia’s involvement in the First World War
Gallipoli
On 25 April 1915, some 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 300km south-west of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) at Ari Burnu in an area now known as Anzac Cove. The Gallipoli campaign also involved British and Indian troops who landed at the southern tip of the peninsula at Cape Helles, and French forces landed in a feint near Kum Kale on the Dardanelles opposite shore before joining the main forces at Cape Helles. A further landing by British troops took place at Suvla Bay as part of the Allied August offensive.
The landings were part of the Allied campaign to capture the peninsula and assist naval operations in opening up the Dardanelles straits and via that route, the capital, Constantinople, to Allied attack. Success here would also open a passage to Russia’s Black Sea ports, assisting a beleaguered ally.
Over 50,000 Australians served on Gallipoli during the eight month campaign and over 8,700 lost their lives, while some 18,000 were wounded.
The evacuation, which was completed over 19–20 December 1915, was considered a success, with very few men becoming casualties.
The failed campaign at Gallipoli become an important element in the national stories of both Australia and New Zealand. The anniversary of the landings on 25 April, is an occasion for both nations to honour the memory of those who have served.
The Western Front
Following the Gallipoli campaign a large part of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) transferred from Egypt to France in early 1916 for service on the Western Front.
The AIF’s first major engagement on the Western Front was the disastrous Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916. Fromelles is considered the bloodiest 24 hours in Australia’s military history with more than 5,500 men becoming casualties and 470 becoming prisoners of war.
Just a few days later the AIF joined the fighting in the Anglo-French Somme offensive, assaulting the German trenches at the village of Pozieres. Involving the 1st, 2nd and 4th Divisions, the fighting around Pozieres, nearby Mouquet Farm and the Pozieres windmill lasted more than six weeks and cost the AIF some 23,000 casualties of whom almost 7,000 lost their lives.
The worst year for the AIF during the First World War was 1917 with costly battles at Bullecourt, Messines and Passchendaele resulting in more than 76,000 men being killed or wounded.
During 1918, the AIF initially fought defensively to help repel the advance of German forces during their Spring Offensives, culminating in the surprise counter-attack over 24-25 April, which recaptured Villers-Bretonneux. In August the AIF took part in the major Allied offensive which began with the Battle of Amiens. What followed became known as ‘the hundred days’ during which a series of Allied offensives pushed German forces back across the ground they had won earlier in the year.
Among the AIF actions in this period were the capture of Mont St Quentin and Peronne, and the fighting to breach the formidable defences of the Hindenburg Line in the Bellicourt area. The AIF fought its final infantry battle at Montbrehain on 5 October 1918, while some elements of the force remained in action until the Armistice of 11 November.
Over 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front, with some 46,000 losing their lives.
Middle East
In 1916 Australian troops participated in the defence of the Suez Canal, fighting a major battle at Romani before crossing the Sinai to the Palestinian border.
The following year, Australian troops advanced into Palestine and participated in the attacks on Gaza, Beersheba, and Jerusalem. By 1918, along with the rest of the British commanded Egyptian Expeditionary Force, they had occupied Lebanon and Syria, and on 30 October 1918, hostilities with the Ottoman Empire ceased, following the signing of the Armistice of Mudros. Some 1,300 Australians were killed in the campaigns in the Middle East.
Prisoners of War (POWs)
Over 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 were captured at Gallipoli, 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.
Facts and figures
Australians who served
- More than 416,000 Australians enlisted during the First World War, with more than 330,000 serving overseas. Many served in more than one theatre
- More than 50,000 Australians served at Gallipoli
- Some 295,000 Australians served on the Western Front
- More than 20,000 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 and service units
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
Cemeteries
- Gallipoli - There are more than 2,800 Australians buried in cemeteries in Türkiye
- Villers-Bretonneux – There are 780 Australian graves at the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery