Australia had no conscription for overseas service, so all who fought did so as volunteers in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

Gallipoli (1915)

  • Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915.
  • The campaign became a defining national moment, remembered annually on Anzac Day.
  • It was unsuccessful militarily, with heavy casualties.

The Western Front (1916–1918)

  • The majority of Australian casualties occurred here.
  • Australians fought in major battles, including:
    • Fromelles
    • Pozières
    • Bullecourt
    • Messines
    • Passchendaele
    • Hamel
    • Amiens
  • Conditions were brutal — mud, artillery, gas, and high losses.

The Middle East

  • Australian Light Horse units fought in Sinai, Palestine, and Syria.
  • They’re remembered for actions like the charge at Beersheba in 1917.

Impact at home

  • Two bitter conscription referendums in 1916 and 1917 divided the country.
  • Women took up more roles in industry and community organisations.
  • Almost every town and community lost people, which shaped national identity and memory.

Human cost

  • More than 60,000 Australians were killed.
  • Over 150,000 were wounded, gassed, or suffered long-term trauma.
  • The scale of loss shaped public attitudes for decades.
5154
Military History

Expedition captures the first ever images of the wreck of a World War I submarine

In 1917, the USS F-1 sank in a collision off the coast of California, killing most of its crew. Although originally discovered in 1975, researchers had no images of the wreck until very recently.
4 minutes
5542
Royal Australian Air Force, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Stephen Chappell DSC, CSC, OAM and Warrant Officer of the Air Force, Ralph Clifton lay poppies at Australian War Graves at Bomana War Cemetery during the Papua New Guinea Defence Week in Port Moresby as part of the 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Military History

War detectives try to solve mystery of Australia's lost soldiers

Australia is one of a handful of countries continuing to search for missing soldiers from WW1 and 11. More than 30,000 are unaccounted for and the Unrecovered War Casualties — Army team is working with relatives.
12 minutes
5253
Technology & Innovation

Marines and sailors are building trenches for the drone age

Uncrewed aerial systems have quickly become an essential part of modern warfare. They quickly fly in large swarms and drop munitions or deliver a payload. One defensive strategy against them from WW1 is to construct trench networks.
4 minutes
5074
A No. 100 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire MK VIII aircraft performs an aerial display at the Australian International Air Show 2025.
Strategic Influence

Peace without victory: Historical lessons from Wilson to Trump

Powerful nations often prioritise strategic influence over values—dependent partners risk being sidelined when support becomes inconvenient or politically costly. WW1 US President Wilson prioritised global leadership over allied victory. Patron states can withdraw support without warning.
7 minutes
5067
Military History

Documenting the Australian experience of World War I

The words and images of war correspondents had an influential role in World War I—as they do today. Working in war zones, close to the action, they reported what they saw and heard.
6 minutes
4258
Technology & Innovation

After an earlier era of flying 'sausages' and 'jellyfish', balloon warfare is having a renaissance

This article examines the strategic implications of high-altitude balloons in modern warfare and surveillance, highlighting their role in intelligence gathering and electronic warfare. The analysis underscores their relevance to enhancing national security and strategic planning.
14 minutes
3981
Military History

ANZAC DAY—2024

On 25 April 1915, ANZAC troops from Australia and New Zealand went ashore at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli.
2 minutes
3849
Military History

Resource Page: RAAF History

Formed in 1912, the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) played a pioneering role in military aviation during World War I. In 1921, it became an independent service the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), a transformation that signified the beginning of a new era. Since then, the RAAF has maintained a crucial role in defending Australia and contributing to international peacekeeping and security efforts.
120 minutes
2664

Resource Page: Military History

In studying military history, a military professional might find it helpful to understand the broader conflict in which air, land and maritime power has been applied. 
90 minutes
3474
Wellbeing

From "Shell Shock" to PTSD, Veterans Have a Long Walk to Health

A WW1 British psychiatrist suggested some soldiers suffering from shell shock could benefit from self-help and reconnecting with nature.
12 minutes
3307
Technology & Innovation

Saab says it has solved a modern camouflage conundrum

SAAB’s Barracuda Camouflage Screen, with its "Frequency Selective Surface technology," lets low-frequency radio signals through while blocking radar detection.
8 minutes
2402
Military History

From the bookshelf: ‘The Scrap Iron Flotilla’

The Scrap Iron Flotilla (named by Nazi leader Joseph Goebbels) refers to WW1-era Australian destroyers that, despite their age, played a crucial role in resupplying Australian troops besieged in Tobruk in WW2.
4 minutes
Archived
2749
Strategic Influence

ANZAC Day 25 April 2023

On 25 April 1915, ANZAC troops from Australia and New Zealand went ashore at ANZAC Cove in Gallipoli.
2 minutes
Archived