Australia's involvement in WWI

On the 28th of June 1914, Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated at Sarajevo. Most Australians had never heard of the man, let alone foreseen the devastating consequences it could have on the explosive tension in Europe at the time. Not until Austria declared war on Serbia did Australia realise a war could begin. On the 30th of July 1914 Russia mobilised its troops in support of Serbia. On the 1st of August, France mobilised in …

…was considerable. The Australian Imperial Forces had travelled and fought some 20 000 kilometres away, society in Australia was influenced by the war, and Australian politics revolved around the war cause for the whole four years of its duration, with such controversies like the Conscription issue. Despite Australia' s population of 5 million people, it proved to be a substantial fighting force and ally to Britain through the extent to which it was involved in World War I.