AUSTRALIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN WORLD EVENTS BOER WAR

IMPERIAL ‘mummy’s boy’ From the time of its acquisition by Britain during the Napoleonic wars, southern Africa had been shared between British colonies and independent republics of Dutch- Afrikaner settlers, known as Boers. Throughout the nineteenth century the two powers had maintained a wary co-existence, although increasingly the question became whether Britain or the Boers should control southern Africa. The two had already fought an inconclusive war in The discovery of gold and diamonds in the Boer republics in the 1880s intensified rivalry, and British imperial ambition and Boer independence resulted in friction that in 1899 provoked the Boers to attack, in order to forestall what they saw as an impending British conquest. As part of the British Empire, the Australian colonies offered troops for the war in South Africa. At least 12,000 Australians served in contingents raised by the six colonies or (from 1901) by the new Australian Commonwealth (about a third of men enlisting twice), and many more joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa. At least 600 Australians died in the war, about half from disease and half in action. Australians served mostly in mounted units formed in each colony, often known as "mounted rifles", "bushmen" or "imperial bushmen". They fought in both the British counter-offensive of 1900 which resulted in the capture of the Boer capitals, and in the long, weary guerrilla phases of the war lasting until Colonial troops were valued for their ability to "shoot and ride", and they performed well in the open war on the veldt. Australians at home generally supported the war, but as it dragged on became disenchanted, especially as they became aware of its effects on Boer civilians, through cases such as the conviction and execution of Lieutenants Morant and Handcock in 1902.

In the second phase of the war, over- extended supply lines and inadequate food caused problems. Looting was widespread; disease and epidemics also took a heavy toll. Water contaminated by corpses and human waste infected the army during a period of rest in Bloemfontein after its capture in early 1900, causing 1,000 deaths, mostly from typhoid. After September 1900, when the war had become mainly a guerrilla conflict, Australian troops were deployed in sweeping the countryside and enforcing the British policy of cutting the Boer guerrillas off from the support of their farms and families. This meant the destruction of Boer farms, the confiscation of horses, cattle and wagons and the rounding up of the inhabitants, usually women and children. These civilian captives were taken to concentration camps where, weakened by malnutrition, thousands died of contagious diseases. By mid the war for the Australians was characterised by long rides, often at night, followed by an attack on a Boer farmhouse or encampment (laager) at dawn.

WORLD WAR 1 From a population of fewer than five million, 300,000 men enlisted, of which over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 were wounded, gassed or taken prisoner. The outbreak of war was greeted in Australia, as in many other places, with great public enthusiasm

WORLD WAR 1 After Gallipoli the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was progressively transferred to France, beginning in March Go to site below and answer questions on World War 1: Economic Origins 1. What is the standpoint of the author? 2.Identify his bias and why it has developed.

WORLD WAR 1 Go to site below and answer questions on World War 1: Economic Origins 1. What is the standpoint of the author? 2. List four of the reasons that he presents for British and Australian involvement in WW1. 3. How does he represent Australian Prime Minister, Billy Hughes? 4. Identify the author’s bias. Provide evidence to support your claims. What are the origins for this bias? 5. Now you are to find evidence that refutes his claims.

WORLD WAR I

LEAGUE OF NATIONS William Morris Hughes was Australia's seventh Prime Minister (1915–23). Hughes was Australia's longest serving federal parliamentarian. He was a member of Australia's first parliament in And he served 51 continuous years until He was a founding member of three Australian political parties: the Labor Party the Nationalist Party the United Australia Party Hughes was expelled from them all. He sat as a member of the Liberal Party from 1945 to 1952.