Australia's Involvement in World War I

World War 1

What does a document study of this soldier reveal about Australia’s involvement in the First World War?

Australia’s involvement in World War I (WWI) was significant and paramount to the success of the war. Australia’s participation took the form of recruitment of soldiers, training and fighting. In particular, by studying the historical data and movements of WWI soldier, William Gould Balcombe (ex-Barker student) of the 14^th Battalion of the 5^th Field Artillery Brigade in the Australian 2^nd Division, a clearer understanding of Australia’s involvement in WWI was analysed. This included the participation of Australia’s 2^nd Division in recruitment at the home front, training in Egypt, fighting in the Battle ofPozières and training of troops at Officer Training Corps. The number of Australian casualties reflected Australia’s involvement and heralded Australia as a competent, young nation through the eyes of the world.

The recruitment of hundreds of thousands of Australian civilians – which assisted the war effort – is testament to Australia’s involvement in WWI. In the late 1910’s, Australia’s population was less than five million. Notwithstanding this, Australia was committed to the ‘Mother country’ and according to statistics from a secondary source on the internet, Australia managed to muster “almost 417,000 men…raised between 1914 and 1918” (Parle 2008). The statistics are written by Michael Parle. Since the source originates from the internet, its reliability and accuracy is questionable. However, Parle’s material seems to be reliable and accurate as the general content corresponds to content from other more reliable sources such as textbooks. The number of volunteers choosing to fight for ‘King and Country’ signalled to the global arena that Australia was dedicated to fighting and being involved in WWI. This obligation was echoed by Australia’s ex-Prime Minister, Joseph Cook, during WWI: “To our last man and our last shilling” (Mason 2007, p.57): secondary source history textbook aimed for educational purposes, written by James Mason, a knowledgeable historian with almost forty years teaching experience. It accurately quotes Cook – a primary source. One of the recruits was William Gould Balcombe (service number 7348). Born in 1894, he attended Barker College in 1905 to 1910. Prior to the war, he was a station master living in Wahroonga. Attracted by the earnest pay of 6 shillings a month and being 21 years old and 3 months, 5 foot 10 inches, 120 Ibs and having a white complexion, Balcombe enlisted on 8 September 1915 in the National Park, NSW. He symbolised the perfect soldier who reinforced the ravaged 2^nd Division. Thus, one of Australia’s involvements in WWI was through the recruitment of soldiers including Balcombe.

The study of Balcombe has also provided much insight into Australia’s training of soldiers which was another aspect of Australia’s involvement in WWI. Balcombe’s movements and involvement have revealed that Australia trained troops in Tel-el-Kebir; a city located 110 kilometres from Cairo. On 18 November 1915, Balcombe was deployed with the 5^th Field Artillery Brigade to Tel-el-Kebir on the H.M.A.T Persic. Further evidence from an accurate secondary source, Mason (2007, p.67), as aforementioned, supports the training in Egypt: “Australian troops…transferred to training camps under the…shadow of ancient pyramids”. The deployment of soldiers was essential in reinforcing the ANZAC Cops I soldiers who fought in Gallipoli and were sent back to Egypt in order to consolidate strength. Soldiers – at Tel-el-Kebir – were trained for action, enabling Australia to commit troops for warfare along the Western Front, an example of Australia’s involvement in WWI. Upon Balcombe’s arrival at Tel-el-Kebir, his 5^th Field Artillery Brigade was linked with the ANZAC Corps I of the 2^nd Division soldiers. According to the Australian War Memorial (1915), training, for Balcombe, consisted of “battery drill, gun laying, fuse laying, signalling and driving drill…and…digging in, building gun etc. and general tactical exercises including repelling attacks by guns and infantry”. This quote is from a primary-sourced war diary written by the commander of the 5^th Field Artillery Brigade on the day of training. It provides first-hand insight to the training and therefore carries authenticity. The diary’s publication by the Australian War Memorial, a corporation established by the Australian War Memorial Act 1980, further supports the reliability of this source. The constant drilling and training of soldiers to fulfill their duties lasted for around six months which in turn, reflected Australia’s dedication to training soldiers and Australia’s willingness to become involved in war.

Australia also fought in numerous battles such as the Battle of Pozières during the Battle of the Somme which Balcome fought in. On 26 July 1916, Balcombe’s 5^th Field Artillery Brigade relieved the Australian 1^st Division in their attack against Pozières. Being recently promoted to Gunner on 1 July 1916, Balcombe was in command of a 16X18 pounder artillery piece which supported the Australian 21^st Infantry Division and the British soldiers during the attack against Pozières. Balcombe and Australia provided much needed artillery and support to fellow Australian and British soldiers. As a result of Australia’s involvement, Australian and British forces succeeded in securing Pozières and the neighbouring section of O.G. trench lines on 5August 1916. In spite of the 6846 casualties, Charles Bean, who was an official historian of Australia’s involvement in WWI, comments on Australia’s fighting of decisive battles – the Pozières ridge is “more densely sown with Australian sacrifice than any other place on earth” (1983, p. 264). The fact that Bean was a primary source indicates that he witnessed the events as it happened and must be accurate, but this may be biased in order to boost morale. Nevertheless, Bean’s comment is reminiscent of Australia’s vital participation in WWI. This, in addition, with Australia’s and Balcombe’s partaking in the Hindenburg Line, Third Battle of Ypres, Peaceful Penetrations, German Spring Offensive, Battle of Hamel and the ‘Hundred Days’ Campaign, exemplifies Australia’s direct involvement in the war fronts.

Australia was also involved in WWI through the countering of serious deficiencies and problems within the Australian and British army including the lack of overall command of Australian and British forces. There was a lack of men who could lead and command as officers and NCOs. As a remedy, Australia established a new system of Officer Cadet Units in February 1916 allowing entrants to commence training to become an officer who had served as ranker or previously been in Officer Training Corps. Balcombe was one of the Australian and British soldiers who partook in this training course lasting nearly five months. He was detached from the 5^th Field Artillery Brigade at the front line on 1 March 1917 and transferred to No. 5 Officers Cadet Brigade, Trinity College, Cambridge. During his training course, Balcombe took “specialist courses on tactics and technologies such as the machine gun and poison gas” (Baker 2009). Baker is the author of the internet site, The Long, Long Trail, aimed at providing information for family and military researches by analysing a range of primary sources including diaries, letters and photos. Consequently, this source contains a degree of validity. The training at Cambridge enabled Australian troops and Balcome to gain much needed combat experience and leadership training, giving men the ability to command a vast number of troops to fight along the Western Front, which in turn, helped resolve the problems in the army. This training enabled Balcombe to be promoted from Bombardier to 2^nd Lieutenant and thereafter, Lieutenant. Hence, Australia played a vital role in addressing and solving the overall lack of command in the army, creating a much more structured army that provided crucial assistance to the Central Powers in WWI.

The byproduct of Australia’s involvement in war was expressed by the number of men killed in WWI. Australia had committed and sacrificed thousands of soldiers during the Battle of Pozières and in other fronts in the war. Evidence from the accurate and reliable textbook by Mason (2007, p.77) – mentioned above – states that some 23,000 men were killed, halving the overall ANZAC I Corps in seven weeks of fighting over a battlefield less than a kilometre long. Alberta Jacka, a Victoria Cross winner during the Gallipoli Campaign, epitomises the bravery, endurance and madness of Australian soldiers. The main cause of the high casualty rates for Australians was because of close quarter trench warfare. Balcombe, himself, suffered physical and emotional injuries associated with war. According to the National Archives of Australia (2006) – an organisation governed by the Commonwealth Government aimed at managing Australia’s valuable records for current and future generations to access – Balcome had “injuries from a sprained ankle on the 8^th August 1917…twittering mouth which may have been as a result of shell shock and…syphilis from a prostitute”. The National Archives of Australia assesses thousands of primary sources to record and consequently, the inclusion of the above quote indicates the accuracy of the source. Balcombe’s injuries are just some of the plethora of injuries that Australian soldiers suffered from fighting. These injuries were acknowledged by the British when Balcombe received the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and The Victory Medals. The medals that Balcombe received and medals other Australians received (Victoria Cross, 1914 Star) depict how the British regarded the Australian soldier as equal to their ‘Tommies’ (British Soldier) and Australia’s sacrifice. Australian troops were wounded countless times whilst fighting savage battles. Their contribution to the war effort was, therefore, verification of Australia’s involvement in WWI.

Accordingly, through the studies of William Gould Balcombe, Australia’s involvement in WWI was revealed. Whether the involvement entailed training, fighting or solving military problems, it was evident that Australia was devoted both on and off the trenches in the war effort which was appreciated internationally. Through analysing Balcombe who portrayed the typical Australian soldier; his training in Egypt in preparation for the Western Front was essential in understanding his and Australia’s involvement in the Western front. This was seen, especially, during the intense fighting at the Battle ofPozières. Balcombe’s bravery, resourcefulness and belief in democracy embodied the Anzac Legend which emerged in Australia’s participation in WWI. Australia’s involvement was further exemplified by Balcombe’s decision to assist Australian forces in attending theOfficer Training Corps. Moreover, the substantial number of casualties sustained by Australian soldiers, the injuries which Balcome suffered and the medals awarded to him by the British is confirmation of Australia’s commitment to the war, even if this was at the expense of her men.

Bibliography

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