Unit 4 AOS 1

Chronology

1914: AUSTRALIA IN THE GRIP OF SEVERE DROUGHT.

July 28th: WWI begins.

August 4th: Britain (and therefore Australia declares war on Germany.)

September 5th: Federal election – Andrew Fisher becomes PM.

October 29th-31st: War Precautions Act introduced.

Turkey enters war on Central powers side.

November 1st: First AIF contingent depart Australia.

December 3rd: First AIF contingent arrive in Egypt for training.

1915:

April 25th: AIF land on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

May 8th: The first account of the Australian’s landing at Gallipoli (by Ellis Ashmead-
Bartlett) published for Australia.

June: Recruitment campaigns begin.

August 6th-15th: War Census taken.

September 11th: Universal Service League established.

October 26th: William (Billy) Hughes becomes PM.

December 19th-20th: Australian (and others) forces withdraw from Gallipoli. No casualties taken.

The Government ramps-up censorship, associating the Anzacs with a mythology based on loyalty,
heroism, and bravery, not on seeing battles as ‘military disasters.’

1916:

January 6th: British Parliament votes in conscription.

March 27th: Six o’clock hotel closing time introduced in all states of Australia except
Queensland.
April 27th: News of the Irish uprising reaches Australia.

May 12th: Irish rebels executed (Great Britain.)

July 1st: Battle of the Somme begins (France)

August 30th: PM Hughes announces that a referendum (plebiscite) is to be held.

August 4th: Hughes and his supporters expelled from the ALP for supporting
conscription.

August 28th: First conscription referendum held.

No vote: 115,888

Yes vote: 1087332

Difference = 71,549 votes.

November 14th: Hughes and supporters leave the ALP.

1917:

January 9th: National Party established, led by Hughes.

April 6th: America enters the war by declaring war on Germany.

May 3rd: Third battle of Ypres begins (Western Front.)

May 5th: National Party and Hughes win general election.

August 2nd: The Great Strike begins in NSW railways.

1918:

January 8th: Hughes resigns as PM.

March 3rd: Soviet Russia withdraws from war.

September 18th: Attack on the Hindenburg line.

November 11th: Armistice with Germany signed at 11.00 a.m.