Off to war: Australia answers the call

The enthusiastic support for war was matched by the huge response to the call for a fighting force. By the end of 1914, more than 52 000 Australians had joined up. These were the first of more than 416 000 Australians to volunteer for the First World War, of which 330 000 saw active service overseas. Keep in mind that the Australian population was only 4.9 million at the time.

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Isaac Betteridge’s ‘sacrifice’ in 1916 was indicative of the mood early in the war. A deformed finger stopped his first attempt to enlist. Unconcerned he had the finger amputated and was later accepted.

Cartoon image showing German ogre.

Depiction of Germany. Public domain.
Lord Kitchener stares and points at the viewer calling them to enlist in the British Army.

Lord Kitchener First World War recruitment poster 1914. Public domain
Image gallery
  • Poster showing man swimming in the surf. Text reads, 'It is nice in the surf but what about the men in the trenches? Go and help.'
  • World War I enlistment brochure. Front cover shows a ship and text that says 'Free tour to Great Britain and Europe, the chance of a lifetime.' Text on the back reads, 'How to join this tour. To participate in this unique offer you must be between the ages of 18 and 45, have a minimum height of 5 feet two inches, and be able to expand your chest to 33 inches. If you can meet these requirements fill in the application form hereunder, and post it to the Organising Secretary, State Recruiting Office Sydney. I hereby offer myself for enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force for active service abroad, and undertake to enlist in the manner prescribed, if I am accepted by the military authorities.
  • Recruitment poster showing an ogre with red bloodied arms representing Germany about to clutch a world globe which also has blood on it. In the top left of image is a question mark.
  • Recruitment poster showing a main figure, Lieutenant Jacka VC with people playing various sports in the background. The text reads, 'Join together, train together, embark together, fight together. Enlist in the Sportsman's Thousand show the enemy what Australian sporting men can do.'
  • Recruitment poster showing a mother kissing her young daughter with a photo of their husband/father hanging on the wall. The text reads, 'God bless Daddy. 45,000 Australian fathers are fighting. Will you help?
  • Recruitment poster made up entirely of text which reads, 'Five questions to men who have not yet listed. 1. If you are physically fit and between 18 and 44 years of age, are you really satisfied with what you're doing today? 2. Do you feel quite happy as you walk along the street and see OTHER men wearing the King's uniform? 3. What will you say in years to come when people ask you, ‘where did you serve in the Great War?’ 4. What will you answer when your children grow up and say, 'Father, why weren't you a soldier too?’ 5. What would happen to the Empire if every man stayed at home? Your King and country need you, enlist today!

Given the overwhelmingly positive attitude of the Australian public, it is perhaps surprising that any recruitment drive was necessary.

Images such as these were a regular sight throughout the war. While they echoed the ‘We want you’ message of the well-known Lord Kitchener image, these posters were aimed at different sectors of society, and were designed to stir a variety of motivations in the young Australians who were expected to join up.

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Explore the recruitment posters above. Choose one poster and complete the propaganda poster guided analysis (.pdf 49kB).

Those people who did not join up were encouraged to buy war bonds between 1914 and 1918. This meant greater revenue for the government who in turn repaid the bonds, with interest, at a later date.