First Australian Imperial Force: Study of Its Recruitment, 1914-18 - Couverture rigide

Robson, Lloyd

Couverture rigide

ISBN 10 : 0522839819 ISBN 13 : 9780522839814

Editeur : Melbourne University Press, 1970

Synopsis

The book deals with the cause, course and effects of the recruitment of the Australian Imperial Force for the Great War. It is an analysis of the home front during the horrible four and a half years of the struggle in Europe and the Middle East, and on the high seas, and shows how Australia's effort to keep up the reinforcements said to be necessary to sustain and strengthen the A.I.F. led to the shattering of the spirit of optimism, virtual unanimity and cocky pride with which the new Commonwealth entered the war. The theme is the wrecking of Australian optimism and happiness, and the creation of a situation where negative thought and destructive criticism could flourish. This capacity for destructive thinking may be observed in many areas but basically it was associated with the inability of the federal government and its agencies to induce enough men to enlist voluntarily. Government and people were reduced to the level of telltales, deceivers and liars in the consequent seeking out of scapegoats and in the paranoia about German spies; convinced that Australia, the British Empire and civilization were immediately endangered, the Prime Minister William Morris Hughes and his supporters were prepared to do anything to ensure that the barbarians' invasion might be turned back. The enlistment of the A.I.F., and the war, revealed both splendid and deplorable aspects of Australia: thoughtlessness, cruelty, unswerving devotion to the suppression of opposition; great courage, shining sincerity, high and proper ideals and mindful sacrifice. Australia was wrung dry during these four and a half years. The procedures of democratic government, the rectifying of social injustice and the recognition of certain rights were all shelved on the grounds that the state was immediately threatened. The book shows the significant aspects of an episode which bites more deeply into the nation's psyche than anything else in its history.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Melbourne University Press
• Date d'édition: 1970
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0522839819
• ISBN 13: 9780522839814
• Reliure: Relié
• Nombre de pages: 238
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible