How Australia grappled with conscription in WWI

Billy Hughes was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923 and was a strong advocate for conscription.

He argued that all Australian men had an obligation to fight for their country in World War One.

Hughes maintained that the conflict was a fight for democracy and freedom, and it was crucial that Australia do its part in defeating Germany.

However, instead of seeking his own political party's support for conscription, Hughes sought to implement it through a referendum.

A referendum is a vote by the people on a particular issue.

Aware of the opposition to conscription in Australia, Hughes believed it better to submit the matter to a public vote.

In a speech to parliament on the 30th of August 1916, before the first referendum, Hughes said:

“To falter now is to make the great sacrifice of lives to no avail, to enable the enemy to recover himself, and, if not to defeat us, to prolong the struggle indefinitely, and thus rob the world of all hope of a lasting peace … Our national existence, our liberties, are at stake. There rests upon every man an obligation to do his duty in the spirit that befits free men.”

Hughes's stance on conscription was shared by numerous politicians and citizens, many of whom believed it essential for Australia to implement a conscript army to secure victory in the war.

When World War One first broke out, there was a lot of enthusiasm among Australians for joining the war effort.

Many people believed that it was their duty to fight for their country. Others enlisted for various reasons, such as patriotism, the opportunity for travel, adventure, and the attractive pay.

In August 1914, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was formed as a volunteer army, and by the end of the war, approximately 416,809 Australians had enlisted, which was nearly 39% of the male population aged 18 to 44.

However, as the war progressed and its prolonged and brutal nature became apparent, these sentiments shifted significantly

The most influential event in changing Australian attitudes towards the war was the Gallipoli campaign.

This campaign was a failed attempt by the Allies to seize the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey. It began in April 1915 and concluded in December that year.

The conflict resulted in more than 26,000 Australian soldiers being killed or wounded.

By 1916, there was growing opposition to the war in Australia. This was partly due to the fact that so many young men had been killed or injured in battle.

There was also a sentiment that Australia was not being given a fair say in how the war was being fought. 

Additionally, there was a perception that Australian soldiers were frequently dispatched to battle without sufficient training or supplies.

This growing disillusionment was reflected in the reducing number of men who chose to enlist for military service. 

One of the main reasons for the strong opposition to conscription in Australia during World War One was the fear that if a person was conscripted then they would be killed or wounded in battle.

In addition, there was a general feeling that Australia should not be involved in a European war, as it was so far away from the conflict.

In fact, women played a significant role in opposing conscription, with organizations such as the Women's Peace Army, led by Vida Goldstein, actively campaigning against compulsory military service.

Another aspect fueling the opposition to conscription in Australia was the belief that the system was unfair.

The proposed conscription process was seen as biased towards the wealthy, who could afford to purchase exemptions from military service. 

Conversely, those who were poor and unable to buy their way out, were compelled to enlist. 

This disparity fostered deep resentment within the Australian working class, who perceived themselves as disproportionately affected by wartime fatalities.

Finally, the anti-conscriptionists also argued that there was already enough manpower in Australia to fight the war.

There was no need to conscript more men, as they could be used in other ways, such as providing support for the war effort at home.

Despite this strong opposition, some Australians did support conscription during World War One.

They argued that conscription was necessary to win the war and that it was unfair that some men were able to avoid military service, while others were serving their country.

They also believed that conscription would help to create a more unified Australian nation.

By 1916, Australia was deeply divided over the war. Some supported the British Empire and were eager to fight alongside them, while others believed that Australia should be an independent country and stay out of the war.

Some argued conscription would have helped to overcome this division, rallying Australians together in support of the war effort.

The religious divide was a significant point of contention in Australia's conscription debate during World War One.

The Catholic Church staunchly opposed conscription, whereas Protestant churches generally supported it.

This led to considerable tension between Catholics and Protestants, as they debated the moral obligation to fight for the nation. 

In February 1916 Hughes travelled to Europe to meet with British Prime Minister Herbert Henry Asquith.

While in Britain, Hughes discovered that the UK had implemented conscription for their armed forces.

Upon his return to Australia, he believed it was time to ask the Australian people whether they would support it.

The referendum on conscription in October 1916 was narrowly defeated, with 51.6% of Australians voting against it.

There were several reasons for this defeat. Firstly, many men who had volunteered for military service were angry that others might be forced to join them.

Secondly, there was strong opposition from labour unions, who argued that conscription would take away jobs from Australian men.

Finally, many people believed that Australia should not be fighting in a European war, when so many Australians were dying overseas.

Following the failure of the first referendum, Hughes left the Labor Party, who no longer supported him, and he formed a new political party, called the Nationalist Party.

Hughes remained as Prime Minister and tried a second time for a referendum on conscription.

In December 1917, a second referendum on conscription was held in Australia.  Both sides of the debate used propaganda posters to try and persuade people to vote for their preference. 

When the referendum occurred, once more, people voted against the idea. However, the margin of difference had grown to 53.8%, meaning that more people were voting against conscription.

As a result, conscription was never introduced in Australia during World War One.

One of the most influential speakers in Australia that influenced the outcome of both referenda was Archbishop Daniel Mannix.

Mannix was the Catholic archbishop of Melbourne and he spoke out against conscription, arguing that it was wrong to force men to fight in a war they didn’t believe in.

He also argued that it was wrong to ask working-class men to fight while the wealthy class could buy their way out of service.

Most Australian Catholics were of Irish descent and were predominantly from the working class.

As a result, Mannix's views received a ready audience among the Catholic members of his congregations.

Although he only addressed the topic twice, Mannix's speeches gained considerable popularity, persuading many to vote against conscription.

His remarks, however, also incited anger, leading some to demand his deportation from Australia.

Despite the controversy, Mannix’s speeches significantly influenced the outcome of the second referendum.