Australians in wartime

Tom Carmody a reluctant hero

Name: Tom Carmody
Date: 1916-1918
Unit: 69th Squadron, 3rd Squadron, Australian Flying Corps
Location: Somme, France
The propaganda of the time pressured all young men to do their duty for King and country. On 8 September 1916, Tom Carmody enlisted in the AIF and sailed for England on the Ulysses A38 on 25 October 1916.

War correspondents without a war!

Name: John Grigsby
Date: 1955
Location: Malaya
It's a dangerous business covering wars and for journalists it is never easy, but when the war isn't a war but an anti-terrorist action, they find things even tougher.

Why should you people at home not know the horrors of war

Name: John Alexander Raws
Date: 1916
Unit: 23rd Battalion, 6th Brigade
Location: Pozières, France
John Alexander Raws wasn't in the war for long but in the four weeks or so he was there, he saw and experienced the most horrific fighting of World War I.

Women answered the call during the war

Name: Bonnie Pickup
Date: 1941
Unit: WAAF
Location: Sydney
In 1941 when Australia was threatened with Japanese invasion, the call came for women to take up the men's jobs to release them for the front line, and they were also challenged to join the armed services.

Womens land army played an important role during World War II

Name: Isobel Anstee
Date: 1943-1944
Unit: Australian Women's Land Army
Location: Victoria, Australia
One of the most important products during World War II was flax. It was used for all sorts of clothing and equipment from coats to parachute harnesses, from ropes to tarpaulins and even to cover gliders used to transport troops.

Wounded soldier pleads for young nephew to stay out of war

Name: Walter Wells
Date: 1916-1917
Unit: 9th Field Coy, Australian Engineers
Location: France, Belgium
The horror of war was the subject of many a letter back home from Australian troops to their families during World War I and Walter Wells was no exception.