Marching to the beat of an imperial drum: contextualising Australia's military effort during the First World War

Abstract

When war erupted in 1914, Britain embarked on its prewar plans of mobilising resources from its vast Empire, and created an imperial coalition which fought within a wider coalition with France, Russia and, later, the United States of America. This article examines the limited role performed by Australian naval and military forces within this wider imperial effort and assesses the extent to which Australian forces relied on British command, technology, and logistic support. It challenges common assumptions about Australia's wartime performance, including the degree to which Australian forces and commanders contributed to tactical innovation and wider planning and operational thought.