The military history of Australia spans the nation's 230-year modern history, from the early Australian frontier wars between Aboriginals and Europeans to the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 21st century. Although this history is short when compared to that of many other nations, Australia has been involved in numerous conflicts and wars, and war and military service have been significant influences on Australian society and national identity, including the Anzac spirit. The relationship between war and Australian society has also been shaped by the enduring themes of Australian strategic culture and its unique security dilemma.
The six British colonies in Australia participated in some of Britain's wars of the 19th century. In the early 20th century, as a federated dominion and later as an independent nation, Australia fought in the First World War and Second World War, as well as in the wars in Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam during the Cold War. In the Post-Vietnam era Australian forces have been involved in numerous international peacekeeping missions, through the United Nations and other agencies, including in the Sinai, Persian Gulf, Rwanda, Somalia, East Timor and the Solomon Islands, as well as many overseas humanitarian relief operations, while more recently they have also fought as part of multi-lateral forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. In total, nearly 103,000 Australians died during these conflicts. (Full article...)
The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was an all volunteer force raised in August 1914 by the Australian Army for service during World War I. It initially consisted of one infantry division and one light horsebrigade. The infantry division subsequently fought at Gallipoli in 1915, being reinforced by a second division, as well as three light horse brigades. After being evacuated to Egypt the AIF was expanded to five infantry divisions, which were committed to the fighting in France and Belgium along the Western Front in March 1916, taking part in the fighting there until the armistice in November 1918. A sixth infantry division was partially raised in 1917 in the United Kingdom, but was broken up and used as reinforcements following heavy casualties on the Western Front. Meanwhile, two mounted divisions remained in the Middle East to fight against Turkish forces in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. The AIF included the Australian Flying Corps (AFC), which was deployed to Europe and the Middle East throughout the war. After the war, the AFC evolved into the Royal Australian Air Force; the remainder of the 1st AIF was disbanded between 1919 and 1921.
1918 - World War I: The 7th and 8th Battalions hold a 14 Km section of the front near Vieux-Berguin against repeated German attack. A length of line normally held, at that time, by two full division of infantry with supporting arms.
HMAS Platypus was a submarine tender and depot ship operated by the Royal Australian Navy between 1919 and 1946. Platypus was built for the Royal Navy and commissioned in March 1917. She was transferred to the RAN in March 1919 and arrived in Australia with the RAN's six J class submarines in July 1919. After these submarines were decommissioned in mid 1922 she served as a destroyer tender until 1929 when she reverted to a submarine tender to support the RAN's two O class submarines. From 1930 to 1944 she was mainly used as a base ship, and was stationed in Darwin between 1941 and 1943 and Carins from 1943 to mid-1944. From June 1944 until December 1945 she served as a repair ship off New Guinea and Morotai Island. Platypus was placed into reserve in May 1946 and was sold for scrap in February 1958.
The CAC CA-25 Winjeel (Aboriginal for "young eagle") entered service for the Royal Australian Air Force in 1955 as an ab-initio to advanced trainer aircraft. It was developed to satisfy RAAF technical requirement No. AC.77 by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation at Fishermans Bend in Victoria. A total of 62 aircraft were built and the first entered service with No. 1 Basic Flight Training School at Uranquiny (near Wagga Wagga). The aircraft remained in service with the RAAF until 1977 before being removed from service; examples of the aircraft remain in flying condition in private hands as well as museums around the country.
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