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Recruitment

Anzac Voices logo
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
Remembering them

"For good or ill, we are engaged with the mother country in fighting for liberty and peace."

    Sydney Morning Herald, 6 August 1914

Recruiting began five days after war was declared. Many people enlisted out of a sense of duty to the British Empire, which they saw as standing against German militarism. Australia was experiencing a period of high unemployment, and the soldiers’ pay of a minimum of six shillings a day was an incentive to enlist. Others enlisted early from a sense of adventure. In a letter to his mother, John Simpson Kirkpatrick remarked on the enthusiasm with which Australians had “embraced the declaration of war”. The idea that the war would be over by Christmas, and that this was a good opportunity to see the world, was not lost on many.

Collection Item C42366

Accession Number: A03406

Volunteers queuing to enlist outside Victoria Barracks. A03406

Collection Item C1029421

Accession Number: RC02289

A recruitment leaflet created to resemble a holiday brochure. RC02289

Last updated: 17 October 2019

Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

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The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

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The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

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Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
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The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
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The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

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In preparation for the daily Last Post Ceremony,

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