Politics and Sacrifice: ANZAC

One hundred years after the Gallipoli campaign was marked by terrible casualties, the Channel Nine mini-series is also suffering extensive losses. 
Gallipolis ratings fail highlights Australia's inferiority complex

His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d), Governor of New South Wales, officially opened the State Parliament’s Centenary of ANZAC Exhibition – ‘Politics & Sacrifice: NSW Parliament and the ANZACS’, at Parliament House.

In the late afternoon, the Governor, as Patron, accompanied by Mrs Linda Hurley, recited the Ode of Remembrance at The 2015 Mateship Trek - Commemorative Ceremony, at the ANZAC Memorial, Hyde Park, Sydney Politics and Sacrifice;

A unique exhibition exploring the role that Parliament, members and staff played in the Great War.The exhibition will shed light on many long forgotten, but important stories linking the Parliament, Parliamentarians, and the community during the First World War

Politics & Sacrifice: NSW Parliament and the Anzacs will explore the remarkable accounts of the members and staff who fought for their country including Lt Gen George Braund (Member for Armidale) and Edward “Teddy” Larkin (Member for Willoughby); debates on issues such as recruitment, conscription and the treatment of enemy subjects; and the impact of the war on our political party system. It will feature a number of artefacts, artworks and objects from the Parliament’s significant and historic collection such as photographs, Hansard and official communications. Items from the State Library and Australian War Memorial will also be on display Anzac

This paper chronicles the 125 Commonwealth Members of Parliament (MPs) identified as having served during the Colonial wars and/or the First World War. It includes those who engaged in or were in transit to active service and those who fought for allied countries.

The paper does not include reservists or members of the defence force without active service. Eight such MPs who enlisted but do not appear on the Australian War Memorial’s Embarkation Roll database are listed in Appendix 1.

MPs War Service

Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher (ALP) famously declared that ‘should the worst happen, after everything has been done that honour will permit, Australians will stand beside the mother country to help and defend her to our last man and our last shilling’.
AustRalians to War 1914 last man standing

 In 2014 Andrew Tink presented this lecture on Menzies, Curtin and Conscription. He is the author of several books and has lectured widely.

Although Robert Menzies and John Curtin were fit enough to fight in World War I, neither enlisted. With two older brothers in the trenches, both of whom suffered serious wounds, Menzies’ mother Kate, insisted that her youngest son remain behind. For Curtin, it was a matter of conscience. And at one stage, he was jailed for failing to register. During the referendums of 1916 and 1917, Curtin was a leading anti-conscription campaigner. Menzies, however, spoke out publicly in favour of compulsory service. His lack of war service was, nevertheless, a key factor in his undoing as prime minister at the beginning of World War II, his immediate predecessor having accused him of cowardice. And when Prime Minister Curtin introduced conscription later in that war, he was bitterly attacked by his own side. “You are putting young men into the slaughterhouse”, one Caucus member said, “notwithstanding 30 years ago you wouldn’t go there yourself”.

THE graves of Gallipoli Diggers and other Australian war veterans are being reused at Adelaide cemeteries, prompting an emotional campaign to preserve them forever.

Graves of Gallipoli Diggers are being use