Australians on the Western Front: Call-up divides nation

By Michael Grealy
Updated November 24 2017 - 1:53pm, first published 11:00am
CALL TO ARMS: Prime Minister Billy Hughes campaigns for conscription before a crowd in Sydney's Martin Place in 1916.  Photo: AWM A03376
CALL TO ARMS: Prime Minister Billy Hughes campaigns for conscription before a crowd in Sydney's Martin Place in 1916. Photo: AWM A03376

As casualty lists soared on the Western Front in the Great War, Australians twice voted to reject the introduction of conscription.