In 1914 and 1915, two documents were produced, ‘Australasian Gallantry and Letters from our heart. The aim of this essay is to compare the images of national identity constructed by the two documents produced by The Age, and the Weekend Australian.
For easier analysis of the images the documents create, a brief summary and the key points made in the documents will be provided. The Age was a Melbourne newspaper that printed the document (Bean. C.E.W. 1915, “Australasian Gallantry’, 13 May). The key points made by The Age are, an image of the terrain that the Australian and New Zealanders faced when they landed. Stretcher bears work was beyond praise. Men were motivated by the action of their officers. Australians and New Zealanders fought fiercely and suffered heavy losses. Many deaths occurred as a direct result of thew Turks trickery. There was almost no rest for the men.
The Weekend Australian was a Sydney based newspaper and although this document wasn’t written by a reporter, it was still published. This document, Letters from our Heart was written by David Gordon, to his son, John on the eve of his departure to World War 1. John was one of the few survivors of the 10th Battalion. This letter would provide John with the confidence and support every young man needed when serving his country in times of war. It’s clear from the letter that David loves his son very much and only wants the best for him. David also makes it clear that John has the full support of the whole family.
The images that are created from the Australasian Gallantry are images of pride for our men serving for our country. Bravery is also never far from your mind when you read this document. You can’t help but try to imagine the conditions that the men served under and also the fear that the loved ones felt while at home reading the daily reports of mass losses. The conditions that the men had to endure were horrific. There is also the image of determination. “Presently up came the ninth and tenth in very good lines of 20 or 30. They went through the scrub rushing for all they were worth, dropping every hundred yards or so to take breath. Then up again and on towards the end of the ridge. About three rushes covered it. They were facing shrapnel and machine guns but reached the required position. Three times they were driven off the ridge, and three times came back and took it. The last time they remained there.” (Bean, 1915, p.3). That is something your loved ones would have been proud to read.
These images were constructed the same way as they were for every country who became involved in the Great War. People felt obligated to protect their country and protect their families. During the recruitment for WW1, people were told that they would be able to travel the world for free, have a wonderful adventure whilst doing their bit for their country. However, when the men were serving their country, many felt that they had been lied to. Many men were forced to lie in trenches with the rotting bodies of their best mates, but none of this reached the shores of home because it wasn’t in the countries best interests for the families to know what was really happening. The men were forced to eat mouldy food, but again, none of this reached the ears of loved ones.
This is one of the many posters made to recruit men to defend their country. Another is, “Your country needs you! Recruits wanted. The defence department requires eighty men per day to reinforce Victorians at the War. Will you make one of this number? Possibly you believe you are justified in not volunteering. Examine you conscience carefully. Is it a valid reason or an excuse? Which is better? To fight and perhaps die as an Australian or you and your to live under the heel of German Militarism. Your County Calls!” (Recruitment Advertisement in Moorabin News, June 12, 1915).
Economically, the war was a wonderful thing because it meant the country was able to employ almost everyone to make uniforms, weapons, tanks and so on. Even socially, it was a wonderful thing to say that your son is serving their country. Another image that was constructed by these posters and various other war propaganda was one of fear.
People were being made to fear German rule and to stop the Germans you were told to enlist in the armed forces and defend the image that you call Australia/home. People didn’t want to lose the laid back feel of Australia to the German rule.
Letters from our Heart also fills you with pride, but its not a national pride, it’s a family pride. David has written this letter to his son John with such passion and pride in his heart that you can almost see the tears in his eyes. While reading the letter, you can see that David can now see his son as a man instead of the young boy he used to know.
Another image that is almost thrust upon you is that of the commitment people at the time felt to the King and our Commonwealth. David tells his son to “play the game, my dear mate, all the time in all circumstances, in every condition, remembering to set the cause above. To love the game beyond the prize. To honour, while you strike him down, the foe with fearless eyes”. (David Gordon, 1914). “To honour while you strike him down”, comes from Australian sportsmanship. Australians have always played sports with honour and pride. Young men were taught to see the bigger picture instead of only seeing the prize, and that’s what David is trying to teach to his son.
In conclusion, the image constructed by The Age was one of Obligation to serve your country, to travel the world, the war created and economic boom and it was seen as socially acceptable to serve your country. The Weekend Australian image was pretty similar to The Age, but this letter was on a more personal level than a national level. It constructed an image of a son being transformed into a young man, a young man who is making an ultimate sacrifice for his country, a man who will fight with honour and pride, no matter what the circumstances were, whether they are good or bad.
References
(Recruitment Advertisement in Moorabin News, June 12, 1915).
Document 1
Bean, C.E.W. 1915, ‘Australasian Gallantry’, The Age, 13 May. (4 pages)
Document 2
Gordon, David (1914) in Weekend Australian: Letters from our heart. 2001 p.13.
