Memorial Walk CBD Secondary teacher resource.pdf

2 THE RSL ( Torrens Drill Hall –
RSL State Headquarters)
Background Information
Time to allow: 30 minutes.
How the League Evolved
The mateship of the Australian bush, the city larrikins, and the solidarity of trade unionism
spilled over into the first Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and hence into the Returned
Soldiers' movement initially known as the Returned Soldiers Association (RSA).
The predecessor of the RSL was formed whilst The Great War, also known as World War I,
was still in progress. It evolved as a direct result of the camaraderie, concern and mateship
shown by the "Diggers" for the welfare of their mates during and following the First World
War.
The following quote from the RSL website suggests reasons for the longevity of its attraction
to its members; "A simple code of mateship and nationalism explains the appeal of the
Returned & Services League of Australia. The unswerving loyalty to mates and assertive
Australian nationalism (is what gives) the League its strength. The (original) membership was
largely self-educated: the men of World War I who remained in control of the League until
well after World War II and had few formal educational opportunities, and the men and
women who served from 1939 to 1945 received their education in uniform."
"The leadership of the League has rarely been drawn from the military or social elite. The
egalitarian nature of the League reflects more than the soldiers' suspicion of 'brass hats' and
the wider Australian desire to cut down 'tall poppies'”.
South Australian involvement
The RSA (Returned Soldiers Association) was formed in Adelaide on the 8 December 1915.
South Australia was represented in the first RSSILA (The Returned Soldiers and Sailors
Imperial League of Australia) Congress, the predecessor of the RSL (Returned and Services
League) which met in September 1916. Captain Arthur Blackburn VC, a South Australian
member, was instrumental in drafting the first RSSILA Constitution. Other inaugural
delegates included representatives from Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria. NSW was
admitted in March 1917 and WA in March 1918, with all states joining before the end of
World War I on the 11 November 1918.
The Role and Objectives of the RSL
The role of the RSL is to serve the interests of its members, veterans, the ex-service
community and members of the Australian Defence Force. The RSL works in a number of
areas including welfare, advocacy, commemoration and remembrance, provision of
camaraderie and mateship to members and political lobbying. Its objectives include the
"Promotion of loyalty and pride which the League has for the Nation, its people, the Crown
and the Flag".
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