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5.8.1 Discourses of legitimizing the participation in WWI of Great Britain and
Australia.
Introducing the WWI conflict, A story of the Australian people, includes an explanation early
in the chapter that seeks to legitimize the participation of Great Britain in WWI, through the
following passage:
The people of the British Isles indeed did not favour the suggestion that we should
participate, until Germany, by her brutal disregard of her pledged word, trampled
over the peaceful territory of Belgium and horrified the civilised world. (Cramp,
1927, p. 215, emphasis added)
Here, Great Britain is set up as a peaceful nation in binary opposition to Germany. Given that
this text is within a chapter called Australia in the Great War (Cramp, 1927, pp. 214-221)
and the next paragraph discusses Australia as part of the broader Great Britain, Australia is
included by association. Great Britain as a peaceful nation, therefore, only goes to war as a
last resort; included so that the position of Great Britain in participating in WWI is
legitimised to school students. This clearly sets up Great Britain as being peaceful, and
Germany as war mongering which also means uncivilised, emphasised by the phrasing that
Germany’s actions “horrified the civilised world” (Cramp, 1927, p. 215), ignorant of the
many conflicts Great Britain has played a central role in prior to WWI.
Once Great Britain’s purpose or reason for participating in the conflict is established, the text
then moves on to explain the involvement of Australia:
When England is at war, Australia is at war; so are all the British Dominions. The
Prime Minister of Australia, Joseph Cook, realized the position at once, and offered
all Australia’s resources to England. A change of ministry placed Andrew Fisher in
the position of Prime Minister, but this made no difference for he, too declared
Australia would stand by England to the last man and the last shilling. He was
succeeded by William Morris Hughes, who, as Prime Minister of four Governments
between 1915 and 1923, represented Australia’s interest in a most capable manner
when he visited England. (Cramp, 1927, p. 215, emphasis added)
Australia as a part of Great Britain, but not an equal part, is articulated through the phrase,
“when England is at war, Australia is at war; so are all the British Dominions” (Cramp, 1927,
p. 215). Australia’s commitment to joining Great Britain in WWI is represented solely
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