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probably good that this was not case, as C.E.W. Bean states about over-stating any one country’s involvement is more or less to falsify the facts . However, to place this important aspect of Australia’s history, within the section on British History, demonstrates the lasting connection Australia had with GB, given the syllabus this textbook was produced from was instigated in Queensland schools from 1930, 11 years after the end of WWI. The inclusion of Australia’s involvement from the perspective that it was a minor player, is demonstrated in the following statement: “Before narrating events that followed the signing of the Armistice, we must give some attention to the part played by Australia in the terrible conflict that had just ended” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 105). This passage then goes on to discuss reasons for Australia’s involvement, as “When Britain declared war on Germany on the 4 th August, 1914, Australia, as part of the Empire, also was at war. The response made by the Commonwealth...was instant and remarkable” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 105) This statement is then supported by describing the actions of two political leaders. First, the then-Prime Minister, “...Joseph Cook, sent a cable to the British Government offering the whole of the ships of the Australian Navy and 20,000 soldiers, for any ser-[end p. 105] vice that the Empire might require” (pp. 105-106); and Andrew Fisher, who was also a Prime Minister during WWI, “...declared that Australia would support the Mother Country “to the last man and the last shilling” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 106). Both these descriptions are included in order to illustrate Australia’s loyalty to GB. There is no mention of any dissenting views, such as those from Archbishop Mannix, a prominent dissenter of the time. Discourses of Conscription Note: Link this closely with the dissenting public discourses that surrounded the failed referenda. Also see how it is brought up in the 1960s-70s era, considering the issues of conscription surrounding the Vietnam War. A very complex issue in Australia’s post-Federation history is the topic of conscription, yet it is described only very briefly in this textbook, with the description: “No man was compelled to join the army. In 1916, and again in 1917, the people of Australia were asked to vote whether there should be conscription—that is, whether men should be forced to become soldiers and serve outside the Commonwealth. The majority of electors voted against conscription” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 106). Here, the rejection of conscription is not contextualised to any broader socio-political activities or people of the time, instead it is put forth in a very matter-of-fact way. It is difficult to gauge the view of the curriculum on this matter, it is so devoid of detail. It is curious why more attention was not paid to the debates and referenda over conscription, given that the referenda for Federation is explained in significant detail, with opposing views presented, and detailed results; in the same textbook (see, in particular, Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, pp. 52-54). Discourses of nationhood. Although often mediated through the experience of GB, there are sections of the textbook whereby the discourse of a nation independent is put forth, separate from needing to defer to GB. Here, specific words are used such as, “magnificent heroism”, “fortunes” and “General Birdwood commanded the Anzacs” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 110) articulates the beginning of an emergence of an Australian-ness, hitherto not seen in the textbooks outside of an interior context (eg, exploration, ‘the bush’). Whilst in the examples of words provided above are only minor, later this developed into a stronger argument, and as evidenced from the extract below (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 159) WWI is overtly attributed to Australians creating a sense of nationhood, from the perspective of patriotism. Here, nationhood is attributed not to a separation of Australia from the emotional ties to Great Britain, but rather because all the separate states (which only two decades previously had been separate colonies) became closer as a result of a unifying event. Of this, the textbook describes: “It has been said that the Great War made Australia a nation. Before 1914, the majority of Australians were inclined to think of themselves as Queenslanders, or Victorians, or Tasmanians, and so on, rather than as Australians. The war changed that” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 159). The connection to GB is still maintained, and a quote from Henry Parkes, widely regarded as the ‘Father of Federation’ (he dies before Federation occurred, but did a lot to support and grow the movement beforehand) is used to maintain the Australian connection to GB, by including: “The sacrifices made by every part of the Commonwealth in the terrible conflict made Australians realize more fully the meaning of Sir Henry Parkes’ historic phrase, “the crimson thread of kinship runs through us all,” and formed a tie that bonds. So, on the one hand Australian states came together to form a nation, but the ‘Britishness’ of Australians was also maintained. The excerpt in its entirety reads: 512

The idea of the birth of a nation as a result of Australia’s participation in WWI is given further weighting by the following passage from the textbook (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115): Here, due to participating in WWI, alongside GB, Australia (along with NZ) is legitimized as an independent nation, with a day for commemoration declared as a consequence of arriving at “...Gallipoli under a storm of shot and shell they established for themselves a reputation for valour, sustained and made imperishable by later deeds in France, Syria, and Palestine” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115, emphasis added). The perspective here is that it is through military deeds that nationhood and pride is established. Although not articulated overtly, the word choice of “valour” and accompanying poem at the end of the narrative legitimize this nationhood, that is still however part of GB, with the textbook finishing the narrative of Gallipoli with: “The 25 th of April is Anzac Day. On this day in the Commonwealth and the Dominion of New Zealand we pay homage to our heroic dead, who went forth voluntarily to save our hearths and homes and the free institutions of the British Empire. “On Fame’s eternal camping ground Their silent tents are spread, And Glory guards with solemn round The bivouac of the dead.” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115) 513

The idea <strong>of</strong> the birth <strong>of</strong> a nation as a result <strong>of</strong> Australia’s participation in WWI is given further weighting by the<br />

following passage from the textbook (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115):<br />

Here, due to participating in WWI, alongside GB, Australia (along with NZ) is legitimized as an independent<br />

nation, with a day for commemoration declared as a consequence <strong>of</strong> arriving at “...Gallipoli under a storm <strong>of</strong><br />

shot and shell they established for themselves a reputation for valour, sustained and made imperishable by later<br />

deeds in France, Syria, and Palestine” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115, emphasis added). The perspective here<br />

is that it is through military deeds that nationhood and pride is established. Although not articulated overtly, the<br />

word choice <strong>of</strong> “valour” and accompanying poem at the end <strong>of</strong> the narrative legitimize this nationhood, that is<br />

still however part <strong>of</strong> GB, with the textbook finishing the narrative <strong>of</strong> Gallipoli with:<br />

“The 25 th <strong>of</strong> April is Anzac Day. On this day in the Commonwealth and the Dominion<br />

<strong>of</strong> New Zealand we pay homage to our heroic dead, who went forth voluntarily to save<br />

our hearths and homes and the free institutions <strong>of</strong> the British Empire.<br />

“On Fame’s eternal camping ground<br />

Their silent tents are spread,<br />

And Glory guards with solemn round<br />

The bivouac <strong>of</strong> the dead.” (Dunlop & Palfrey, 1932a, p. 115)<br />

513

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