She said of her service, “I was determined that I should do something.

It was clear what was at stake.Īs Nancy Wake, the “white mouse” who outwitted the Gestapo, put it: “Freedom is the only thing worth living for … without freedom there is no point in living”.įaith Bandler, best known for her work supporting the 1967 referendum, first expressed her willingness to live out her beliefs by joining the Australian Women’s Land Army. As wartime prime minister John Curtin said, “No one else can do your share.” It was a call Australians embraced. Their mission was clear: to defeat Hitler and the evils of Nazism stop the aggression and conquest of militaristic Japan defend our sovereignty, freedom and our way of life and to prevent an attack on Australia.Įveryone had a role to play. Out of a population of seven million people, one million Australians put on our uniform and made the silent promise to give their lives for their country if need be.

World War II was the greatest national effort in Australia’s history.

Pacific conquest call of war 1942