Military history of Australia: Difference between revisions

 

==War and Australian society==

For most of the last century [[military service]] has been one of the single greatest shared experiences of white Australian males, and although this is now changing due to the [[professionalisation]] of the military and the absence of major wars during the second half of the 20th century, it continues to influence Australian society to this day.<ref name=Grey1/> War and military service have been defining influences in [[History of Australia|Australian history]], while a major part of the national identity has been built on an idealised conception of the Australian experience of war and of soldiering, known as the [[Anzac spirit]]. These ideals include notions of endurance, courage, ingenuity, humour, [[larrikinism]], [[egalitarianism]] and [[mateship]]; traits which, according to popular thought, defined the behaviour of Australian soldiers fighting at [[Gallipoli Campaign|Gallipoli]] during the First World War.<ref name=Grey1/> The Gallipoli campaign was one of the first international events that saw Australians taking part as Australians and has been seen as a key event in forging a sense of national identity.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/background/2008/04/24/2226523.htm | title = Anzac Day: remembering Australians who served | work = [[ABC News Online]] | date = 24 April 2008 | access-date =25 May 2008 }}</ref>