The Anzac Illusion: Anglo-Australian Relations during World War I

by Eric Montgomery Andrews

• ISBN13: 9780521459891
• ISBN10: 0521459893
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1993-01-01
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The myth of Anzac has been one of Australia's most enduring. The belief in the superior fighting qualities of Australia's soldiers in the First World War is part of the national consciousness, and the much touted 'special' relationship between Britain and Australia during the war accepted as fact. This provocative and wide-ranging book is a reassessment of Australia's role in World War I and its relations - military, economic, political and psychological - with Britain. Eric Andrews shows that it suited all parties to propagate the myth of Anzac for their own purposes. It was widely assumed that Britain and Australia were countries with similar interests united by Empire. The book considers this assumption in the light of Australia's actual military experience in the War and finds that it was false. It also discusses the impact of the War on the Australian attitude to Empire. The book is a fresh - and at times controversial - consideration of issues of abiding interest and significance.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. The British Empire and Australia

2. The bugles of England

3. The War of the politicians

4. The crucible of War: the AIF on the Western Front, 1916-1917

5. The end of euphoria: Anglo-Australian political and economic relations, 1916-1917

6. ANZACS and brasshats: the British high command and the Australians

7. Of Britain and the British

8. A peace of sorts

Conclusions - the post-war years

Notes

Bibliography

Index.