Identity forged(выковыванная)by War

World War I (1914-1918), much more than federation itself, began the transformation of Australian life from that of six colonies to a united state.

Early in the twentieth century Britain was still home for many people in Australia, even for some who had been born and raised in Australia. At school, children were taught that to be part of the British Empire was a privilege and a blessing (благословение), that to be British was to be noble and brave, and that loyalty to the Mother Country must never waver (поколебаться). Adults learnt much the same lessons from newspapers and books.

By 1910, a war between Britain and Germany seemed very likely. The British Government told the Australian Government that if war broke out in Europe Australia would be expected to send troops.

Australia began training its own soldiers. All boys from the ages of twelve to twenty-five were to be given military training. They had to put on a uniform and spend some of their weekends learning how to be soldiers. Some refused to obey the new law which they said

should not be tolerated in a free country. Thousands were taken before the courts, and many went to jail. But most boys put up (мирились) with it, and even enjoyed gaining the skills of warfare (приёмы ведения войны).

The war started in August 1914. The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was formed whose members were all volunteers. The AIF would be commanded by British generals until the last year of the war. The new Australian Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, announced that Australia would fight for Britain to ' the last man and the last shilling".