In any city or town in Australia and New Zealand, you will find a war memorial. No matter how small the town, young men went to war and never came back. Churches have memorials to parishioners who served, and every synagogue above a certain age has an honour board. Why did they do it? Almost uniquely among combatants in the Great War, Australia’s forces were all volunteers.
I do not wish to rehash the arguments for and against the campaign for conscription in the Great War, as this re…