Men of the 53rd Battalion in a trench a few minutes before the launching of the attack of Fromelles, 1916

In August 1914 the Australian Government announced that Australia would go to war to support the British, French and Belgians against invading German forces. There was general public support and enthusiasm for the announcement, although there was some opposition too. The government called for volunteers to join an army to go and fight. The initial call was for single men aged 18-35. Thousands immediately volunteered, although the number of volunteers reduced as the war dragged on. Australians (including soldiers, sailors, airmen and medical staff) served in on the Gallipoli peninsula, the Western Front (Europe) and in the Middle East.