Australians at War 1901-2000
1916
6 June 1916
The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (RSSILA), forerunner of the current Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL), was formed.
19 July 1916
- Enlarge
- Men of the 53rd Battalion, ALF, in the front line minutes before the attack at Fromelles, France, 19 July 1916. [AWM negative H16396]
19–20 July 1916
Battle of Fromelles, France.
These deeds which
should not pass away
names that
must not wither.[Epitaph, grave of Private W N Smith,
53rd Battalion, killed in action 19 July 1916,
age 24, Ration Cemetery, France].
23 July 1916
23 July–3 September 1916
Australians were in action in the Battle of the Somme at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, France.
3 August 1916
3–4 August 1916
Australian Light Horse in Battle of Romani, Egypt.
1916–1918
Ships of the Royal Australian Navy joined the British Grand Fleet in the North Sea and took part in the economic blockade of Germany.
24 August 1916
- Enlarge
- Red Cross workers at Government House, Melbourne, packing parcels for sending to soldiers overseas, 1914—1918. [AWM negative J00346]
The Australian Comforts Fund (ACF) was officially inaugurated. The ACF coordinated the activities of the various State 'patriotic funds' set up in 1914 to collect money to send comforts parcels to service personnel overseas.
28 October 1916
The first conscription referendum took place in Australia and among the forces overseas. The proposal to introduce conscription was defeated.
18 November 1916
Somme campaign ended. Australian troops manned trenches throughout a severe winter on the Western Front, France.