Taking issue

I really must take issue with the comments made by Duncan Wade (Gaz 13/11). Few people would dispute his descriptions of the tragedy and horror of World War I and its aftermath, nor would any deny him his feeling of sadness, sympathy or empathy for those so badly affected by its occurrence.

However, to suggest that these young inexperienced soldiers were deployed with such utter contempt by other unapologetic incompetent men who had no stake in Australia and that there has never been an apology from Britain for the military ineptitude is fallacious sophistry.

Joseph Cook, the Australian prime minister at the outbreak of WW1 was informed by telegram on July 30, 1914 that the British government was considering a declaration of war and he was advised that Australia should take appropriate defence precautions.

He told an election meeting at Horsham, Victoria the following day: 'Whatever happens, Australia is part of the Empire right to the full. When the Empire is at war, so is Australia at war.'

On July 31, 1914 in an election speech at Colac in Victoria, the Opposition Leader Andrew Fisher (ALP) famously declared that ‘should the worst happen, after everything has been done that honour will permit, Australians will stand beside the mother country to help and defend her to our last man and our last shilling’.

So, is Mr Wade suggesting that Joseph Cook and Andrew Fisher are unapologetic incompetent men who had no stake in Australia. I hardly think so. And is he also forgetting that huge crowds of cheering people waved off our brave lads as they sailed to Europe, confident that the war would be over in a few months.

As for starting the First World War, the