A call to action

As the centenary of World War I concludes this month, historian Melanie Oppenheimer reflects on the role of Australian woman at war, and one particular heroine’s remarkable story.

In November 11, 1918, 100 years ago, the guns fell silent on the western front. War has played a major role in our national identity and we have created a rich history around the Anzac legend. But how representative is our war history? I believe that the roles of women in war, both on the war front and the home front, have been downplayed. Perhaps it would not matter, except that much of our national identity is predicated on and around our military history, which largely ignores the roles undertaken by women. They have had an uneasy relationship with the Anzac tradition, with women’s contributions portrayed as being passive supporters rather than as active participants.

The story of Australian women at war is about participation, breaking down barriers and receiving adequate recognition. It is a unique and complex story, because of our obsession with our war history.

Over the last 100 years, there have been many battles, as women fought to be treated as equals. “My god, Australian sisters, what shall we do?” groaned a male medical officer when Matron Nellie Gould presented her papers during the Boer War (1899–1902). In her long skirts, leading a contingent of trained nurses, these women sought to actively participate.

The story of World War I Australian nurse Narrelle Hobbes is a wonderful example and tribute to Australian women and war. Narrelle is a witty and formidable woman. “Thank god I’m Australian”, she said as she came up against her British counterparts. She is a girl from the bush, an adventurer, a traveller, and a woman on her own. She displays all the qualities we give to the Australian soldier.

Born in Tilba Tilba, on the south coast of New South Wales, Narrelle came from a large family. In 1914, she was matron of Brewarrina hospital in north-western NSW. She was 36 and unmarried. The Australian Army Nursing Service (AANS) was not recruiting, so she headed off to London to nurse for the empire.

Narrelle arrived in London in April 1915 and she was accepted into the Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (QAIMNS). By May, she was in Malta, nursing the wounded of Gallipoli. When the peninsular was evacuated in December 1915, Narrelle was posted to Sicily, then to India and Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Narrelle spent nine months nursing in hospitals in Basra and Amara. The scale of disease was confronting – dysentery, enteric fever and, perhaps the most dangerous of all, cholera.

By mid-1917, after two and a half years working without respite, Narrelle fell ill. Despite convalescence in the Himalayas, her health deteriorated and her family dispatched the youngest sister, Elsie, to India to bring Narrelle home. The sisters sailed for Australia on the hospital ship SS Kanowna. However, she did not make it. Narrelle died on 10 May, 1918, and was buried at sea off Fremantle. Her death cast a shadow over the Hobbes family for years afterwards.

Today, Australian women can now be commanding officers and pilots in the RAAF; they can serve in submarines; and in combat-related duties. From January 1, 2013, women could apply for all positions in the Australian military, with the exception of special forces in the Army. In 2016, this final restriction was dropped. Around 30 women have joined combat roles and now serve in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Women first became involved with the Australian armed forces with the creation of the Army Nursing Service in 1899. By 2023, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) hopes to have 25 per cent of women in the navy and air force (as of 2016, 19.1 per cent and 19.2 per cent respectively); and 15 per cent in the army (as of 2016, 12.1 per cent). In June 2017, Australian servicewomen make up 16.2 per cent of permanent, full-time members of the ADF. And 96.6 per cent of Army’s infantry officers are men.

We forget, however, how difficult it’s been for women. In World War II, for example, the formation of auxiliary women’s services and the opening up of the employment market through manpower shortages sowed the seeds for gender reform. Despite the fear of women invading the officer’s mess and the threat of women taking men’s jobs, the pressures of the war meant that military leaders and politicians had to relent.

At the outbreak of World War II, the only women’s service was the AANS; a special nursing service for the RAAF was formed in July 1940 – the Royal Australian Air Force Nursing Service ( RAAFNS); the Women’s Auxiliary Australian Air Force (WAAAF) followed in February 1941; the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service (WRANS) in April 1941; the Australian Women’s Army Service (AWAS) in August 1941; and the Australian Army Medical Women’s Service (AAMWS) in December 1942. The Australian Women’s Land Army was formed in July 1942, but was never officially designated as an enlisted auxiliary service. More than 66,000 women enlisted in these services.

World War II was a watershed for women. The auxiliaries gave women access to what had been the preserve of men. Many served outside of Australia, in the Middle East and New Guinea. Seventy-eight nurses died during the war, many as prisoners of war.

Narrelle’s story reminds us that Australian women did quite extraordinary things during World War I. At the centenary, I hope we can move to a more inclusive war history that reflects the war experiences of all who were involved; a history that includes the after effects of war, the impact and longstanding effects on nations, communities and individuals.

Professor Melanie Oppenheimer is chair of history at Flinders University, South Australia, and is currently the visiting chair in Australian Studies at the University of Tokyo. #ThanksForServing is a movement to acknowledge the service of Australian veterans past and present.

The story of Australian women at war is about participation, breaking down barriers and receiving adequate recognition. It is a unique, complex story