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Welcome to this Soundtrail from the Australian Living Peace Museum. Over the course of this walk, you’ll hear about Australians who opposed conscription in 1916 and 1917.
“Resisting Conscription in World War I” focuses on individuals and groups who made known their opposition to conscription in the lead up to the 1916 and 1917 conscription plebiscites (called referendums, at the time).
Along the way you’ll visit six Melbourne sites that tell the remarkable story of how an unlikely coalition of politicians, Christians and socialists, women and trade unionists united to successfully oppose the introduction of conscription for overseas military service during World War I. Their determined opposition to the 1916 and 1917 conscription plebiscites led to a slim majority of Australians opposing the Federal government’s desire to introduce compulsory overseas military service – an historic victory for the Australian peace movement.
Historian Alice Garner will explain who was involved, what they did, and the consequences they experienced. You’ll also hear from Professor Joy Damousi and Dr Carolyn Rasmussen, as well as the Victorian Trade Union Choir.
Credits & Contributors
The Australian Living Peace Museum gratefully acknowledges the Local History Grants Program and Public Record Office Victoria, supported by the Victorian Government through the Community Support Fund.
Produced by Michael Green and Hamish Sewell.
Scripts by Alexandra Pierce.
Voices:
- Narration, “The Blood Vote,” and “An Appeal to Women” – Alice Garner
- Dr Daniel Mannix – Dr David Pierce
- Frank Anstey and journalists – Michael Green
- Additional commentary – Professor Joy Damousi and Dr Carolyn Rasmussen
- “Australian Hymn of Freedom” and “I didn’t raise my son to be a soldier” – the Victorian Trade Union Choir. Recordings originally made for “A Nation Divided: the Great War and Conscription” exhibition at Old Treasury Building Museum.
- Additional music from Lee Hardisty.
Image credits:
- Billy Hughes: National Library of Australia
- Writ for referendum: National Archives of Australia
- Ballot paper: National Archives of Australia
- Frank Anstey: National Library of Australia
- Frederick Sinclaire: University of Otago Digital Collections, Accession Number A260
- Conscription and Christianity: State Library of Victoria
- The Blood Vote: State Library of Victoria
- Keep Australia White: State Library of Victoria
- Who’s Next? : State Library of Victoria
- John Curtin: National Library of Australia
- No Conscription Fellowship: State Library of Victoria
- Adela Pankhurst: Wikimedia
Vida Goldstein: Wikimedia - Cecelia John: National Library of Australia
- Special Appeal by Women to Women: State Library of Victoria