Hell-Bent

Australia’s leap into the Great War

Nonfiction, History, Military, World War I
Cover of the book Hell-Bent by Douglas Newton, Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Douglas Newton ISBN: 9781925113365
Publisher: Scribe Publications Pty Ltd Publication: July 28, 2014
Imprint: Scribe Language: English
Author: Douglas Newton
ISBN: 9781925113365
Publisher: Scribe Publications Pty Ltd
Publication: July 28, 2014
Imprint: Scribe
Language: English

Most histories of Australia’s Great War rush their readers into the trenches. This history is very different. For the first time, it examines events closely, even hour-by-hour, in both Britain and Australia during the last days of peace in July–August 1914.

London’s choice for war was a very close-run thing. At the height of the diplomatic crisis leading to war, it looked very much like Britain would choose neutrality. Only very late in the evening of Tuesday 4 August did a small clique in the British cabinet finally engineer a declaration of war against Germany.

Meanwhile, Australia’s political leaders, deep in the throes of a federal election campaign, competed with each other in a love-of-empire auction. They leapt ahead of events in London. At the height of the diplomatic crisis, they offered to transfer the brand-new Royal Australian Navy to the British Admiralty. Most importantly, on Monday 3 August, an inner group of the Australian cabinet, egged on by the governor-general, offered an expeditionary force of 20,000 men, to serve anywhere, for any objective, under British command, and with the whole cost to be borne by Australia — some forty hours before the British cabinet made up its mind.

Australia’s leaders thereby lost the chance to set limits, to weigh objectives, or to insist upon consultation. They needlessly exposed Australian soldiers and their families to the full horror of the mechanised slaughter that was to come. They were hell-bent — and they got there.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Most histories of Australia’s Great War rush their readers into the trenches. This history is very different. For the first time, it examines events closely, even hour-by-hour, in both Britain and Australia during the last days of peace in July–August 1914.

London’s choice for war was a very close-run thing. At the height of the diplomatic crisis leading to war, it looked very much like Britain would choose neutrality. Only very late in the evening of Tuesday 4 August did a small clique in the British cabinet finally engineer a declaration of war against Germany.

Meanwhile, Australia’s political leaders, deep in the throes of a federal election campaign, competed with each other in a love-of-empire auction. They leapt ahead of events in London. At the height of the diplomatic crisis, they offered to transfer the brand-new Royal Australian Navy to the British Admiralty. Most importantly, on Monday 3 August, an inner group of the Australian cabinet, egged on by the governor-general, offered an expeditionary force of 20,000 men, to serve anywhere, for any objective, under British command, and with the whole cost to be borne by Australia — some forty hours before the British cabinet made up its mind.

Australia’s leaders thereby lost the chance to set limits, to weigh objectives, or to insist upon consultation. They needlessly exposed Australian soldiers and their families to the full horror of the mechanised slaughter that was to come. They were hell-bent — and they got there.

More books from Scribe Publications Pty Ltd

Cover of the book When This Thing Happened by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Made in Sweden by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Looking for the Light on the Hill by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Cat & Fiddle by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Dissent by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book De Luxe by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Confessions of a People-Smuggler by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book The Western Front Diaries by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Stop Press by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book The Longest Decade by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Ego and Soul by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book On Offence by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book Boxed by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book An Untidy Life by Douglas Newton
Cover of the book The Paula Principle by Douglas Newton
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy