Lisarow High School Year 9 History

RETURNED SERVICEMEN 3

Carnovale

A Divided Society

1. What happened to the empires of the defeated powers and Russia?

2. How was the situation different in the victorious nations?

Social Division

3. What was the division between Protestants and Catholics in Australia? Why?

4. What were other divisions in Australian society?

5. How did opposing sides view the Russian revolution?

Repatriating the Diggers

6. What problems did the government have in repatriating the troops?

7. What was the “general agreement” about returned servicemen?

8. What were two plans of the government to deal with this feeling?

9. Why was repatriation not finished until June 1920?

10. What was the world disaster occurring at this time? Why do you think it was so deadly? (consider the situation on the “home front”, rationing, general health standards and sanitation )

11. How did it (Q10) affect Australia and the rest of the world?

12. What were the troops told before they returned?

13. What were 3 problems associated with this?

Source A

Cartoon -“Repatriated” The Bulletin 23 Jan 1919

· Sign on tree “Gobless (God Bless) Our Home”

· Anzac refers to the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps

14. What does the cartoon say about the success of the soldier settlement scheme?

Source B

Extract from the Brisbane Courier 25Mar 1919

15. What was the Courier’s attitude to Bolshevism in Australia?

Source C

Extract from the Brisbane Worker 27 Mar 1919

16. What opposing view (to Q15) does the Brisbane Worker have about the Brisbane incident?

17. Why does the Brisbane Worker feel a bond with these Russians?

Case Study: The Brisbane Riots and the RSL

18. Why did so many ex-servicemen join the RSL?

19. List 6 reasons why it was formed?

20. What was it in favour of and which groups was it opposed to?

21. What view of ex-servicemen did it encourage? Who else felt this way?

22. What incident triggered the Brisbane Riot? Why do you think it was so provocative?

23. How did the conservatives and loyalists react to the red flags?

24. What did the RSL organise after the riot? Why?

Life in the City –Building the Australian

Dream

25. Why was the Department of Repatriation established?

(2 reasons)

26. What were 2 immediate results with the return of the soldiers?

27. List the effects of the new suburbs in Australian cities

Down on the Farm

28. How much was spent on the Soldier Settlement Scheme?

29. What was the idea behind it?

30. Why did it fail?

31. List the changes that occurred in country towns at this time.

32. What were the 3 aims of the Soldier Settlement Scheme?

33. Where were the 3 main areas of settlement?

34. What are 7 factors that made the Soldier Settlement Scheme a failure?

Coming Home

35. Looking at figure 3.1 who do you think the 3 women represent?

36. If you were the soldier shown what would you have as your priorities when you returned home?

37. How important was the RSL in 1920’s Australian politics?

38. What did the RSL want the government to do?

39. What foreign dangers were the RSL concerned about?

Cartoon –“A Job to Do”

40. Explain the message behind this cartoon.

· Who are the characters?

· What is happening?

· What is the attitude of the cartoonist to this issue?

Today –Modern Australia

41. What visible evidence is there to commemorate the Great War in every country town, suburb and city in Australia?

42. What particular ceremony held every year is associated with the RSL?

43. Why do you think modern RSL clubs were established?

44. What do you think made returned soldiers want to seek each others company out in peacetime Australia?

45. What particular contemporary issue is of great concern to the modern RSL? (War dead at Fromelles –The wrecks of ships like HMAS Sydney)

Symbolism of the R.S.L. Badge

This badge is a symbol of a readiness at all times to render service to Queen and Country, and to former comrades. It is a time-honoured emblem – one that has been worn with a deep sense of pride by the most revered in our land, and one that glorifies the coats of all privileged to wear it.

Neither wealth, nor influence, nor social standing can purchase the badge, which may be worn in honour only by those who have rendered service in Her Majesty’s armed forces.

Symbolic of Australia, Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland and representing the link between them, is the wattle, the leek, the rose, the thistle and the shamrock.

The badge is in three colours:

· The Red represents the blood tie of war that exists between men/women and their comrades;

· The White stands for the purity of motive in joining the League;

· The Blue indicates willingness to render service to a comrade anywhere under the blue sky.

In the centre of the badge and encircled by the name of the organization are four figures - a sailor, soldier, airman and service woman – marching together with their arms linked in friendship. This shows that within the circle of the League, all Services and all ranks, march together in unity and comradeship.