Australia's Changing relations during the second world war
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Australia as a nation was still very closely tied to the British. Therefore when war was finally declared after a period of appeasement, Australia’s Prime Minister Robert Menzies of the United Australia Party, made his famous Melancholy Duty speech, committing Australia to the war effort. However as the war waged on, and when Winston Churchill’s promised support was most needed, they weren’t there. It was America that showed up to help save our proud nation, leading to disillusionment in Britain’s supposed benevolent power and a turn to the USA for help.
The change in Britain political and social influence in Australia during World War 2 was drastic and of extreme significance in shaping our culture today. Britain went from the ultimate benefactor and friend of Australia to being the nation that owns us in name only. Instead of influencing every political and social viewpoint in Australia, we are now only tied to Britain via the monarch and governor general. The turning point in this relationship between Australia and England was the invasion and fall of Singapore on 15th of February 1942. Until then Australia had considered themself safe from the Japanese war machine, hidden under the protecting wing of Mother Britain. The rapid loss of protection shocked the Australians and is epitomised in the Sydney Morning Herald cartoon “Long Distance Thinking” by William Mahony (1942). This cartoon highlights both the strength of Britain in comparison to Australia and how much we needed the support that they promised and failed to provide.
The other major event that helped change our ties with Britain was the disagreement over the positioning of the 7th AIF division. A series of telegrams and cablegrams between Australia’s then Prime Minister, John Curtin of the Labour Party, and Winston Churchill had serious implications on our already shifting relationship with the British. The Australian Government decided to disagree with
The change in Britain political and social influence in Australia during World War 2 was drastic and of extreme significance in shaping our culture today. Britain went from the ultimate benefactor and friend of Australia to being the nation that owns us in name only. Instead of influencing every political and social viewpoint in Australia, we are now only tied to Britain via the monarch and governor general. The turning point in this relationship between Australia and England was the invasion and fall of Singapore on 15th of February 1942. Until then Australia had considered themself safe from the Japanese war machine, hidden under the protecting wing of Mother Britain. The rapid loss of protection shocked the Australians and is epitomised in the Sydney Morning Herald cartoon “Long Distance Thinking” by William Mahony (1942). This cartoon highlights both the strength of Britain in comparison to Australia and how much we needed the support that they promised and failed to provide.
The other major event that helped change our ties with Britain was the disagreement over the positioning of the 7th AIF division. A series of telegrams and cablegrams between Australia’s then Prime Minister, John Curtin of the Labour Party, and Winston Churchill had serious implications on our already shifting relationship with the British. The Australian Government decided to disagree with