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    Australia responds

    Australia gave Britain its full support. It immediately pledged 20,000 troops, and the Royal Australian Navy was placed under Admiralty command. 

    Some Australians greeted news of the war with a level of enthusiasm. Many saw enlistment as an adventure abroad or a chance for a regular income, among a host of reasons, and they expected the war would be short. 

    Under the Defence Act (1903), only volunteers could serve overseas. On 10 August, efforts began to build an infantry division and light horse brigade that could be deployed overseas. By month’s end, close to 900 officers and 20,000 men of other ranks had joined the newly formed Australian Imperial Force (AIF).

    BROADMEADOWS, VIC, 1914-10-20. NEW RECRUITS TO THE AIF PAUSE FOR A MUG OF TEA DURING TRAINING IN CAMP.
    New recruits take a cuppa break at the AIF training camp at Broadmeadows, Victoria. Photographed on 20 Oct. 1914, the men likely sailed with the first convoy. C202912 - Australian War Memorial