Enlistment Poster

This enlistment poster dated 30 November 1916 was produced after the first unsuccessful conscription vote. The proposal to introduce conscription provoked furious debate within the Australian community where on 28 October 1916, the nation was asked:
"Are you in favour of the government having in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of this war, outside the Commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the Commonwealth?"
The referendum was defeated by a narrow margin; with 1,160,033 votes against and 1,087,557 votes in favour. The states of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia voted a majority against conscription, while Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Federal Territories voted in favour of conscription.
In the same year the British Government announced the Military Service Act of 1916 which introduced conscription. It sets out the facts of this new piece of legislation and encourages men to enlist before the act came into force on 2 March 1916.
On 20th December 1917 a second referendum was held that too was defeated 1,181,747 against to 1,015,159 in favour.
Australia, South Africa, and India were the only participating countries not to introduce conscription during the First World War.