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First World War ‘Aussie – The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine’, No 5, June, 1918

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Phillip HARRIS

1918

Overview

First World War ‘Aussie –The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine’, No. 5, dated June, 1918. Brown A3 paper, 10 pages double sided containing text and illustrations.

Historical information

These objects were collected by Sergeant George Christopher DALZIELL DCM who enlisted on 17 June 1916 in the 16th Battalion, 8th Reinforcements. He embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A68 Anchises on 2 September 1915, later returning to Australia on 28 February 1919 at the completion of the war. He received his Distinguished Conduct Medal for:
'For gallantry during the period 17 September, 31 December, 1918. Prior to the attack against Le Verguier, on 18 September, when acting as patrol leader, he obtained very reliable information as to the enemy positions, which proved invaluable, and helped materially in the success of the operation, in which he took part. He then led his men to their objective with a minimum of loss.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 42, date: 20 May 1920
Born in Perth, WA his occupation was a basket maker. He died 22 November 1986. A plaque at the Western Australia Garden of Remembrance to honour his service.
His brother, Private Walter Edward DALZIELL, 11th Battalion 9th Reinforcements, was killed in action 14-16 August 1916.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-12-2024.15.1

Item type

Magazines

Themes

Communication
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Printing Paper

Width

178 mm

Height or length

258 mm

Weight

22 g

Inscriptions and markings

Front cover – “No. 5 June 1918” and “Papua Mesopotamia Egypt” at top of page, illustration of a soldier standing side holding a rifle with “Aussie” printed across solider, “The Australian Soldiers’ Magazine on right side and at bottom of page, “France Belgium Gallipoli Palestine / Printed in the field by the AIF Printing Section”.

Contextual Information

'Aussie' (1918- circa 1929) was a commercial magazine of opinion, review and entertainment. It was edited by Phillip HARRIS and published in France 1918 - 1919 on a small printing press that HARRIS brought with him to France. Initially the print run was only 10,000 copies, but soon it reached 60,000 and later 100,000. The magazine aimed to celebrate a distinctive 'Aussie' identity through language, humour and imagery. It distributed news, provided light-hearted ways of seeing the war experience and gave soldiers an outlet to express dissent or dissatisfaction. It also provided a voice for Australian authors such as Banjo PATERSON, C.J. DENNIS and Bernard O'DOWD.
'Aussie' magazines frequently portray cultural and racial groups in a derogatory way in order to amuse readers. Nicknames and terms of ridicule are used to describe a 'stereotypical' person of British, German, African American, First Peoples (Australia) or Chinese background. In addition, an exaggerated accent from the targeted person or nationality comes across in the dialogue which accompanies many cartoons. Source: Museums Victoria

Keywords

WWI

COMMUNICATION

Australian Soliders Magazine

First World War

Australian Imperial Force

Place made

France

Year

1918

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance