RSL marks war outbreak centenary

This morning 100 years ago Australians awoke to news the country was at war.

The day before, August 4, 1914, the British government had declared war on Germany and their allies, known as the central powers.

Australia and other members of the British Empire became automatically involved.

The news of war was greeted with much enthusiasm across the nation.

To recognise 100 years since the beginning of the “war to end all wars” Bunbury Returned and Services League commemorated the event yesterday, by laying a wreath at Bunbury’s war memorial.

RSL sub branch president John Gelmi said it was only right that such a historic day was recognised.

“This area and many small towns gave so much during the war, some places never recovered from the losses they sustained, ” Mr Gelmi said.

More than 400,000 Australians out of a population of less than 5 million served in World War I.

The Australian Imperial Forces served in most theatres of war during the conflict, suffering a 65 per cent casualty rate. The names of the more than 60,000 dead from the conflict are etched on memorials across the nation.

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