Abstract
‘Repatriation’ – or ‘Repat’ for short – is uniquely Australian in concept and meaning.
Soon after the First World War broke out, the Commonwealth Government recognised that provision must be made for the wounded and the widows and families of the war dead and enacted the War Pensions Act 1914. It was the aftermath of the dawn landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 that galvanised public opinion, however, and in subsequent weeks and months there was a groundswell of voluntary activity as a wide range of groups – some local, some national (such as the Red Cross) – poured their energies into fundraising and other activities to support the injured who were already returning home. But it soon became apparent that voluntary effort, vital as it was, would not be enough and that a comprehensive repatriation program managed by the Commonwealth Government would be necessary. Accordingly, the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917 entered the statute book, and in April 1918 the newly formed Repatriation Commission and Repatriation Department began their work on behalf of Australia’s war veterans and widows.
Soon after the First World War broke out, the Commonwealth Government recognised that provision must be made for the wounded and the widows and families of the war dead and enacted the War Pensions Act 1914. It was the aftermath of the dawn landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 that galvanised public opinion, however, and in subsequent weeks and months there was a groundswell of voluntary activity as a wide range of groups – some local, some national (such as the Red Cross) – poured their energies into fundraising and other activities to support the injured who were already returning home. But it soon became apparent that voluntary effort, vital as it was, would not be enough and that a comprehensive repatriation program managed by the Commonwealth Government would be necessary. Accordingly, the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917 entered the statute book, and in April 1918 the newly formed Repatriation Commission and Repatriation Department began their work on behalf of Australia’s war veterans and widows.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Place of Publication | Canberra |
| Publisher | Department of Veteran Affairs |
| Commissioning body | Australian Government, Department of Veterans' Affairs |
| Number of pages | 121 |
| Edition | 1st |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-0-9876151-8-3 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Bibliographical note
'With the exception of the Coat of Arms and all photographs and graphics, this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence. The Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia Licence is a standard form licence agreement that allows you to copy, distribute, transmit and adapt this publicationprovided that you attribute the work.'
Keywords
- Repatriation
- returned soldiers
- Australia
- active service
- returned sailors