Wilso wrote:I only know of conscription here (in wartime) for Vietnam. It's never surprised me that it was a right wing government that conscripted people too young to vote, and sent them to America's manufactured war for no other reason than to protect the alliance. When they were thrown out, the new left wing government immediately recalled the troops, and released the concientious objectors from prison, yet somehow the alliance survived.
World wars I and II were all volunteers from Australia. And they didn't have any trouble getting volunteers. In WWII Australia had one in seven of it's citizens serving in the armed forces, which was second only to New Zealand (1 in 5).
There was conscription in Oz later in WW II.
Me mum, who volunteered in 1939, said (with shame) that they used to call them "chocolate soldiers."
I have not been in the military, BTW.
