First World War: Women in Australia after the war

The women and families of injured First World War veterans took on the bulk of their day-to-day care.

When the First World War (WW1) ended, it left a devastating legacy of grief. Around 155,000 injured veterans returned to Australia, bearing the physical and mental scars of war. The Repatriation Department was established to aid their return to civilian life. The department established vocational training schemes and employment programs, provided medical care, administered pensions and also supported dependants of veterans. Its work was supported by charities and community organisations.

However, it was the women and the families of injured veterans who took on the bulk of the day-to-day care. The authorities at the time did not realise just how vital this role would be, with women and families supporting their veterans’ physical, emotional and social well-being.

Curriculum areas

Year 9 History
Year 11 History
Year 12 History

Questions

What challenges did women and families face when those who served in WW1 returned to Australia?
What were the ongoing struggles faced by women and families with relatives who were listed as missing in action or who were buried overseas?
How did the government, charities and community groups help women whose loved ones had died or were badly injured as a result of WW1?

Records

Record

Vocational training for war widows - millinery class

War widows learning new trades in classes offered by the Repatriation Department.

Record

Letter to the Prime Minister from Annie Munro regarding the graves of her soldier sons.

Graves of soldier sons – letter to Prime Minister Stanley Melbourne Bruce

A letter from Annie Munro to Prime Minister Stanley Bruce in 1928, asking for government assistance to visit her sons' graves. Her request was denied.

Record

Letter from widow to Repatriation Department regarding former serviceman's death.

Former serviceman's death – letter from widow to Repatriation Department

A letter from widow Barbara Leane asking for her husband's death to be accepted as war service. Without this decision, she could not receive a pension.

Record

Measure for knitting socks for soldiers - Red Cross initiative

Paper sock measure from a copyright application by Annie Robina Monie, Sydney.

Record

This is a letter from a mother regarding her missing soldier son to The Argus newspaper.

Missing soldier — letter from mother to The Argus newspaper

A letter to the editor of The Argus newspaper in August 1915 from Isabella Fothergill, mother of First World War serviceman Jack Fothergill.

Record

Caring for returned soldier husband – record of evidence for Repatriation Department

This extract is a record of evidence completed by May Brown in 1929. It attests to the mental state of her brother, First World War veteran Albert George Brown.

Acknowledgments

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs assisted in the development of this resource.