1918 in Australia

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1918 in Australia was dominated by national participation in World War I. The Australian Corps was formed at the beginning of the year from the five divisions of the First Australian Imperial Force played a significant role in the Allied victory in the war.

1 Leaders
2 Events
3 Arts and Literature
4 References

[edit] Leaders

Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia.

Ronald Munro-Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar, Governor-General of Australia

William Holman, Premier of New South Wales.

Walter Davidson, Governor of New South Wales.

John Bowser, Premier of Victoria until 21 March 1918.

Harry Lawson, Premier of Victoria after 21 March 1918.

Sir Arthur Stanley, Governor of Victoria.

T.J. Ryan, Premier of Queensland.

Hamilton Goold-Adams, Governor of Queensland.

Archibald Peake, Premier of South Australia.

Sir Henry Galway, Governor of South Australia.

Sir Hal Colebatch, Premier of Western Australia.

William Ellison-Macartney, Governor of Western Australia.

Walter Lee, Premier of Tasmania.

Francis Newdegate, Governor of Tasmania.

[edit] Events

[edit] January - March

January 1, The Australian Corps formed from the five AIF divisions on the Western Front.

March 21, The Australian Corps commences fighting to stop the German offensive Operation Michael, the German advance near Amiens.

[edit] Events April - June

24-25 April Australians recapture Villers-Bretonneux from the German army helping to stop Operation Georgette.

31 May John Monash takes over command of Australia Corps.

[edit] Events July - September

3 August Australia House opens in London.

8 August Battle of Amiens begins with British, Australian and Canadian troops participating in a successful offensive - General Erich Ludendorff described it as "the black day of the German Army".

12 August King George V knights John Monash on the battlefield, the first British commander to be knighted in that way for 200 years.

18 September forces led by John Monash attack Hindenburg Line in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line capturing 4,300 German troops.

22 September first direct radio message between London and Sydney.

[edit] Events October - December

1 October Australian troops capture Damascus.

5 October last Australian operation in the Battle of the Hindenburg Line taking the village of Montbrehain with the line cleared on October 10.

11 November Germany signs Armistice to end World War I.

10 December Royal Australian Navy ships in the Black Sea to assist the White Army in the Russian Civil War.

14 December first Victorian Farmers Union member elected to parliament as a result of the introduction of preferential voting with the Victorian Farmers Union becoming part of the Country Party four years later.