Patriotic Races

“It is my melancholy duty to inform you officially that, in consequence of a persistence by Germany of her invasion of Poland, Great Britain has declared war upon her, and that, as a result, Australia is also at war.”

With those words, uttered by Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies on September 3, 1939, Australians found themselves involved in a war on the other side of the world. Within months, troops had embarked for places with names like Libya and Palestine. On the home front it wasn’t long before rationing commenced, with everything from leather and fuel to food stuffs becoming available only if you had the correct ration cards.