Australia in WW1 primarily used British-standard weapons, centered around the Lee-Enfield rifle (SMLE) with its Pattern 1907 bayonet, supported by Lewis and Vickers machine guns, various trench mortars (Stokes, Garland), and significant artillery (18-pounder field guns, 4.5-inch howitzers). Infantry also employed hand-thrown Jam Tin grenades, Mills bombs, and later, tanks played a crucial role, while the Australian Flying Corps used early aircraft for reconnaissance.
What was the standard weapon used by the Anzacs? A. Australian and New Zealand soldiers were issued with the Mark III . 303 Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) rifle.
Billy Sing. William Edward Sing, DCM (3 March 1886 – 19 May 1943), known as Billy Sing, was an Australian soldier of Chinese and English descent who served in the Australian Imperial Force during World War I, best known as a sniper during the Gallipoli Campaign.
Rifles. Rifles were by far the most commonly used weapon of the war. The standard British rifle was the Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) Rifle Mk III. It had a maximum range of 2,280 metres, but an effective killing range of 550 metres.
William H.G Geake, a research engineer with the Australian Imperial Force, invented the message carrying rocket in 1917 to communicate with troops up to two kilometres away during WWI. As radio was still being developed, the rocket messenger gave troops a significant advantage and was used until the end of the war.
An Australian gun crew on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria might have fired the British forces' first shot in the war. A German merchant ship SS Pfalz tried to escape from Port Phillip Bay just after Britain declared war on Germany. Australian troops fired a warning shot from a powerful coastal battery gun.
In 2005, Dr Fiona Wood was pronounced Australian of the Year for her groundbreaking work in burns treatment. She invented spray-on skin (aerosol-delivered cell-clusters), which revolutionised outcomes for burns patients and was instrumental to her success in treating the victims of the 2002 Bali bombings.
60% of the battlefield casualties in WWI were caused by artillery shells exploding. Shrapnel wounds were particularly brutal for soldiers. The word 'shrapnel' comes from the small lead balls placed in an artillery shell that would spread out over the battlefield when exploded.
The MG42 was feared due to its terrifyingly high rate of fire (up to 1,500 rounds per minute), creating a distinctive ripping sound like "Hitler's Buzzsaw," which suppressed entire enemy units and inflicted devastating casualties, forcing Allied soldiers to fear the weapon's ability to pin them down and dominate the battlefield with its overwhelming firepower.
The #1 deadliest sniper is widely considered to be Simo Häyhä, a Finnish soldier nicknamed "The White Death," who achieved over 500 confirmed kills with iron sights during the Winter War (1939-1940) against the Soviet Union, making him the most prolific sniper in history. He used a basic rifle, often in extreme cold, relying on stealth, skill, and camouflage to become a legendary figure.
Lieutenant Colonel Henry William “Harry” Murray (1 December 1880 – 7 January 1966) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, and he is described as the most highly decorated infantry soldier of the British Empire during the First World War and Australia's most decorated soldier.
Field Marshal Erwin Rommel held great respect for Australian soldiers, viewing them as tough, skilled, and formidable fighters, especially in attack, famously stating he'd use Australians to take hell and New Zealanders to hold it, though some historians question the exact phrasing while confirming his admiration for their fighting prowess in North Africa, documented in his letters.
German soldiers generally held a mix of fear, deep respect, and admiration for Australian troops in both World Wars, recognizing them as exceptionally tough, cunning, and tenacious fighters, with figures like Erwin Rommel praising their fighting spirit and describing them as magnificent in attack and defense, though some German press also dismissed them as a small population incapable of sustaining a major war effort.
The AN-94 is rare because its incredibly complex and expensive design made it impractical for mass issue, despite its innovative "hyperburst" feature for high accuracy in two-round bursts; it suffered from high cost, difficult maintenance, poor ergonomics, and low reliability compared to simpler rifles like the AK-74, limiting it to limited special forces use.
The .303 British can offer very good penetrating ability due to a fast twist rate that enables it to fire long, heavy bullets with a high sectional density. Canadian Rangers use it for survival and polar bear protection. In 2015, the Canadian Rangers began the process to evaluate rifles chambered for .308 Winchester.
The MG42, also known has Hitler's Buzzsaw, is a general purpose machine gun that was developed in Nazi Germany and entered service with the Wehrmacht in 1942.
The 10 Most Accurate Rifles We've Ever Tested (Plus, the Most Accurate Rifle Cartridges)
So, in terms of carrying more ammunition and firing effectively to longer ranges, the AR is superior, though in terms of “hitting power” (defined here as energy on target), the AK round is a bit better, particularly at short ranges.
The M60 general purpose machine gun was mounted in a variety of military vehicles like armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and watercraft during the Vietnam War. Soldiers loved it for its reliability but hated it because of the bulk and awkward process of changing out the barrel.
Gas. As synonymous with World War I as barbed wire, No Man's Land, war poetry and trench foot, poisonous gas was unleashed on the infantry of both sides during the conflict and the effects were truly horrifying. So much so that the use of chemical weapons in warfare was eventually banned by international treaty.
noun. the heavy fire of artillery to saturate an area rather than hit a specific target. “the shelling went on for hours without pausing” synonyms: barrage, barrage fire, battery, bombardment.
Penicillin
The world can thank Adelaide scientist, Howard Florey, for developing penicillin as a medical treatment in the early 1940s - a time when it was common for people to die from a simple bacterial infection.
In Australia, sun exposure propels visible, premature aging signs in the skin more than any other stressor. It's also one cause of dry skin all over the body – so proper sun protection is essential every day of the year. Sunscreen, clothing, hats and shade can help to keep moisture in skin.
Professor Wood's greatest contribution and enduring legacy is her work pioneering the innovative 'spray-on skin' technique (Recell), which greatly reduces permanent scarring in burns victims. Professor Wood patented her method in 1993 and today the technique is used worldwide.