The war Australia LOST
The Emu War, also known as the Great Emu War, was a conflict that unfolded in Western Australia over the latter months of 1932. It was a remarkable and unusual "war" because the combatants on one side were, in fact, birds - emus to be precise. This peculiar conflict arose due to a combination of environmental factors and human intervention.
In the years leading up to the conflict, Australian farmers, particularly veterans of World War I who had been given land by the government, faced numerous difficulties. They were already grappling with the hardships of the Great Depression when, in 1932, around 20,000 emus migrated into the Campion region of Western Australia. The emus typically migrated seasonally, but this time they found vast areas of cleared land - perfect for their nesting - and a plentiful supply of water in the crops cultivated by the farmers.
The emus began causing considerable damage to the crops, devastating the already struggling farmers. In desperation, the farmers petitioned the Australian government for assistance. The Ministry of Defense, led by Sir George Pearce, responded by deploying a small contingent of soldiers armed with machine guns - presumably under the assumption that a display of military might would quickly resolve the emu issue.
The operation began in November 1932 under the command of Major G.P.W. Meredith of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery. The soldiers were equipped with two Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. However, the emus proved to be surprisingly elusive and resilient. The birds could absorb multiple bullets before falling, and they quickly dispersed and disappeared into the landscape under fire, making them hard to target.
Initial operations were unsuccessful, with the emus proving to be tough adversaries. After a few weeks of limited success and public criticism, the military withdrew. However, following further appeals from the farmers, the operation was reinstated.
By December 1932, the soldiers had managed to kill or wound an estimated 1,000 emus. The operation was then ended due to the negative coverage in the media and ongoing criticism. Although the "war" was deemed a military failure, the farmers did get some relief as the government decided to introduce a bounty system, which proved to be more effective.
The "Emu War" is remembered today not as a typical war but as a peculiar episode in Australian history. While it highlighted the serious issue of managing large populations of native wildlife, it is often viewed with a sense of humor as the time Australia went to war with emus - and lost.
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