Formed in

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

in 1915, the Women’s Peace Army was an Australian

anti-war An anti-war movement is a social movement in opposition to one or more nations' decision to start or carry on an armed conflict. The term ''anti-war'' can also refer to pacifism, which is the opposition to all use of military force during conf ...

socialist Socialism is an economic ideology, economic and political philosophy encompassing diverse Economic system, economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means of production, as opposed to private ownership. It describes ...

movement that sought to mobilise and unite women, regardless of political or religious beliefs, in their opposition to war. Autonomous branches of the Women’s Peace Army were also established in the Australian cities of

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

and

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

Formation and aims

The Women's Peace Army was formed in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on 8 July 1915 during a meeting of the Women’s Political Association presided by

Vida Goldstein Vida Jane Mary Goldstein (pron. ) (13 April 186915 August 1949) was an Women's suffrage in Australia, Australian suffragist and social reformer. She was one of four female candidates at the 1903 Australian federal election, 1903 federal election ...

, a noted

suffragist Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to vo ...

and

pacifist Pacifism is the opposition to war or violence. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaigner Émile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress in Glasgow in 1901. A related term is ''a ...

. The Women's Peace Army's

motto A motto (derived from the Latin language, Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian language, Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a Sentence (linguistics), sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of a ...

was "We war against war" and their flag utilised the colours of the suffragette movement - purple (dignity), green (hope) and white (purity). The movement opposed war and by association conscription, proclaiming that governments should seek a mandate from the people, such as a referendum, before entering into a war. The movement actively held regular public meetings to recruit new members. Other activities included staging peace demonstrations and petitioning members of parliament. New members were required to sign a pledge dedicating themselves to the principles of the Women's Peace Army -

"I believe that war is a degradation of motherhood, an economic futility, and a crime against civilisation and humanity. I therefore, pledge myself to active service in the cause of peace by working against compulsory military training and every form of militarism. Further, I solemnly pledge myself to face uninchingly adverse criticism, calumny, and persecution for my faith that LOVE and JUSTICE alone will bring peace to the world." (Membership booklet for the Women's Peace Army, Queensland branch)

There was support for anti-war movements driven by the war-related inflation which saw food shortages largely felt by the working classes. This led to violent demonstrations and food riots in 1917 in Melbourne. On 22 August 1917, the Women's Peace Army led hundreds of women on a march to Parliament House demanding "we want food and fair play". With headlines such as "Women Fight Police" the media reported protestors attacking police with umbrellas and their hands, and the police drawing their batons and handcuffs. The police arrested five people including

Adela Pankhurst Adela Constantia Mary Walsh ( Pankhurst; 19 June 1885 – 23 May 1961) was a British-born suffragette who worked as a political organiser for the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in Scotland. In 1914 she moved to Australia where she co ...

, and Elizabeth Wallace. A former suffragette Pankhurst was the daughter of British activist

Emmeline Pankhurst Emmeline Pankhurst (; Goulden; 15 July 1858 – 14 June 1928) was a British political activist who organised the British suffragette movement and helped women to win in 1918 the women's suffrage, right to vote in United Kingdom of Great Brita ...

, and after a rift formed between mother and daughter, Pankhurst was sent to live in Australia.

Queensland branch

The Queensland branch of the Women's Peace Army was established at a meeting in Brisbane on 16 November 1915. The meeting was attended by Melbourne delegates

and

Cecilia John Cecilia Annie John (5 November 187728 May 1955) was an Australian social activist, peace campaigner, and musician. Early life John was born on 5 November 1877 in Hobart, Tasmania to parents who were immigrants from Wales. She left her parent ...

, who both gave speeches. Clio Jensen was later elected president of the Queensland branch, with

Margaret Thorp Margaret Sturge Thorp (12 June 1892 – 5 May 1978), also known as "The Peace Angel", was a peace activist and labour activist active in Australia in the 20th century. A Quaker, her religious beliefs guided her to a life of advocating for a v ...

as secretary/treasurer and seasoned

Emma Miller sharing the position of vice-president with Mabel Lane. A later advert (above) described Parkhurst as "Organiser". During one meeting at Brisbane's Centennial Hall, army authorities notified the organisers that they would arrest anyone who sang the anti-war song " I Didn't Raise My Son to Be a Soldier", an offence under the War Precautions Act. In defiance, copies of the song sheet were distributed at the meeting with the audience singing the banned song in unity. No arrests were made.

Formation and aims

Queensland branch

References

Further reading