Table of Contents
Introduction:
In 1932, the Australian government declared war on emus, a flightless bird species that was causing severe damage to crops in Western Australia. The government sent a small group of soldiers armed with machine guns to take down the emus, but what ensued was a comedic battle that has become known as the “Emu War.”
Background:
The emus had become a significant problem for the farmers in Western Australia during the Great Depression. The farmers were struggling to grow crops due to a lack of rain, and the emus were causing further damage to the crops, exacerbating the farmers’ problems. The farmers requested help from the government, which then decided to send in the military to take down the emus.
The Plan:
The Australian government sent a group of soldiers, led by Major G.P.W. Meredith, to take down the emus. The soldiers were armed with two Lewis machine guns and around 10,000 rounds of ammunition. The plan was to use the machine guns to shoot the emus and reduce their population to manageable levels.
The Battle:
The soldiers soon found that taking down the emus was much more difficult than they had anticipated. The emus were agile and quick, and they could easily evade the soldiers’ bullets. Moreover, the soldiers found that the machine guns were not as effective as they had hoped, as the emus could withstand multiple shots before dying. The emus quickly learned to avoid the soldiers and their weapons, making it even more challenging to take them down.
Emu war Black and White
The Defeat:
After several attempts to take down the emus, the soldiers decided to withdraw, as they were not making any significant progress. The Emu War ended in defeat for the soldiers, as they were only able to kill a few hundred emus out of the thousands that were causing damage to the crops.
What Was The Emu War Of Australia And What Was The Outcome?
The Aftermath:
The Emu War has become a humorous part of Australian history, with many people seeing it as a symbol of the government’s incompetence. The incident has even been compared to the Vietnam War, with some people suggesting that the Australian soldiers were fighting a losing battle against an enemy that was much more resilient than they had anticipated.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the Emu War was a strange and somewhat comical chapter in Australian history. While it may seem ridiculous to declare war against a bird species, the emus were causing significant damage to the crops, and the government felt compelled to take action. Unfortunately, the soldiers were not able to overcome the emus’ agility and resilience, leading to a defeat that has been immortalized in Australian folklore.
