Why did England abandon Australia to the Japanese in WW2, when we fought for them in Africa and France ?

Question

Do we owe any allegiance to England now ? They were more than happy to have the AIF & 2nd AIF doing their fighting in France, Africa and Gallipoli. But the moment Australia was threatened directly by Japan and bombed in Darwin, they refused to release our troops from fighting for them ! That left our National Guard and Militia between us and the Japs after the fall of Singapore before the US troops arrived after Pearl Harbour was bombed. Eventually our 2nd AIF was released from Africa to come to their Nations defence in New Gunea.

Knowing that the English thought we were "expendible" especially after our sacrifices for them in Europe and Africa, due we owe them any allegiance now ?????????????????

Conranger, all great answers and I respect your position as well, however after serving 21 years in the Irish Army I thought you of all people would empathis with the English injustices against her neighbours and Colonies !

Answer 1

England was losing the war. If Japan had not bombed Pearl Harbor England might have lost the war. The US stayed out until Pearl Harbor and helped England defeat Hitler.

I think you people should have declared your independence several generations ago. Better late than never, do it now.

Answer 2

We weren't 'abandoned' by Britain in WW2. Britain was fighting for their own survival and were not ABLE to help us. In fact when we pulled our troops out of Europe and North Africa we left Britain in a very precarious position.
There is a big difference between being unable and unwilling to help. The US did not get involved in WW2 until the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour despite many pleas for assistance from the Brits.
As for Gallipoli, Aussies were not the only ones who were slaughtered in that fighting - perhaps you would be better looking into it yourself before you start passing judgements on others. There were British and New Zealanders fighting as well, alongside the Aussies. (It seems that Australians sometimes forget that the "NZ" in ANZAC stands for New Zealand.)
As far as saying we should be a republic - if it were as simple as that then we would have done it years ago. Our political and social system very well established and is working pretty well. If we were to decide to become a republic now it would mean starting everything from scratch. It would be way too risky and difficult and the actual benefits would be negligible. In fact, not at all worth the bother.

Answer 3

Edit with the help of the time the individuals arrived in Australia It became secure the Australian Malitia the Australian army the Royal Australian Air rigidity and the Royal Air rigidity have been the only ones struggling with the jap from Australian seashores and the jap on no account landed on the Australian Mainland confident the U. S. did a remarkable interest in the pacific yet please provide suited credit the place it somewhat is Due end Of Edit be conscious the only jap to land in Australia have been POW'S the germans meant to invade the united kingdom yet failed in the conflict of england Hitler had a tantrum and invaded the Russians the suited Nail in his coffin and for the duration of WW2 in Europe the NAZI'S on no account took on the RN in a substantial Sea conflict we did have a topic with the Wolf packs and at no time while the united kingdom became on my own did we ever beleive the NAZIS would March up White hall because of the fact in 1941 we Beleived would could do the interest on my own after sept 1940 the British have been on the offensive and stopped Rommel ninety miles from Alexandra with the help on the Australians At Tobruch the jap tried to Take Australia yet did not take the Airport in New Guinea ( Port Morsby ) they bombed Darwin to soften her up however the Australian Air rigidity and the RAF have been greater advantageous to the jap and the Australian protection rigidity Stopped the jap Imperial Getting over Owen Stanley tiers so japan tried to Isolate Australia to provide up the individuals using Australia to launch its rigidity against Japan however the jap Failed there besides because of the fact MacArthur released his Armada and customary conflict became the conflict of the Coral Sea and MacArthur on no account stopped till he got here across a parking spot in Tokyo Bay for his Flag deliver

Answer 4

Its very easy to see the poster of this question has absolutely no grasp of the military history of ww2, just how were the British, the only successful country to fight of the German attempts at invasion (Battle of Britain) with dwindling supplies supposed to send men and material to Australia.
It might come as a shock but the Australia mainland never suffered from an actual invasion, only from minor Japanese bombardments.
Where as the British were under constant aerial attack by day then by night.
Australia was suffering no shortage in food, or main supplies, and thankfully most Australians then felt a more patriotic bond to the UK seeing as many of them had only recently emigrated there after WW1.
The way you write your question shows you have no idea of the distance and time needed to build up supplies and forces, the British rightfully saw the main danger in Europe first, as they had been in the thick of the fighting from the start.

The British fully recognize the sacrifices made by the Australian Nation in WW1 & WW2, its the younger generation of today who have everything handed to them on a plate who have no understanding of the sacrifices made for their future security.

The biggest problem with the youth of today they try to judge the events of the past with the mentality of today, and its very easy to sit on your **** infront of a computer and post questions which are so far removed from the actual truth.

Stick to posting questione related to the great English games of cricket and rugby.

Answer 5

England was barely hanging on in WWII so that may be a reason. The only thing that saved them from being wiped out by Hitlers aviators was the early use of RADAR. Before that England was on the defensive quite a bit. Arguably Australia could have fallen and WWII could have still been won, but if Britain or the US were wiped up, we'd all be speaking German this moment. That may be a reason for their reluctance to release the troops. We as small unit leaders, Junior Officers or even civilians look at the smaller picture and how things affect us. Tacticians and generals in WWII were looking at the big picture. Sometimes in order to win the war you have to give up a few battles. Churchill had no intentions of protecting Australia. He was more interested in Burma and India.
I would say the first alliance Australia has is to its people. Alliances are formed from many complicated needs; social, economic, security, policy etc. I would say no, Australia doesn't "owe" Britain anything, but seeing as how they are both democracies the natural navigation is toward each other. Democracies don't war with each other and have similar interests, if you believe in democratic peace theory. Since they have common interests they tend to be on the same side. It is probably more that it is in every democracy's best interest to avoid war and in order to be assured that they are not threatened, they join an alliance. I.e. UK & Australia, Australia and the US in order to A. either discourage foreign powers from attacking them or B. know that they have a powerful ally that will come to their aid if they are attacked.
Since Australia has relatively few democracies in the area that have the power to come to their aid in the region, it is in their best interests to maintain alliances with other democracies. So in order to have at their disposal huge powerful allies, they put up a few troop for peace keeping missions in other regions supporting their alliances policies and agendas. It may seem like there is no direct threat to Australia, but with China seeking a larger control in the asian block countries and needing huge amounts of natural resources to maintain their industrialization Australia could be a target in the future for their expansion.
Anyhow In short Australia owes them nothing, but due to the complicated intricacies of world politics they will always be sending troops somewhere in return for security.

Answer 6

British forces in the Far East were crushed. Their main army in Singapore was overrun and surrendered. Even Aussie diggers became part of the POW group from that engagement. Since Herr Hitler and his goose-stepping gonzos were mere miles away across the English Channel, the "Pomies" had to concentrate on that state of things. Considering how shabbiliy they did treat the question of assisting in the security of Australia during World War Two and their shabby treatment of Aussie troops at Galipoli, I'm surprised that the folks down under haven't run the flag of the Australian Republic up the flag pole at the military cemetery in Townsville and told the Governor General to push off.

Answer 7

May I ask if this is the same Wayne A that answered a question the other day claiming that the Brits rounded up Jews in the Shetland Islands and handed them over to the Nazis?

Sorry Wayne. Please read your history correctly before shouting about how badly us Brits have treated you or anyone else.
To any other Aussies reading this. Please do not think I dislike you or your country I just have a problem with the people who want to rewrite history to make us out to always be the bad guys.

Ray W

Answer 8

You think britain actually cared for her colonies? or even the US which didnt give a sh!t about the filipinos.

I wonder why Australia, New Zealand and Canada still stay obedient to the queen. If most of the Asian and African countries got full independence, why not you guys?

The rest of the world will probably take you more seriously f you are independent.

Answer 9

Short are more organic and unique, now days everybody desires longer and shorter nails are method easier to have

Answer 10

short neat nails are nice and neat. I dont like long nails because dirt can get under all of them and it look nasty
its digusting and gross when somebodys nails tend to be all chewed up to the end.