[Marxism] Unrest in the military: Australia, WW2

["Tom O'Lincoln" <suarsos@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Australia was supposed to have a less oppressive and class-ridden military 
than its British equivalent. Fighting under a Labor government, the troops 
in World War II might have expected an even more egalitarian military 
regime. But it wasn't like that at all.

I've compiled all the stories about oppression and resistance in the 
Australian military. Just for example:

"Australian troops in Palestine in May 1940 staged a 'rowdy demonstration' 
about a new theatre with special seating for officers, which they saw as a 
class distinction. Another upheaval took place in the Northern Territory 
among military transport companies. In this case a crackdown on a two-up 
school and on minor misuse of official property provoked a march, which led 
to a riot. The crowd toppled a petrol bowser, overturned vehicles and 
ransacked the mess. Disgruntlement over delayed leave provoked trouble on 
Morotai, where in January 1946 soldiers and junior NCOs staged an 
unauthorised parade."

And it gets better...

I also have some interesting material about Communist Party organisation in 
the military. The link is below. (Note: the term "diggers" is a nickname for 
Australian troops. A two-up school is a kind of gambling.)

http://www.leftwrites.net/2008/08/27/rebellious-diggers-military-unrest-in-world-war-ii/#more-1266
 



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