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Emu War
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
1932 Australian nuisance wildlife management campaign
Emu WarA man holding an emu killed by Australian soldiers<br>LocationCampion district, Western Australia<br>Planned bySir George PearceObjectiveReduce the local emu population to reduce crop loss in Western Australia by the emusDate2 November – 10 December 1932<br>(1 month, 1 week and 1 day)Executed byAustralian Army, led by Major Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith of the Royal Australian ArtilleryOutcomeMinimal impact on the overall emu population.Casualties986 emus confirmed killed.[1]<br>The Emu War (or Great Emu War )[2] was a nuisance wildlife management military operation undertaken in Australia in late 1932 to address public concern over the number of emus, large flightless birds indigenous to Australia, said to have been destroying crops in the Campion district within the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. The unsuccessful attempts to curb the emu population led to the deployment of Royal Australian Artillery soldiers armed with Lewis guns—leading the media to adopt the name "Emu War" when referring to the incident. Although many birds were killed, the emu population persisted and continued to cause crop destruction.
Background
Further information: Soldier settlement
Fallow caused by emus<br>Following World War I, large numbers of discharged veterans who served in the war were given land by the Australian government to take up farming within Western Australia, often in agriculturally marginal areas. With the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, these farmers were encouraged to increase their wheat crops, with the government promising—and failing to deliver—assistance in the form of subsidies. Because of the recommendations and the promised subsidies, wheat prices continued to fall, and by October 1932, the situation intensified, with the farmers preparing to harvest the season's crop while simultaneously threatening to refuse to deliver the wheat.[1]
The farmers' difficulties were worsened by the arrival of approximately 20,000 emus.[3] Emus regularly migrate after their breeding season, heading to the coast from the inland regions. With the cleared land and additional water supplies being made available for livestock by the Western Australian farmers, the emus found that the cultivated lands were good habitat, and they began to foray into farm territory—in particular the marginal farming land around Chandler and Walgoolan.[1] The emus consumed and spoiled the crops and left large gaps in fences where rabbits could enter and cause further problems.[4]
Farmers relayed their concerns about the birds ravaging their crops, and a deputation of ex-soldiers were sent to meet with the Minister of Defence, Sir George Pearce. Having served in World War I, the soldier-settlers were well aware of the effectiveness of machine guns, and they requested their deployment. The minister readily agreed, although with conditions attached: the guns were to be used by military personnel, troop transport was to be financed by the Western Australian government, and the farmers would provide food, accommodation, and payment for the ammunition.[1][5] Pearce also supported the deployment on the grounds that the birds would make good target practice,[6] while it has also been argued that some in the government may have viewed the operation as a way of being seen to be helping the Western Australian farmers, as well as to stave off the nascent secession movement. Toward that end, a cinematographer from Fox Movietone was enlisted.[1]
The "war"
Defence minister Sir George Pearce ordered the army to cull the emu population. He was later called the "Minister of the Emu War" in parliament by Senator James Dunn.[7]<br>Military involvement was due to begin in October 1932.[5] The "war" was conducted under the command of Major Gwynydd Purves Wynne-Aubrey Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery's 7th Heavy Artillery,[1][6] with Meredith commanding soldiers Sergeant S. McMurray and Gunner J. O'Halloran,[8] armed with two Lewis guns[9] and 10,000 rounds of ammunition.[6] The operation was delayed by a period of rainfall that caused the emus to scatter over a wider area.[5] The rain ceased by 2 November 1932,[1][5] whereupon the troops were deployed with orders to assist the farmers and, according to a newspaper account, to collect 100 emu skins so that...