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The ‘Army of Athletes’ of World War II

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War, Sport and the Anzac Tradition

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Abstract

Australian sportsmen joining up from 1939 to 1945 believed they had to demonstrate that they possessed the sporting and battle prowess of the Anzacs of 1914–1918. There was a commonly accepted notion that the Anzacs had established a sporting tradition as well as a martial tradition which Australian soldiers of World War II should uphold. There was pressure on sportsmen to join up because of the belief that in some way playing sport had prepared them with the right physical and mental qualities to fight on the battlefield.

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Notes

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

    Kevin Blackburn

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  1. Kevin Blackburn
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© 2016 Kevin Blackburn

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Blackburn, K. (2016). The ‘Army of Athletes’ of World War II. In: War, Sport and the Anzac Tradition. Palgrave Pivot, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137487605_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137487605_4

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Pivot, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-69565-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-48760-5

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

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