The Great Emu War

By Jacob (S)

The Emu War, aka the Great Emu War, was a military operation which took place in Western Australia in 1932. The operation was aimed at controlling the emu population that had previously been causing havoc in local farming towns as they trampled and destroyed crops and farmland. The event became famous part of Australian History and one filled with humour and absurdity due to its ultimate failure.

The emu, a large flightless bird, native to Australia, had been causing significant damage to crops and farmland in the region. Therefore, to counter this havoc, the Australian Government decided to take military action against the species. This operation led by Major G.P.W Meredith had the objective to cull all the emus in the region. The operation began on November the 2nd, 1932, and was only expected to last six months.

The military force had been equipped with two Lewis guns, which were automatic weapons capable to firing up to 500 rounds per minute. However, the soldiers soon discovered the agility the Emus possessed meant they were capable to evading the gunfire with ease. The emu is known for its thick, robust skin and soldiers soon found that the emus could absorb significant amounts of bullets before going down.

Despite the soldiers’ valiant efforts, the military force only managed to exterminate a small number of Emus. Many of the birds evaded the horrible death as they were too elusive and a rather difficult target to hit. After one month of hunting these pesty birds, the soldiers only managed to kill around 50 Emus, far from the thousands they had hoped they would cull.

The failure of the operation was largely due to the military underestimation of the Emus’ agility, resilience, and speed. The soldiers were further not prepared for the harsh Australian climate and terrain, making it difficult for platoons to move and execute their missions.

The Emu War has become a source of amusement and humour in Australian history. The event has been branded into Australian culture, with cartoons, songs and even a beer named after it.

After the failure of this operation, the Emu population was still on the rise and continued to cause havoc to farmland and crops in parts of Australia. Since then, the government has implemented various measures to try and control their numbers.