Member-only story
The Most Unusual Enemy Australia’s Military Ever Faced
How a flock of flightless birds defeated machine guns, military tactics, and national pride
The Battlefield: Depression-Era Australia
This story begins in 1932, in Western Australia. Like many other places, the Great Depression had hit hard. In an attempt to get the economy moving in a positive direction, the government gave thousands of veterans from World War I land to start farming wheat.
It sounded effective on paper, but in practice, the soil was poor, the infrastructure lacking, and the prices of wheat collapsed due to worldwide economic conditions. These, however, weren’t the worst of problems.
20,000 emus — large, flightless birds that stand up to 6.2 feet (1.90 meters) tall and weigh around 88 pounds (40 kg) — began migrating inland from the coasts. They descended on the farmlands in massive flocks, trampling fences and devouring crops meant to sustain struggling families.
To these farmers, many still haunted by memories of the trenches, these birds weren’t just a nuisance — they were seen as an invading army.
The farmers called the government for help. Their message was clear: Send soldiers. Send guns. We need backup.
