What was the Great Emu War of 1932?

The Emu War was a wildlife management operation carried out by the Australian Army from November to December 1932 in the Campion district of Western Australia's Wheatbelt. Soldiers with Lewis machine guns tried to reduce the numbers of emus that were damaging farmland. The press gave it the name "Emu War". The cull was largely ineffective, drew ridicule and sympathy for the birds, and was abandoned. [1] [2]

After World War I, many discharged soldiers were given land to farm in Western Australia, often in marginal areas. When the Great Depression began, wheat prices fell, and farmers were encouraged to plant more wheat. Promised government subsidies did not arrive. Around 20,000 emus then arrived on the farms after their breeding season, moving toward the coast. They ate and spoiled crops and broke fences, which let rabbits in. [1] [3]

A deputation of ex-soldiers asked Defence Minister Sir George Pearce for machine guns. He agreed on conditions: military personnel would use the guns, the state government would pay for transport, and the farmers would supply food, accommodation and ammunition costs. It has also been argued that the government wanted to be seen helping the farmers and to ease a growing secession movement. [1]

Major G. P. W. Meredith of the Royal Australian Artillery led the operation with two soldiers, two Lewis guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. They reached Campion on 2 November 1932. The emus split into small, fast groups that were hard to target. On 4 November an ambush near a dam, with more than 1,000 birds approaching, failed when a gun jammed after about 12 kills. By 8 November, 2,500 rounds had been fired. Estimates of the birds killed vary widely: one account says about 50, others say 200 to 500, and the settlers claimed the highest figure. Meredith likened the birds to tanks in their resilience, and the army withdrew. [1] [3]