Adelaide greeted declaration of World War I with excitement

SCENES of “wild enthusiasm” greeted the declaration of war in South Australia on August 5, 1914.

WWI - STATE LIBRARY IMAGE MUST CREDIT _ WWI - European War, 1914-19. Hon. Sir Richard Butler M.P. announcing declaration of war, 5 August 1914. In front of Government Offices, north corner of Victoria Square and Wakefield Street. See account in "The Advertiser" 6 August 1914 View catalogue record - B9572.jpg

SCENES of “wild enthusiasm” greeted the declaration of war in South Australia on August 5, 1914.

The Advertiser reported that thousands of civil servants gathered in Victoria Square, where the Governor read out a message, and the Police Band played the national anthem, the Song of Australia, and the Marseillaise.

The MP in charge of declaring the start of the Second World War was Sir Richard Butler, whose name lives on in politics today. He was the great-great-Grandfather of Mark Butler, the Labor Member for Port Adelaide.

Richard Butler was not at the time the Premier, but he had been in 1905 and in 1914 was still a member of Archibald Peake’s Government.

An informal Liberal, he was in favour of female suffrage, free education, and the establishment of a state bank. He worked against the Labor Party of the time, but also worked with a farmers’ union.

Mark Butler said his family’s involvement in politics and in war is broader than that.

Richard Butler’s second son — Sir Richard Layton Butler — was also a Premier of South Australia. Twice.

The Australian Dictionary of Biography describes the Liberal politician as “tactless and impetuous” and prone to offending interest groups. But it does credit him with bringing industry to the state, including keeping Holden’s Motor Body Builders here.

Mark Butler — who is now opposition spokesman for the environment — told The Advertiser that there is no one in his family still alive who knew the Sir Richard Butler who declared war 100 years ago.

“His son was the more influential part of the family because he was Premier for much longer,” he said.

“His son, my great-grandfather was already in Parliament by then and he ended up becoming Premier.

“His older brother (Charlie Butler) ended up fighting in the Boer War, and the Second World War. He came back to Adelaide, wounded, and headed up the RSL.”

Mark Butler’s great grandfather on the other side was also a veteran, who survived both Gallipoli and France, and came back wounded.

It was about 1pm on a Wednesday that Australia got official word that war had broken out between England and Germany.

“Australia is now at war,” then Prime Minister Joseph Cook said.

The Advertiser wrote that Australia was “now face to face with one of those grave crises which at some time or other occur in the life of most nations”.

“(It) can only adequately and effectively be dealt with by people with stout hearts — fortunately not uncommon — and with cool, clear heads, which in times of public excitement are usually more difficult to find.”

Originally published as Adelaide greeted declaration of World War I with excitement