Australians could be recognized by their common sense, their willingness to endure hardships, their bravery and resourcefulness, their spirit of independence and their reluctance to accept unquestioningly the authority of others. This anti-authoritarianism reflected the apparent lack of class distinction among Australians. In contrast with the British many Australian soldiers became officers on the basis of ability rather than on the basis of social class. People were proud of these differences. British war correspondent Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett helped to promote this legend. In her writings on 8 May 1915 she wrote "the Australians rose to the occasion. Not waiting for orders or for the boats to reach the beach, they sprang into the sea and formed a sort of rough line, rushed at the enemy trenches".…
