Man's Land" under intense artillery and machine-gun fire during the Battle of Pozières; for his gallantry he was awarded the Victoria Cross. 30 August – Rescue of the 22 men Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition who remained on Elephant Island. 28 October – The first plebiscite on the issue of military conscription was held; it was defeated. 1 November – a general coal strike began in eastern Australia. The Labor government under Billy Hughes splits over military conscription. 13 November – Prime Minister of Australia Billy Hughes is expelled from the Labor Party over his support for conscription. 2 December – Sydney Twelve: 12 members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW or the Wobblies) convicted in Sydney of conspiring to commit arson and sedition. 23 December – World War I: Battle of Magdhaba – In the Sinai desert, Australian and New Zealand mounted troops capture the Turkish garrison. 28 December – floods in Clermont, Queensland claimed more than 60 lives. Melbourne, with and Hobart with , each receive their highest annual rainfall due to a strong La Niña. Arts and literature 6 March – The Sydney conservatorium of music accepts first students. Sport Sasanof wins the Melbourne Cup The Sheffield Shield was not contested due to the war. 26 July – The 1916 NSWRFL season culminates in a grand final victory to Balmain, who defeated South Sydney 5–3. Births 28 February – Frank Crean, 5th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (d. 2008) 14 April – Don Willesee, Western Australian politician (d. 2003) 11 July – Gough Whitlam, 21st Prime Minister of Australia (d. 2014) 29 July – Sir Rupert Hamer, 39th Premier of Victoria (d. 2004) 27 August – Sir James Ramsay, 20th Governor of Queensland (d. 1986) 11 September – Warren Bonython, conservationist and chemical engineer (d. 2012) 14 September – John Heyer, documentary filmmaker (d. 2001) 25 September – Jessica Anderson, novelist (d. 2010) Deaths 19 May – William Sawers, New South Wales politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1844) 13 August – Sir George Turner, 18th Premier of Victoria (b. 1851) 7 November – Henry Brockman, Western Australian politician (b. 1845) See also List of Australian films of the 1910s References Australia Years of the 20th century in Australia