The Great Emu War took place in Western Australia during late 1932. Following World War I, many veterans were given land to farm, but they faced significant challenges, including poor soil and the economic impact of the Great Depression. As these farmers struggled, approximately 20,000 emus migrated to the region, causing extensive damage to wheat crops, which prompted the government to intervene.

In response to farmers' complaints, the Australian government deployed soldiers from the Royal Australian Artillery to combat the emu problem. Armed with Lewis machine guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition, the soldiers began their campaign in November 1932. However, the emus proved to be elusive and difficult to target. Despite initial successes, the soldiers faced numerous challenges, including machine gun malfunctions and the birds' ability to scatter quickly.

Extract from Wikipedia