The Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (later to become The Returned and Services League of Australia) was formally established on the 6th June 1916 by wounded and disabled servicemen who had returned from the Gallipoli campaign. They banded together to improve the ability of returned servicemen to influence the Commonwealth Government policies and decisions. The issues which the founding fathers of the League set out to represent to Government were, firstly, to fight for benefits, treatment, and welfare of veterans, ex-service and serving members of the Defence Force, and secondly, to preserve the health, well-being, and security of Australia and the Australian way of life. These issues continue to remain the focus of the League.