Recruiting Marches 1915-1916 and one WW2 march

The Call to Arms

A letter sent by Prime Minister William M "Billy" Hughes and dated 15 December 1915.

It was sent to all eligible men

Note the use of the Red Ensign.

• In 1915, recruiting committees were formed in nearly every town throughout Australia. 

• In the central west of New South Wales a movement began which became known as the "Gilgandra Snowball". 

• Under the leadership of Mr. W.T. Hitchen, 20 or so men who had determined to enlist marched to Sydney, gathering other recruits along the way. 

• This was known as the Coo-ee March and comprised about 320 men by the time the contingent reached Sydney.

• Their example was soon followed by other marches from around New South Wales and Queensland: 
  • Waratahs, 
  • Kangaroos, 
  • Wallabies, 
  • Dungarees, 
  • Men from Snowy River, 
  • Kurrajongs, 
  • Kookaburras, 
  • Central West Boomerangs and 
  • North Coast Boomerangs.

• The total of men who marched was only about 1,500 but some historians consider the marches successful in influencing many other men to enlist.

ROUTES and STATISTICS for RECRUITING MARCHES 1915-1916

263

120

230

173

125

144

150

100

240

202

Associated with Captain Ambrose Campbell Carmichael MC, 36 Battalion AIF, who raised 1000 recruits for the AIF in 1915. He was wounded on the Western Front for the second time, on 4 October 1917, and returned to Sydney in February 1918, where he proceeded to successfully raise another 'Carmichael's thousand'. The 'thousand' were entertained by a theatre troupe at the Sydney Town Hall on the evening of 25 May 1918, at a function organised by the National Rifle Association and the 36 Battalion Comforts Committee. 

It was at this function that he was presented with the Yarran boomerang by the Premier. This regimental mascot came from the Brewarrina District of NSW. The boomerang bears the Aboriginal word Thynulungatha, which was translated from the Aboriginal dialect of the district as 'come back here'. Carmichael rode at the head of his second 'thousand' when they left Sydney on 19 June 1918. He arrived in France in late September, by which time the war was coming to an end, so he returned to Australia.

World War 2 marches

It was a Battalion of the Australian Citizens Military Forces.  It was activated for full time service in 1942. It was a Melbourne based Battalion formed by 'linking' 2 CMF Battalions, namely the 57th Battalion The Merri Regiment and the 60th Battalion The Heidleburg Regiment. At the time of the march there were about 600 blokes in the Battalion.

When it came time for them to head north, after training,  they marched from Seymour Camp (Trawool) in Victoria to Albury in New South Wales. That is a total of 146 miles (235 kilometres) in a period of 12 days with only one day (Good Friday) as a rest day. They carried with them all their gear and every night dug their latrines, cooked their food, pitched their tents and attended to their ablutions as best they were able. They had a 3 ton truck (only 1) to carry heavy equipment, Medical staff and food.

• Apparently every now and again a few "enemy" chooks or a lamb or two might find their way to the cooking pot.

Every morning before leaving, latrines would be filled, meals cooked, gear packed . It was considered "a brilliant idea" and "good training" and looking back it probably was.  The route was as follows . . .

• Route: 
  • Gilgandra, 
  • Balladoran, 
  • Eumungerie, 
  • Mogriguy, 
  • Dubbo 
  • Wongarbon, 
  • Geurie, 
  • Wellington, 
  • Dripstone, 
  • Mumbil, 
  • Stuart Town, 
  • Euchareena, 
  • Boomey, 
  • Molong, 
  • Orange, 
  • Millthorpe, 
  • Blayney, 
  • Bathampton, 
  • Bathurst, 
  • Yetholme 
  • Wallerawang, 
  • Lithgow, 
  • Little Lartley, 
  • Mt Victoria, 
  • Katoomba, 
  • Lawson, 
  • Springwood, 
  • Penrith, 
  • Parramatta, 
  • Ashfield, 
  • Sydney.

Gilgandra local plumber and rifle club member William T Hitchen (Captain Bill) proposed a route march from Gilgandra to Sydney. At every town there would be a demonstration to secure more recruits.

The State Recruiting Board and the Department of Defence were not willing to support the scheme. Over the months at least 50 young men from the Gilgandra region made their own way to Sydney to enlist. Eventually in September the Gilgandra Recruiting Association decided to go ahead and raise support from the local region.

Many recruiting posters of the time used "Coo-ee". A number of songs and poems were written at the time and a competition to select the best of these was held.

After 4 months of training at the Liverpool camp the Coo-ees embarked on 8 March 1916 on the Star of England for Egypt where some stayed with the 13th Battalion, while others joined the 45th Battalion. All served in France.

• Route: 
  • Nowra, 
  • Bomaderry, 
  • Meroo, 
  • Berry, 
  • Gerringong, 
  • Kiama, 
  • Jamberoo, 
  • Albion Park, 
  • Dapto, 
  • Unanderra, 
  • Pt Kembla, 
  • Wollongong, 
  • Balgownie, 
  • Corrimal, 
  • Woonona, 
  • Bulli, 
  • Thirroul, 
  • Coledale, 
  • Scarborough, 
  • Stanwell Park, 
  • Helensburgh, 
  • Heathcote, 
  • Sutherland, 
  • Hurstville, 
  • Kogarah, 
  • Rockdale, 
  • The Domain, Sydney.

The contingent included men from Jervis Bay, and Kangaroo Valley which were not on the route. 

They entered camp at Liverpool on 17 December 1915 and most left Australia between March and June 1916 as reinforcements to the 1st Battalion and fought at Pozieres.

One side of the Waratahs flag is in the Australian War Memorial (RELAWM12471), the other side is framed in the Nowra RSL Clubrooms.

• Route: 
  • Wagga Wagga, 
  • Junee, 
  • Illabo, 
  • Bethungra, 
  • Cootamundra, 
  • Wallendbean, 
  • Galong, 
  • Goondah, 
  • Binalong, 
  • Bowning, 
  • Yass, 
  • Goulburn, 
  • Wingello, 
  • Bundanoon, 
  • Sutton Forest, 
  • Moss Vale, 
  • Mittagong, 
  • Picton, 
  • Camden, 
  • Campbelltown, 
  • Petersham, and ending at 
  • The Domain, Sydney. 
    • This was the longest of the recruiting marches - 350 miles (560 kms).

Groups of recruits joined from Narrandera, Tumut and Young. To retain the country nature of the march no recruits were taken on after Campbelltown. 

The military authorities attempted to stop the march at Goulburn where they were intended to enter camp for training but the march continued to Sydney. There were accusations of misconduct of the marchers along the way and also after they had entered training camp. They had staged a strike outside Goulburn and again in Sydney over leave, both strikes led by Australian Workers union members who had been recruited at Galong and Goondah.

Many of the Kangaroos were in the 55th Battalion arriving in France in mid to late 1916. Men who had marched with the Kangaroos earned one Victoria Cross (John Ryan of Tumut), 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 7 Military Medals.

• Route: 
  • Warwick, Queensland  
  • Toowoomba, 
  • Laidley and 
  • Ipswich
  • Brisbane 

The only one of these marches in a state other than New South Wales. Names of marchers were reported in the local newspapers as they joined the march.

A commemorative re-enactment march took place in 1998 with 28 volunteers leaving Warwick on 13 April and arriving in Brisbane to participate in the Anzac Day march.

• Route: 
  • Delegate, 
  • Craigie, 
  • Mila, 
  • Bombala, 
  • Bibbenluke, 
  • Holt’s Flat, 
  • Nimitybelle, 
  • Summer Hill, 
  • Rock’s Flat, 
  • Cooma, 
  • Bunyan, 
  • Umeralla, 
  • Billylingera, 
  • Bredbo, 
  • Colinton, 
  • Michelago, 
  • Williamsdale, 
  • Queanbeyan, 
  • Bungendore, 
  • Deep Creek, 
  • Tarago, 
  • Inveralochy, 
  • Tiranna, 
  • Goulburn

Ernest Albert Corey MM with 3 bars which is having won the Military Medal 4 times.

He is the only soldier ever in the Empire/Commonwealth to earn this distinction) marched with the Men from Snowy River and returned to Cooma after the war

No information available yet

• Route: 
  • Tooraweenah, 
  • Yarragrin, 
  • Mendooran, 
  • Boomley, 
  • Cobbora, 
  • Dunedoo, 
  • Birrewa, 
  • Tallewang, 
  • Gulgong, 
  • Mudgee, 
  • Havilah, 
  • Lue, 
  • Rylstone, 
  • Kandos, 
  • Clandulla, 
  • Ilford, 
  • Running Stream, 
  • Capertee, 
  • Ben Bullen, 
  • Cullen Bullen, 
  • Portland, 
  • Meadow Flat, 
  • Yetholme, 
  • Bathurst

The Boomerangs arrived in Bathurst shortly afterwards and the contingents were given a combined reception on Saturday 5 February. Half a battalion of recruits had already marched from Lithgow to the new Bathurst Show Ground Training Camp. Many of the Kookaburras were sent as reinforcements for the 45th Battalion.

A re-enactment march was held in 1996.

No information available yet

• Route: from Parkes the Boomerangs took the train to Daroobalgie then marched to 
  • Donaghey’s Hill, 
  • Forbes, 
  • Yamma Station, 
  • Eugowra, 
  • Gooloogong, 
  • Canowindra, 
  • Billimari, 
  • Cowra, 
  • Woodstock, 
  • Lyndhurst, 
  • Carcoar, 
  • Blayney, 
  • Newbridge (to Georges Plains by train) 
  • Perthville, 
  • Bathurst.

Arrived in Bathurst almost at the same time as the Kookaburra marchers and were given a combined reception. Entered the new Bathurst Show Ground Military Camp for training. Each original Boomerang marcher was presented with a medallion brooch in the shape of a boomerang, etched with the name of the volunteer, his town and the words ‘Come back’.

Re-enactment march held in February 1999.

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