Pages from Hunter Region in the Great War

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Work on the new BHP steelworks was stopped overnight, throwing 1000 men out of work, albeit temporarily. One of the first effects of war’s declaration was the disruption of supplies of European steel. As a result – after a fortnight-long closure of the building site – BHP increased the size of its planned Newcastle works to capitalise on the coming opportunity. Two days after the declaration of war Newcastle’s Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Association offered its showground to the military for training and mobilisation of soldiers. A small reserve of the then 16th Infantry Regiment (which had been largely formed from the old Newcastle-based 4th Australian Infantry Regiment) was immediately mobilised and by mid-August it was training with muskets and rifles at the city’s racecourse. Artillerymen mobilised at Fort Scratchley and people with motor vehicles were asked to place them at the disposal of the military to help in the city’s defence. At the national level, within four days of the declaration of war, plans were drawn up for an Australian Imperial Force (AIF) that would consist of an infantry division and a light horse brigade. Recruiting officially began on August 10, but so many volunteers flooded in – many of them experienced horsemen – that second and third light horse brigades were formed, followed by a fourth brigade of infantry. From a country with a population of just five million this was a huge contribution, and feeding, clothing and equipping these “six bob a day tourists” was an immense job. The men were sent to camps to train, while the government scoured the nation for ships to carry the force to Europe, where it was expected it would fight. In Newcastle, Mayor John Reid invited able-bodied men to the Chamber of Commerce to enlist in the AIF. Recruits had to be between 19 and 39, at least 5ft 4in and have a chest measuring no less than 34 inches. Preference was given to single men. Of the 36 first Newcastle volunteers, 31 were accepted and some of these were immediately sent by train to camp in Sydney. By August 14, 84 men had enrolled in Newcastle. At Maitland in late August the first contingent of 23 of that district’s volunteers was farewelled. Reports of the function stated that even with “a pretty stiff charge” being made for admission, hundreds of well-wishers were still unable to gain admittance. There was a concert, speeches and the presentation of extra kit bags with clothing and gifts as the citizens said farewell to “Captain Scobie and our noble soldiers who have offered their services to the Empire”. Captain Robert Scobie (who was to become one of the Hunter’s most senior officers on Gallipoli), said he and the other men knew what they were doing in volunteering for the front. With some prescience he predicted the likely need for a second and possibly a third contingent. Noting that there were plenty of men in the district, Captain Scobie said that initial recruiting had declined to accept untrained or married men, but that policy had been altered “during the past fortnight” to ensure the full quota. The Maitland farewell function was preceded by a torchlight procession through High Street and thousands of people assembled from the Courthouse to the Town Hall. When the concert ended just before 11pm a crowd accompanied the volunteers to the railway station to see them off at about 3am Sunday. Recruits from the Hunter continued to make their way into camp throughout 1914 and early 1915. But The Newcastle Morning Herald of the time portrays a detached interest in the distant European conflict, with perhaps the most obvious war news being the “War Sales” being advertised by major city retailers. 14
Department store Winn’s of Newcastle was offering a “Special War Outfit as required for use in Military- Hospital (The outfit may be seen displayed in our No.4 Hunter St window)”. For 25 shillings and sixpence the buyer got two suits of pyjamas, three flannel shirts, two handkerchiefs, two pairs of socks, two reels of cotton, a packet of needles, two pencils, a letter pad, three packets of envelopes, a pen and nibs: all in a bag that doubled as a pillow case. Scott’s had a rival offer at a similar price which left out the pen and pencils but thoughtfully substituted six bandages and a couple of towels. Breckenridge’s, on the other hand, advertised some skeins of wool “suitable for knitting socks for the soldiers” and for those less handy or a little better off, “a very fine range of knitted socks “so suitable for a present to those who are leaving for the seat of war”. Some city retailers did their best to make something positive from the bad news of war. Newcastle Morning Herald advertisements for Scott’s (right) and Winn’s (previous page) offered to outfit soldiers for the challenges ahead. Troops of the 16th Infantry Regiment marching from National Park Street into Hunter Street, circa 1914. Photo: State Library of NSW 15
Page 1 and 2: The Hunter Region in The Great War
Page 3: The Hunter Region in The Great War
Page 6 and 7: The Hunter’s Great War, a century
Page 8 and 9: Why was World War I allowed to begi
Page 10 and 11: Why did Australians go to war for B
Page 12 and 13: Newcastle and the Hunter go to war
Page 16 and 17: “Trooper Bluegum”: voice from t
Page 18 and 19: First action: Australia takes New G
Page 20 and 21: The “Great Adventure” begins at
Page 22 and 23: The long sea voyage into the unknow
Page 24 and 25: Great Uncle Jack Allsopp goes to wa
Page 26 and 27: Where in the world is Constantinopl
Page 28 and 29: Some excerpts and letters from Hunt

Pages from Hunter Region in the Great War

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