Topic: Gen - St - WA
Here is a series of pix taken by Mr EL Mitchel and published in the Western Mail, 14 August 1914, p. 27.
The first pic shows a group of serious young men from the 86th Infantry Regiment beginning their guard duty shift. They all look so earnest and keen to do the right thing without fail. It looks like their first chance to tackle the "Hun" with their best and cleanest uniforms on.
A couple comments.
The uniforms look like Militia and I strongly suspect the guards in this pic are from the 86th Infantry Regiment which was mobilised in the Fremantle area with the express purpose to ward off the expected German invasion from the secret German fleet lurking off the coast of Western Australia just waiting for an opportunity to pounce. This was the big scare that focused the minds of West Australians at the commencement of the war. As the days dragged onto weeks, months and finally years, it was realised that it was pure fantasy.
In the background lies the German freighter "Griefswald" which was seized at Fremantle at the commencement of hostilities. Below is a pic of the "Griefswald" tied up at Fremantle south wharf.
The guards in the above pictures came from the 86th Infantry Regiment's encampment at Fremantle Park where the formation was mobilised in early August 1914 for local defence activities.
Citation: Changing the Guard - 86th Infantry Regiment