Topic: BatzA - Liverpool
Australian Battles
The Battle of Central Station, New South Wales, 14 February 1916
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 15 February 1916, Account 1
The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 15 February 1916, Account 1
The following is the first account of many written in the Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 15 February 1916, page 9. The transcription is below.
SOLDIERS REFUSE TO DRILL.
TWO CAMPS IDLE.
HOTELS AND SHOPS WRECKED.
ONE MAN KILLED.
RIOTS AT LIVERPOOL AND SYDNEY.
At breakfast-time yesterday about 5000 troops of the Australian Imperial Forces, camped at Casula, near Liverpool, refused duty and demanded the retraction of a new training syllabus which had been issued that morning. When it was explained to them that the new syllabus was a camp order issued from headquarters, and could not be treated in that caviller fashion, almost the whole body of men marched out of the camp and on to the town of Liverpool. Arrived at Liverpool, the principal training camp of the Commonwealth, the men called to their colleagues there, and in a few minutes' time about 15,000 soldiers were on strike.
Led by a comparatively few irresponsible young privates, in some cases already half drunk, though the day had not long started, thousands of soldiers simply took possession of the trains from Liverpool, and subsequently wrecked business houses.
As darkness came over the city it was apparent that drastic steps would have to be taken to quell the riots. The entire organisation of the police force was got into operation, and word was sent to the military authorities to keep in readiness a huge body of troops to go to the assistance of the police if necessary. Colonel Ramaciotti at once responded, and by 5 o’clock at night the city was well picketed with both civil and military police and other troops.
The precaution of having the hotels of the city and near suburbs closed was taken early in the evening, and though this action was greeted with more or less violent demonstrations of disapproval, there can be no doubt that it was the means of obviating a great deal of trouble.
And all the trouble was for the sake of 4½ hours extra drill per week, which the men in camp were asked to do in order to get fit for the front, and for the assistance of their brave, worn-out comrades in the trenches. Under the old syllabus the men drilled for 36 hours per week. Under the new syllabus, the result of Inspector-General M’Cay's recent examination of the whole of the training system throughout the Commonwealth, the training time was extended slightly each day, and totalled 40½ hours per week. The Australian soldier is the best paid, best fed, and best equipped soldier in the world, yet these men object to work for 40½ hours per week.
In this connection the opinion of a large number of returned soldiers was much to the point. At the Soldiers' Club in the afternoon there foregathered many of our returned heroes. They were there with their medals and their ribbons - and their crutches. Several bodies of men who tried to take possession of the city passed. It was really refreshing to hear some of the war scarred heroes swear "That's the class of soldier who clears for his life at the sound of the first shell," said one "Growling at seven hours a day," said another. "We worked 14 and 10 hours a day, with full packs and rifles for those -." There were many more expressions of opinion of that type. But the best evidence of the attitude of the returned soldiers is supplied by the State Commandant, who said last night:- A very pleasing incident of today’s trouble was an offer made by 250 returned soldiers, who placed themselves at the disposal of the military authorities. They explained that they were disgusted at the behaviour of the men, who ought to be training to help those at the front, and who apparently have not realised what the obligations of a soldier are, or that this is a time of war."
Colonel Ramaciotti also explained that when the trouble arose at the camp the Camp Commandant, Colonel Miller, told the men frankly that their grievances would be inquired into, and that during the inquiry the old syllabus would be reverted to. It is perhaps only fair to point out that thousands of the men were absolutely dragooned into the meeting, and realised their position soon after reaching Sydney. Thousands of them retired quietly to their homes in the afternoon, and returned quietly to camp at night.
The military authorities have determined to deal firmly with the whole matter. The attitude of the Minister for Defence was announced by the State Commandant last night. It is clear and definite. All men are ordered to parade at 11 am today. Those who do not attend this parade, and who are unlawfully absent, will be summarily discharged from the AIF, and will not be re-instated, and their names will be published.
"The Minister will not deviate," went on Colonel Ramaciotti, "from the syllabus laid down That syllabus has been compiled by the highest military authority in Australia, with a view to meeting the necessity of having men trained with the least possible delay."
During the night a large number of arrests were made for offences which will come under the jurisdiction of the civil authorities. With these it is understood the military will not interfere, but their discharge with Ignominy from His Majesty's forces will be a foregone conclusion.
See:
War Diaries and Letters
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Australian Light Horse Studies Centre, War Diaries and Letters, Site Transcription Policy
Further Reading:
The Battle of Central Station, New South Wales, 14 February 1916
The Battle of Central Station, New South Wales, 14 February 1916, Roll of HonourBattles where Australians fought, 1899-1920
Citation: The Battle of Central Station, New South Wales, 14 February 1916, The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, 15 February 1916, Account 1
Posted by Project Leader
at 3:16 PM EADT
Updated: Wednesday, 11 May 2011 5:21 PM EADT
