"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Monday, 9 June 2008
Mackay August 1914 Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Mackay too, had their day in August 1914. Packed at the wharf was the whole town ready to see off their sons.
Pic #1: At Mackay wharf, the towns folks were stacked roof high - literally - to farewell their fellow citizen soldiers at the wharf. It is an incredible scene indicating the nationalistic fervour unleashed in Mackay, something a bit more subdued in the previous pix of Rockhampton.
Picture from The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.
Looking at the streamers on the ship and the crowd packed upon the wharf, it is amazing that no injuries of any note occurred.
Pic #2: The boat departs. This boat is more of a small coastal steamer rather than anything that could ever be called a ship.
Picture from The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.
Great War, Queensland History, Great War, Queensland History, The Rockhampton Military Parade, August 1914 Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Great War
Queensland History
The Rockhampton Military Parade, August 1914
The Citizens Military forces march past the Post Office.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.]
At Rockhampton, the response was a bit more subdued. To build up the patriotic fervour and demonstrate the town's military prowess, by the middle of August 1914, the town put on a military parade. The express purpose was to demonstrate the quality of the two military formations - the army and navy - give a few speeches and send the Naval volunteers on their way to Papua.
In the above picture we see the Citizens Military forces march past the Post Office. This pic was taken near the intersection of East and William Streets. The purpose of this march past was to send the men to their Church Parade.
It has all the quality of a novelty for the public. On the main street, you can see a mother walk along with her child, looking at the men marching, although I suspect the child wanted to see Daddy marching and Mum has taken the child along for that occasion. There is also a fellow by himself, holding his bicycle and standing in the middle of the street, fascinated by the spectacle. These people show no obvious fear of traffic which tells us something about traffic movements along the streets of Rocky with Sunday morning coming down. On the footpath, desultory groups of people are walking along with the troops.
The Naval forces march past the Post Office.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 23.]
In the background is the signage announcing Stewarts - over the road from the Post Office. This departmental store still exists at the same spot in Rocky - it is a landmark institution.
The crowds are a bit thicker. The fellow with his bicycle is now moving towards Stewarts. Another woman in a black dress is standing with her daughter watching the parade. The one thing never missing from these parades are the little boys marching along pretending to be soldiers. At the bottom right hand corner it is possible to see half a dozen doing just that much to the annoyance of the officer marching in front.
Great War, Queensland History, Embarkation from Townsville to Enoggera Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Great War
Queensland History
Embarkation from Townsville to Enoggera
In September 1914, more embarkations from Townsville occurred. This time, the recruits were heading south for training at Enoggera, a training base to the west of Brisbane.
Marching down Sturt Street, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 27. ]
This is the group of young hopefulls marching west along Sturt Street just past the Post Office building on the corner of Sturt and Denham Streets. This area now is all part of Flinders Mall although the old buildings have been preserved with a boutique brewery located in the old Post Office building. One thing that is not apparent in many other similar departure pix is the number of onlookers riding horses to get a better view of the parade.
Marching down Stokes Street, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 27. ]
The parade has now turned left into Stokes Street and are moving south east to cross the Victoria Bridge over to Palmer Street and onto the wharf. One thing that really stands out is the poor condition of the road itself. If you look carefully, you can see all the fearsome ruts in what appears to be a macadamised earthen track. The buggies appear to have created a traffic jam.
Listening to the Speeches at the wharf, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 27. ]
All the hopeful soldiers in muftee are lined up on the wharf in anticipation of saying farewells and boarding the ship. This is when they would have heard all the patriotic speeches.
Last Farewells at the wharf, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 5 September 1914, p. 27. ]
The farewells. This rather awkwardly posed pic tries to demonstrate all the different ways people said farewell. However, the men look very uncomfortable in their new uniforms - probably the only couple who actually had a uniform of sorts. The dower women look stoic and expressionless. This is totally the opposite of the previous pix showing a more tumultuous farewell. Indeed, I would guess that after the pic was taken, these folk went back to making their farewells a tad bit more filled with emotion and expression.
The only difference between this deployment and one which occurred in 2006 to Timor, some 92 years later, is that in 1914 at least the people in Townsville knew that the men were leaving and were given an opportunity to say farewell. In 2006, the ship left in the dead of night and no one knew officially that the troops had departed until 3 weeks later, although the empty beds and no telephone responses indicated something had happened to the soldiers. That's progress for you.
Great War, Queensland History, The departure of the Kennedy Regiment Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Great War
Queensland History
The departure of the Kennedy Regiment
At the outbreak of war, the Kennedy Regiment was mobilised for war service. Being a Militia unit, and thus filled with conscripts, it was not permitted to serve outside Australian territory. The Kennedy Regiment embarked for Thursday Island to defend the wireless station.
Marching over Victoria Bridge, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
The Kennedy Regiment's march through the town and over the Victoria Bridge.
Marching over Victoria Bridge, Townsville.
[Picture by Bill Woerlee. ]
The scene looks a little bit different today. I thought a comparison between August 1914 and August 2005 might be just in order. I took this shot on a similar spot as a comparison. Very little change has occurred at this spot.
Speeches at the Wharf, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
The mandatory speeches to whip the crowd into patriotic enthusiasm. The finale: "God save the King!" This moment was captured here.
Boarding the Ship, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
Getting the troops on board the ship. These are the last few hours of getting the ship ready for sailing. The men on board are calling out to their loved ones and friends final messages. These moments were quite noisy for all concerned. One can only imagine what is going on in everyone's minds. Parents harbour grave fears for their sons while girl friends and wives are unsure as to when they will see the man they care for again. The members of the Kennedy Regiment will be feeling excited at a new adventure but nervous as to the fate that awaits them.
The Ship Embarks, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
As the ship moves into the shipping lane, people follow along for as far as they can go. In the background, the outline from the hills of Magnetic Island look like the bottom of a curtain as it descends upon the final scene.
Great War, Queensland History, 1st Garrison Battery, Townsville, August 1914 Topic: Gen - St - Qld
Great War
Queensland History
1st Garrison Battery, Townsville, August 1914
1st Garrison Battery on Parade, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
Officers of the 1st Garrison Battery, Townsville.
[From: The Queenslander, 22 August 1914, p. 30. ]
The above photograph is a nice study in the uniforms worn by these men.
The volunteers formations at Townsville were quick off the mark to demonstrate their ability to present a sound defence to see off the lurking forces of the Kaiser. At Fort Kissing Point, located overlooking Cleveland Bay, just behind the Rock Pool on the Strand in Townsville, the 1st Garrison Battery held a public parade.
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