The administration of Soldiers' pay consumed much time and effort in the AIF. The system was complex and required much care and attention to be devoted to maintaining the correct position of the pay book. The following sheet was an instruction issued by AIF Headquarters in Egypt for all units and formations that controlled the entries in the pay book.

[Click on document for larger version.]

Below is a transcription of this important document.

STAFF PAY OFFICE.

1915

The following notes relating to the Financial arrangements of the Australian Imperial Force are published for information:

1. All casualties affecting Soldiers' Pay should appear in Battalion etc. Orders Part II, which must be issued and numbered separately and consecutively.

2. When punishments, promotions, reductions, etc., are published in Orders the Company etc., Number, Rank, and Name of the Soldier should be distinctly stated. In cases of Absence without Leave, the exact period of absence should he shown, and in cases of Detention the amount of pay forfeited.

3. Absence without leave for six consecutive hours or more out of 24 entails a forfeiture of one day's pay, and similarly absence from a duly which is thereby thrown on some other person.

4. Absence without leave, Detention, Field Punishment, necessarily entail Forfeiture of Pay, and no discretion is 'given to the Commanding Officer whether or not to enforce wholly or partly the forfeiture (see Army Act Section 138 and Nose 2 thereon). This forfeiture extends to the whole day's pay (irrespective of whatever Allotment may have been made or what amount is being actually issued to the Soldier), and the amount thereof exclusive of deterred pay only must be entered in Cash Column of Soldier's Pay Book and signed by O. C. Company.

e.g. ENTRY IN PART. II ORDER.

"B" Co. 246 Pte. Smith, J. H. Absent without leave 10 p.m. 18. 2. 15 to 11 p. m. 20. 2. 15. Awarded 4 days detention.

ENTRY IN SOLDIER'S PAY BOOK.

Forfeiture 2 days absence 10/-, 4 days detention 20/-, Total 30/-.
(Deduction of amounts forfeited from Deferred Pay will be assessed on closing Soldier's account).

5. All Casualties affecting Pay must be entered immediately in Soldier's Pay Book. In case of Promotion or Reduction, Pay Book must be forwarded as soon as possible to Stall Pay Office for amendment and certification.

6. Fines. Attention is directed to Army Act, Sec. 44, Note. 18.
These are not authorised to be imposed for any offence except Drunkenness, and cannot exceed if imposed by a court martial one pound, or if imposed by a commanding officer ten shillings.

7. Venereal Disease. No pay will be issued while abroad for any period of absence from duty on account of Venereal Disease. Dates of admission to and discharge from Hospital must be shown in Part II Orders. The amount of pay withheld is to be entered in Soldier's Pay Book.

8. Allotments. No new Allotments can be made unless necessitated by change of rank, family distress, or by married men having failed to make provision for their wives and children as required by A. I. F. Orders.

ACQUITTANCE ROLLS.

Following rules should be observed regarding these:-

1. Actual date of payment most be inserted in each Roll.

2. Each Roll is to bear one Number only.

3. Such signatures as "Brown" or "Brown A. W," are incorrect, and cannot be admitted.

4. Imprest Holders only are entitled to sign certificate at foot of Roll.

5. The total amount acquitted is to he shown at end of each Roll. Amounts unpaid are to be deleted and excluded from total aquittance.

6. Fractions of pence are not admitted.

7. Any alteration to amount of cash advanced to Soldier is to be initialled by Payee. All other alterations are to be initialled by Officer signing Certificate.

8. Erasures are prohibited under any circumstances.

9. No Fines or Forfeitures should appear on Acquittance Rolls which should show the exact nest coot received by the Soldier only.

10. Names on Acquittance Rolls should be In same order as in Nominal Rolls.

11. Rolls may be furnished in ink or indelible pencil. Black lead pencil must not be used.

A. G. FARR, Major
STAFF PAYMASTER

Posted by Project Leader at 11:04 PM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 29 November 2008 11:05 PM EAST

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The AIF Postal Service

1st Light Horse Brigade Field Post Office at Mena, c. 1914-15.

[From: AWM PS0523]

In an effort to assist in the correct delivery of letters, the Army Post Office embarked upon a campaign of public information on an Australian wide basis. During November 1918, this detailed press release was sent to many metropolitan and regional newspapers to aleviate some of the harsh criticisms upon the postal service.

The Army Post Office - How Our Soldiers' Mail is Delivered.

Criticism is a valuable asset in all work when the critic is aware of the nature and conditions governing such work. It is a foolish and dangerous thing when backed by mere prejudice and ignorance. Complaints against the Army Postal Service has been rife, and since most of the statements made have sprung from an unavoidable ignorance of certain main facts, it is advisable to set the Army Postal proceedings clearly before the members of the A.I.F. and their relatives and friends.

The Australian Army Postal Service was instituted as a direct Australian connecting link between members of the Australian Imperial Force and their relatives and friends. The charge of maladministration is sometimes levelled against the Army Postal Service for non-delivery of mail, but more often than not the fault is incorrect addressing.

A civil Post Office delivers mail placed in its charge at the address stated thereon, and when that cannot be done, returns those articles to the senders. Such is the general postal scheme throughout the world in normal times, and the same scheme is adopted in war by all nations engaged in the present struggle, except the Anzac Postal Corps. The Australian Postal Service is more than a post office. It is a combination of post office and Missing Friends Bureau. It not only delivers the mail to the location stated on the address, but if the soldier is not there, sets out to find him. Delivery will ultimately be effected unless the soldier is killed, "missing,” or absent without leave. This is made possible by a novel re-direction organisation instituted at the Australian Army Post Office, London.

Australia has the most difficult postal work of all Army Postal Services. Distance means time - the A.I.F. soldier writes from France, states his unit, many months elapse before the answering letter arrives - and much has happened in France during that time. Probably the soldier has changed his rank, unit, and location several times. Before he rejoins a fighting unit is often a period of many changes. He is wounded and goes to the Field Ambulance, Casualty Clearing Station, Base Hospital, on to the English Hospital, Convalescent Home, furlough, training camp, across to France, and possibly, eventually to a different unit in France. The postal service follows him doggedly and finds him. You have only to ask those who have been there. There are few complaints of postal work from the army - they know!

Often the personnel of a military unit and its location change daily, according to military exigencies. Mail items can only show the soldier's number, rank, name, initials, company and unit. No mention of brigade or location must be made for military reasons. The army postal service has to make good these deficiencies and deliver the goods.

The approximate volume of mail for the A.I.F. is some two million mail items per month. This is first delivered to the Base Post Office in bulk, where it is sorted, grouped, addresses are corrected, and the mail directed to its correct location and despatched for delivery. This entails employment to a large staff of girls, the supervising work being done by soldiers unfit for active service. Card index records are kept, where on every change to the soldier's designation of location is entered. These changes average over 62,000 monthly. A new system enables all mail arriving for the one solder to be "grouped" and delivered in one bundle. All addresses are checked with the card records, and the mail then despatched to the location shown on the man's card.

This checking of the soldier's designation and location prior to despatch is necessary owing to the great distance of Australia and the constant movement and change of personnel. At least 50 per cent of the mail arrives in London incorrectly addressed. There are still cases in which the mail does not reach the addressee at the first "try,” owing to his having been wounded or transferred from his unit during the period in which mail is en route to him from the base post office, London. This mail is returned to London, and even more elaborate efforts made to "find" the addressee. The Australian army post office has only 4 per cent of undeliverable mail left on its hand - part of which is due to wrong addresses given intentionally.

Postal system for parcels is different to that of all other mail. Those from Australia arrive by an "all sea" route, and thus take longer to reach the B.P.O. than letter mail coming via America. Often letters advising the despatch of parcels will arrive one month before the parcel.

When parcels are bagged in Australia, duplicate lists are made out, one of which is forwarded to London by letter mail, and the other enclosed in the mail bag. Thus the list arriving in London can be verified by postal records before the parcels actually arrive. Owing to this system, only 1.12 per cent of all parcels are now found to be undeliverable, and this fine record is achieved without loss of time in delivering the parcels. A great number of articles, whose non-delivery has aroused criticism, never had a chance of either delivery or return. If people will insist on sending such perishable goods as eggs, boiled chicken, cake, fruit, and other food stuffs in canvas bags or cardboard boxes by post, the non-delivery of such parcels cannot be wondered at. The contents become broken and decompose completely, the boxes fall to pieces and obliterate addresses on many other parcels.

Undeliverable parcels for men killed or missing are opened at the Base post office and the contents handed to the Australian Comforts Fund, except any contents of sentimental value, which are returned to the sender, the authority for this being War Precautions Regulation 64c.

Then there are submarines, and mail matter is sometimes lost in the field - the wonder is that the occasions are not more frequent. Enemy artillery drop shells into places least expected and some of these happen to have been field post offices. A "Fritz" shell is no respecter of material or persons. A direct hit usually means the total destruction of quarters, staff and mail.

The Army Postal Service gets blamed for many errors of which it is entirely innocent. A soldier get lazy and lax in his correspondence and "lets himself down" by blaming the post office. It does not matter to him if this brings indignant official letter of complaint from Australia. In all armies there are periods in some soldiers' lives when they cannot give their location - detention barracks, prisoners, etc and certain hospitals are necessary adjuncts to every army. Being unable to state his correct location a wrong one is given and thus another "train" or misdirected mail is started.

Every mail item that is not delivered at the first "try" is returned and referred to the Investigation section at the base post office, London, who “report” direct to the Director. This is one of the most important of the new procedures in army postal work. It is the detective of the army posts - collecting evidence of wrong addressing, circulation, records, etc, and driving home the blame either to the sender, postal staff, or postal organisation. Its effect is a dual one - first to effect delivery of the mail items; secondly, to censure the postal staff at fault, or to alter a weakness disclosed in postal systems. By this means the army postal service has been rejuvenated, and the staff now work at a high pitch of efficiency under an organisation well adapted to the difficult work it undertakes.

There are many ways in which you can help the army postal work. Here are some suggestions for people sending mail to members of the A.I.F. abroad:-

Be reasonable in the amount of mail you despatch.

Ask your friends overseas to state in every letter their exact address.

Then address all mail direct to the soldier - at that address - not care of some friend or institution.

State clearly the full address, similar to this sample -

No. 1153,
Trooper Nonesuch, A.B.,
"C" Sqn.,
4th Light Horse Regiment,
Australian Imperial Force.

The above is the correct form of addressing. The writing should be clear and distinct.

The first letter of the surname should be in block style, in order to facilitate alphabetical sorting.

The wording should be kept well down on the envelope, in order that the top portion may be well clear of the surcharge stamp which runs across the top of the envelope.

By writing small and clearly, sufficient space will be left for the re-direction which may have to be added by the Australian Base Post Office, London.

By observing the above instructions you will insure the correct delivery of the mail and facilitate army postal work.

Don't fail to appreciate that correct addresses are essential and that if you will guarantee the correct address the army postal service will do the rest.

Don't use the abbreviation B.E.F. or A.I.F. The former (B.E.F.) is likely to carry the mail item to a British unit of similar designation and the latter (A.I.F.) may be confused with the American title "A.E.F.” The word "Australian" written in full must form part of every address.

Don't advise by letter that parcels have gone from Australia to France until such are well on their way.

Don't say you have posted a parcel when it has been handed to the Battalion or Comforts Fund for delivery.

Don’t send perishable foods in insecurely packed parcels going overseas.

Don't lower the morale of our soldiers by writing "Complaining" letters - the boys deserve to be kept cheerful.

Don’t think because it’s Australian its no good. Compare the postal services of the Allies, and you will find that the Australian postal service is the most difficult, but goes further in its systems and delivers a higher percentage of mail than any other. Replace criticism and blame by commendation, it is a fairer return for all the care, energy and forethought displayed by the A.I.F. postal service in their endeavours to serve you and the A.I.F. under the most difficult conditions.

Remember there is a war on, and the army mails are not delivered in the peaceful surroundings enjoyed by our critics. Let the public survey army postal work through the large end of a telescope and the work of fighting through the small end, and they will get a true perspective of the relative importance of the two.

Even though the Great War ended in the very month this press release was distributed. For the Light Horse, it would be almost another year before the majority would return home.

Light Horse Postal Statistics

The Australian Military Post Office servicing the Light Horse was comprised of one officer and 57 men. On a weekly basis, the Australian forces in the Light Horse received 632 Letter bags and 1,339 Parcel bags making a total of 1,971 bags of mail. Similarly, the Light Horsemen and their supports sent about 42,000 letters to Australia every week. Over the whole period of the Middle East campaign through the Sinai, Palestine and Syria, Australian Light Horsemen and their support staffsent some three million letters to Australia.

[From: Rachwalsky, E & Harrison, DF, "The postal history and postmarks of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (E.E.F.) with special reference to Palestine", BAPIP Bulletin, No. 30, 1958, p. 7.]

Further Reading:

Letters from 1914 to 1918

Posted by Project Leader at 4:34 PM EAST

Updated: Wednesday, 19 November 2008 5:02 PM EAST

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Light Horsemen who served the entire Great War

The following list is all the known Light Horsemen who enlisted in August 1914 and were discharged or returned to Australia over 5 years from the commencement of their service as per the Attestation Papers. There are 51 men on this list.

[From: Portrait by WB McInnes, AWM ART03179.] 

Five Year Service List for the Light Horse

The list gives the names of every man in the Light Horse who served over five years from the date of enlistment. Each record commences with the Regimental Service Number, the rank attained on enlistment, the first names of the man followed by his surname, the last known occupation of the man prior to enlistment, the date of enlistment, the last residential place of the man, his state of enlistment followed by the date of enlistment, the unit in which the man enlisted and the ultimate fate of the man in the record. The link is to the National Archives Serviceman's File.

• 477 Bugler Edward Bower, an Engine Smith from Brisbane, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 30 August 1919.
• 470 Private Roy Brown, a Labourer from Maclean, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 27 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 22 January 1920.
• 301 Private David Browning, a Labourer from Chinchilla, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 27 September 1919.
• 272 Private Martin Coetzee, a Labourer from Terowie, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 26 August 1919.
• 41 Driver Sidney Leichardt Crompton, a Clerk from Zillmere, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and returned to Australia, 9 December 1919.
• 58 Private Alexander Francis Fraser, a Clerk from North Quay, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 1 October 1919.
• 141 Private Charles Edward Goddard, a Farmer from Rose Park, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 22 August 1919.
• 419 Private James Daniel Hickey, a Bookkeeper from Ballarat, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 18 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 9 August 1919.
• 79 Private Albert Victor Jayne, a Clerk from Brisbane, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 7 December 1919.
• Vet Captain John Kendall, a Veterinary Surgeon from Shepparton, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 26 August 1914 in the 1st Divisional Ammunition Column and returned to Australia, 23 September 1919.
• 60 Private Wilfred Selwyn Kent-Hughes, a Uni student from Toorak, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 17 August 1914 in the 7th Infantry Battalion and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 30 January 1920.
• 128 Private William Kerr, a Grazier from Camperdown, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 15 November 1919.
• 62 Private Launcelot Kirkley, a Painter from Maryborough, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 24 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 31 December 1919.
• 87 Driver Louis Lawrence, a Clerk from Toowoomba, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 12 October 1919.
• 159 Private Walter Robert Lee, a Mechanic from Kooringa Burra, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 22 January 1920.
• 404 Driver Alfred Amos Lovett, a Farmer from Orange, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 1 September 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 9 January 1920.
• 317 Private Edward Allen Lucas, a Draper’s Mate from Balaklava, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 27 August 1919.
• 444 Private William Lyons, a Carpenter from Westbury, Tasmania, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 25 September 1919.
• 464 Private Malcolm Keith MacDonald, a Clerk from Drummoyne, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 1 December 1919.
• 27 Private Charles Masters, a Stockman from Adelaide, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 22 August 1919.
• 394 Sergeant Raymond Robert Matheson, a Farmer from Binni View, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 30 August 1919.
• Second Lieutenant Harold Arthur Maunder, a Public servant from Normanby, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 23 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and returned to Australia, 22 November 1919.
• 178 Private Andrew McCartney, a Farmer from Forest Hill, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and was discharged in Egypt, 31 August 1919.
• 465 Private James Gordon McCallum, a Stock agent from Bendigo, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 23 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 13 November 1919.
• 140 Private Angus Cameron McDonald, an Auctioneers agent from Maffra, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 31 March 1920.
• 4 Lance Corporal George McGillivray, a Dairy inspector from Hawkesbury Collage, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Field Ambulance and returned to Australia, 22 January 1920.
• 300 Private Kenneth McKay, a Labourer from Mansfield, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 5 December 1919.
• Vet Captain Louis Evander McKenzie, a Veterinary Surgeon from Geelong, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 1 November 1919.
• 95 Farrier Charles Eric Morgan, a Clerk from Killarney, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and returned to Australia, 1 November 1919.
• 312 Private Alexander William Morison, a Draper from Hamilton, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 12 September 1919.
• 37 Private Reginald William Murphy, an Accountant from Kensington Park, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 10th Infantry Battalion and was discharged on 1 August 1919.
• 321 Private George Frederick Musson, a Labourer from Broken Hill, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 24 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 15 November 1919.
• 186 Private Arthur Nicholson, a Salesman from Longreach, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 24 January 1920.
• 165 Private Frank David Organ, a Carpenter from Newmarket, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 18 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 15 November 1919.
• 33 Private Norman Richard Owen, a Farm hand from Tarlee, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 23 September 1919.
• 163 Private Stanley Raywood Owen, an Engine driver from Warrnambool, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 18 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 6 October 1919.
• 178 Private Edward Poole, a Labourer from Kingston, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 25 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 26 August 1919.
• 37 Private John Thomas Quinn, a Grocer from Camperdown, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 24 August 1914 in the 1st Division Headquarters and returned to Australia, 27 March 1920.
• 486 Sergeant Norman Gordon Rae, a Farmer from Rochester, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 5 September 1919.
• 38 Private Eric Goodwin Riddett, a Telephone Mechanic from South Kensington, New South Wales, enlisted for the AIF on 21 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 21 August 1919.
• 26 Driver Charles John Riley, a Butcher from Marryatville, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 22 August 1919.
• 215 Sergeant William Victor Rule, a Traveller from Kapunda, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 9 August 1919.
• 217 Sergeant Ross MacPherson Smith, a Warehouse man from Gilberton, South Australia, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 3rd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 12 November 1919 by aeroplane.
• 342 Private William Stevenson, a Labourer from Violet Town, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 18 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 5 December 1919.
• 143 Driver Arthur Upfield, a Bushman from Nudgee, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 22 August 1914 in the 1st Light Horse Brigade Train and was discharged in the United Kingdom, 15 October 1919.
• 357 Private Percy John Vining, a Carrier from Yea, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 20 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 5 December 1919.
• 211 Private Robert Wallace, a Timber Cutter from North Williamstown, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and was discharged in Egypt on 14 October 1919.
• 225 Private Bevis Gerald White, a Famer from Monkland, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 25 August 1914 in the 2nd Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 25 August 1919.
• Lieutenant  John Williams, a Clerk from Cairns, Queensland, enlisted for the AIF on 28 August 1914 in the 11th Infantry Battalion and returned to Australia, 7 November 1919.
• 207 Private James Andrew Gratten Wilson, a Farmer from Warrnambool, Victoria, enlisted for the AIF on 19 August 1914 in the 4th Light Horse Regiment and returned to Australia, 23 August 1919.

The most notable man from this list was Ross MacPherson Smith, pictured above, whom along with his brother and two other men, flew from Britain to Australia in 1919. Another notable man was the literary luminary, 143 Driver Arthur Upfield, who rose to fame as a novelist specialising in crime and mystery. His sleuth was a part Aboriginal detective, Napoleon "Bony" Bonapart. [See: Arthur Upfield (1890-1964).]

Acknowledgement:

Special thanks are given to Steve Becker who has generously provided additional names for the list.

Posted by Project Leader at 9:29 PM EAST

Updated: Saturday, 22 November 2008 8:35 AM EAST

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One group of unsung heroes from the Sinai and Palestine campaigns were not soldiers but workers with the YMCA. They worked under difficult conditions to provide facilities to the soldies which were not part of army supply. One item was the supply of movies to the front line troops. The following two pictures give a clear idea as to the difficulty of the work and the conditions under which they worked.

Two motor cyclists moving films from one theatre to another.

The Australasian, 20 January 1917, Picture Supplement, p. ii.

Arriving at Kantara movie house with equipment and the latest films.

The Australasian, 20 January 1917, Picture Supplement, p. ii.

The Kantara movie hall looks rather bleak indeed and also most uncomfortable considering that the ambient temperature in the movie house was in excess of 35C.

Citation: Entertainment for the troops - the movies

Posted by Project Leader at 5:29 PM EADT

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On 27 June 1911, Governor-General Lord Dudley officially opened the Royal Military College at Duntroon thus becoming the first Commonwealth facility within the Australian Capital Territory. The first intake of students followed. When the Great War erupted, many of the students were given compressed courses to ensure rapid graduation, thus many graduated in 18 months rather than the required two years. During the Great War, some 158 cadets graduated to become officers within the AIF. From this group, 42 were killed in action and a further 58 were wounded in action. It was safer to be an infantry man in the trenches at the Somme than a RMC Graduate.

In recognition of this sacrifice, below is a picture of three anonymous cadets from RMC. The picture was on the face of an unused post card print and so the identity of the men remains unknown unless someone who has a file of named photographs of RMC graduates can make that identification. Otherwise their names are lost forever.

Three Cadets from Royal Military College, Duntroon

On their collars and hats one can clearly see the RMC emblem. The man sitting down appears to have had greater service than the two men standing behind him. This picture clearly demonstrates the type of uniform worn by the men who attened RMC Duntroon during the Great War.

Posted by Project Leader at 1:01 AM EADT

Updated: Thursday, 17 July 2008 10:55 PM EADT

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