This space is reserved for a fit man

Ballarat Courier of Wednesday, 23 June 1915:

The continuing news of soldiers lost and the conditions in the trenches was making people less enthusiastic about enlisting for the war. This day’s Courier shows the first recruitment poster we've noticed and an accompanying recruitment paragraph from the AIF – Australian Imperial Force.

This isnt a very good impression of the poster from the 100 year old Courier, so we've added the
poster below from the Australian War Memorial collection

 

According to the Australian War Memorial,

“this poster depicts soldiers lined up with a space reserved for "a fit man". It plays on the viewer's patriotic sense of duty. Recruitment posters were prevalent in Australia throughout the First World War. Australia relied solely on voluntary recruits to serve in the AIF. Compulsory military service, or conscription, for eligible men was in force in Australia from 1911, however, these forces were for home defence and could not be used for overseas service. After the initial enthusiasm of Australian men in 1914, enrolments dropped as stories of the conditions overseas reached Australia."

The poster printed in the Ballarat Courier of 23/6/1915, took up space in the bottom left hand corner of the page.  The entire rest of the page was taken up with the current update of the Casualty List, and brief biographical notes of the many Ballarat and district soldiers ill, wounded, missing or killed. Would you enlist, given that juxtaposition?

Private Alfred Rooney- 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment

Private A.G. Rooney, as part of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment had landed in Egypt on 14 March 1915. Leading up to the first stages of the Gallipoli campaign the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment would remain in Egypt.

Due to the terrain, it had been decided that the Light Horse regiments would not be suitable for despatch with the Australian Infantry Units in the first waves at Anzac Cove. However, having sustained heavy casualties the 3rd Light Horse Brigade, including the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment, would be deployed to Gallipoli to fight without their horses in late May. They would be attached to the New Zealand and Australian Division and would play a large part in the Charge at The Nek in August 1915.

The 9th received battle honours of Anzac (25th April 1915- June 1915) and Defence of Anzac (8th May 1915 - 30th June 1915), "both being awarded for particpation in operations in the 'Anzac' area of the Gallipoli Peninsula, which extended from Gaba Tepe in the south, to Fisherman's Hut in the north" Australian War Memorial- 9th Light Horse Regiment.

A view taken in 1915-05, from the transport which was carrying the 3rd light Horse Brigade to Gallipoli, when leaving Alexandria. 

Photograph taken from Australian War Memorial website : Australian War Memorial Collections
Sources: Australian War Memorial Website 

6th Field Ambulance - built in Ballarat

The Courier of May 8, 1915, provides an excellent photograph of this Motor Ambulance, the funds for which were raised by the Ballarat branch of the Red Cross. It was built by the firm of L. E. Cutter of Armstrong St. The ambulance was presented at a ceremony at the City Oval - unfortunately the weather was terrible and the day was not a success.  The ambulance was despatched with the latest troops being sent to Egypt. "Stretchers are provided for carrying four severely wounded men, but should the car be required for the transfer of men slightly wounded, then as many as a dozen could be comfortably transported." And it's fitted throughout with electric light.

Below is an advertisment for Mr. Cutter's firm, taken from the Ballarat Courier Christmas special edition of December 1915 - where you will see they do Every Class of Motor Body Building ... I think it interesting that they haven't advertised themselves with the Motor Ambulance ...

 

Grief ... and other emotions part 2

Miss Jeannie Jobson, M.A., a teacher at the Ballarat High School, reacted to the Gallipoli Landings as reported in the news by writing an open letter to wounded troops.  It is published in The History of the Ballarat High School 1907-1947, by Helen Cotton, B.A., and we've reproduced it below, together with the biograhpical details of Miss Jobson.