Item 02: From Australia to Gallipoli, ca. 1916 / Dudley V. Walford - Page 3

[Page 3]

From Australia to Gallipoli

attached to the race courses.

The usefulness of the compulsory Military Service Act soon became evident. All their spare equipment was immediately taken over by the authorities and distributed amongst the hurriedly mobilised troops destined for the conquest of New Guinea while the citizen forces themselves were utilised to perform the a most important duty of guarding bridges etc. which formed an excellent nucleus for their future careers. As they became of age they enlisted, and they invariably made suitable N.C.O.s and officers.
The Lithgow works were busy making the Lee Enfield rifle, and the various stores in making and distributing the various equipment and clothing.

It was only by the co-operation of all concerned that the men were supplied with uniforms, rifles, and equipment in time for their departure.

The hardships and inconveniences of miliary life were soon experienced by men of various social standings, intermingled as they were, amongst all sorts of men some of whom were not always honest and were very rough in their manners. During the early days of training the daily and monotonous repetition of rifle exercises, of forming fours by numbers etc. during all hours, and in the heat of the day, of the continual complaints, and the