Item 11: General William Holmes papers, September 1914-January 1915 - Page 2

[Page 2]

(2)

that they be not taken further but returned at once to the State to which they belong.

"My reasons for arriving at this conclusion are as follows: -

1. The Officer in command has had very little Military training or experience, and in addition, lacks personality and self-reliance.
2. There is no Regimental Staff.   To repair this omission I have been obliged to detail an Officer from the "Berrima" to act as Adjutant.
3. The Unit consists of four Companies, but only two of these are commissioned by Captains, who have had 8 years and 6 1/2 years service respectively.   The other two Companies are commanded, one by a 1st Lieutenant of only 2 years Commissioned Service, and the other by a 2nd. Lieut. of a few months service.   In 'D' Coy. the three Officers are young 2nd. Lieutenants.   Of the 13 Officers 7 are 21 years of age and under, of but a few months service each.
4. There is only one permanent Staff N.C.O., who acts as Regimental Sergt. Major.  
5. Although the Contingent has been on service for three weeks, no Non-commissioned Officers have yet been appointed, but a few men are acting.
6. The Unit consists of 1/3rd Trainees under the Commonwealth Universal Training System, and 2/3rds Rifle Club Members.   Some of the former are immature lads under 18 years of age, although I understand the instructions provided for men of the Naval and Military Expedition being between the ages of 19 and 39 years.
7. Many of these young men exhibit very poor physical development, and in my opinion could not do a day's march as Soldiers, particularly in the Tropics.
8. The Medical Officer on board informed me that some of the men suffered from Varicocele, Varicose Veins, Thrombosis and Hernia, and were unfit for service.
9. The men are possessed of only one suit of clothing, which they have now been wearing for three weeks without a change.
10. Many of the men have been issued with ill-fitting, and in some cases odd, boots; they have therefore been obliged to wear private boots of a light pattern, which are nearly worn out.   Some are wearing light elastic side boots (Jemimas), while others are wearing an old pattern Regimental issue, which are falling to pieces.   Many men are now on their uppers and could not march 5 miles without discomfort, or worse.  
11. The Unit is not provided with tents, hammocks, or mosquito nets.