Encyclopedia
Recruiting Marches 1915-1916
In 1915, recruiting committees were formed in nearly every town throughout Australia. In the central west of New South Wales a movement began which became known as the "Gilgandra snowball". Under the leadership of Mr W.T. Hitchen, 20 or so men who had determined to enlist marched to Sydney, gathering other recruits along the way. This was known as the Coo-ee march and comprised about 300 men by the time the contingent reached Sydney.
Their example was soon followed by other marches from around New South Wales and Queensland: Waratahs, Kangaroos, Wallabies, Dungarees, Men from Snowy River, Kurrajongs, Kookaburras, Central West Boomerangs and North Coast Boomerangs.
The total of men who marched was only about 1,500 but some historians consider the marches successful in influencing many other men to enlist.
The Waratahs recruiting march, leaving Kiama, led by army personnel,
on the way to Jamberoo.
AWM P00707.026
More about:
- Document: Route and statistics for each
march
A table listing places and dates of the start and finish of each march and numbers of men marching. - Recruiting
marches 1915–1916 reading list
A listing of books, articles and videos with further information about the marches. - The following links to individual marches contain brief information such as the towns through which the contingents marched, and other interesting information taken from the sources listed in the reading list:
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