Encyclopedia

Kangaroos

One of the recruiting marches organised in New South Wales and Queensland during 1915 and 1916.

Route: Wagga Wagga, Junee, Illabo, Bethungra, Cootamundra, Wallendbean, Galong, Goondah, Binalong, Bowning, Yass, Goulburn, Wingello, Bundanoon, Sutton Forest, Moss Vale, Mittagong, Picton, Camden, Campbelltown, Petersham, and ending at The Domain, Sydney.

Groups of recruits joined from Narrandera, Tumut and Young. To retain the country nature of the march no recruits were taken on after Campbelltown.

This was the longest of the recruiting marches - 320 miles.

The military authorities attempted to stop the march at Goulburn where they were intended to enter camp for training but the march continued to Sydney. There were accusations of misconduct of the marchers along the way and also after they had entered training camp. They had staged a strike outside Goulburn and again in Sydney over leave, both strikes led by Australian Workers" union members who had been recruited at Galong and Goondah.

Many of the Kangaroos were in the 55^th Battalion arriving in France in mid to late 1916.

Men who had marched with the Kangaroos earned one Victoria Cross (John Ryan of Tumut), 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 7 Military Medals.