From frontier to frontline : Northern Territorians in the Great War 1914-1918 / [Norman Cramp].

Collection type	Library
Author	Cramp, Norman S, author.;
Call Number	F 940.39429 C889f
Document type	Monograph
Year	2015.
Pagination	154 pages : illustrations (some colour), 1 colour map, portraits, colour facsimiles ; 26 x 26 cm.
Publisher	Avonmore Books,
Note	Includes bibliography (pages 147-148) and index. Over 400,000 Australians served in the military during the First World War. Of these, over 60,000 men lost their lives and another 137,000 were wounded. This had a massive impact on the young Australian nation with a population of just a few million.In each Australian state battalions were formed which became closely associated with men of that state or region. In this way the military history of most parts of Australia can be readily traced. The Northern Territory, however, was too small to have its own unit. Indeed there was not even a recruiting centre in the N.T. Men left to enlist in other states. For these reasons the WWI history of Territiorians has remained obscure.There were less than 1,000 European adults in the N.T. at the time war broke out, a nd as many as 300 enlisted - an incredibly high proportion. There is no better N.T. enlistment story than that of the famous Albert Borella, who went on to win the Victoria Cross. He walked 88 miles from Tennant Creek and then borrowed a horse to get to Darwin. He then got transport to Townsville where he enlisted. Such were the typically colourful methods used by young men to enlist from all areas across the N.T.From Frontier to Frontline is a unique record. Indeed, it is the only source naming the NT en listees in WWI. A brief biography of each man is given, forming a very valuable source of Territorian history. Other chapters detail 19 gallantry decorations and a roll of honour naming the 67 Territorians who were killed in action or died of illness or w ounds. There is also a chapter on the men returning home which includes some rich observations on the social and economic history of Darwin during the war and immediately thereafter.
Place made	[Kent Town, S. Aust] :

Abstract

1: Long-lost heroes - Some indigenous Territorian enlistees - Multicultural Territorian enlistees - Tragic fates --2: Colonial outpost - Early Darwin history - Territorian enlistees - Australian life in 1914 and the Australian soldier -- 3: The Australian Foreign Legion -- 4: 1914 first victory & AIF to Egypt - Formation of the AIF - The AIF in Egypt -- 5: The Dardanelles: Australia''s 1915 baptism of fire - The field ambulance - Territorians at Gallipoli - End of the campaign - The originals -- 6: 1916 Mu d & Blood - Fromelles - Pozieres - Conscription debate - Winter sets in -- 7: The miners-the other diggers -- 8: 1917 the angel of death -- 9: 1918 the war drags on -- 10: Those who served - Australian Imperial Force Service numbers - Australian Imperial Force medals - Those that died - the Roll of Honour -- 11: The aftermath - Post-war Darwin and formation of the RSL -- 12: a lasting memorial.