Broadmeadows Camp Melbourne 1914 - Training Camp for the AIF



The outbreak of war began at 12:00 AM August 4, 1914 in Australia. For further details check out the timeline here.


An explanation of the status of the war 29th August 1914 
Source: "THE EUROPEAN WAR." The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931) 29 August 1914: 15. Web. 26 Apr 2016





The first recruits were hastily housed in tents in the courtyard of the Victoria Barracks in St Kilda Road, with the surplus being put up at the Showgrounds and Racecourse in Flemington.

Recruits streaming into Broadmeadows Training Camp in 1914

Source: http://anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Recruits-arriving-at-Broadmeadows-Military-Camp-in-1914.jpg



The reason for my interest is that my partner's grandfather enlisted here on 9th December 1915.  He was aged just 19yrs old, having celebrated his birthday on the 21st November 1915. The story is that he travelled down to Melbourne with some other eager young men to go to war, which was viewed as an adventure.  They had been bombarded with lots of messages in the newspapers of the day that it was the way to see the world.

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