In mid 1915, the battle along the Gallipoli peninsula between the ANZACs and Turks had been raging for several weeks. Australian newspapers had begun reporting on ANZAC casualities. Daily lists of Australian fatalities were printed in The Argus (now The Age) newspaper from early May 1915. Though censored, the media helped give rise to the ANZAC legend and awakened the
Australian andNew Zealand
Australian and
In June 1915 the Australian government drove a recruitment campaign to supply reinforcements at Gallipoli. Thomas would have read government recruitment propaganda that were placed in local newspapers click here.
In June 1915 a record number of young men from Victoria had enlisted in the Australian Infantry Service. In July 1915 mass meetings and rallies were held in Melbourne to support the recruitment campaign. War posters also became increasingly emotive, especially when recruitment numbers declined significantly in 1916 and 1917.
In June 1915 a record number of young men from Victoria had enlisted in the Australian Infantry Service. In July 1915 mass meetings and rallies were held in Melbourne to support the recruitment campaign. War posters also became increasingly emotive, especially when recruitment numbers declined significantly in 1916 and 1917.
This mass meeting and others were arranged in Melbourne around the time Thomas made his decision to enlist
It was against this backdrop that Thomas considered his decision to enlist in the Australian army. Though we will never know how he arrived at this decision, we can assume he had a sense of duty to serve his country.
Hence, on Thursday 8 July 1915, Thomas was one of 829 men who, on that wet and cold day, arrived at the Melbourne Town Hall to enlist in the war. As he was over the age of 21 years, he did not require his parents’ consent to enlist. Thomas’ parents would not provide their consent for Thomas’ younger brother, Francis, to join the AIF[i].
As part of the recruitment process, Thomas undertook a physical examination. 216 of the 829 men who wanted to enlist were prevented from doing so because they failed their physical examination. During the 1st year of the war, about 1/3 of men failed their physical examinations and were turned away [ii].
Thomas was one of over 36,000 who enlisted into the Australian army in July 1915. He was the first member of the Carrucan family to join the war. Thomas completed and signed the enlistment papers and for reasons that are not clear, he wrote only his father’s name down as next of kin.
Hence, on Thursday 8 July 1915, Thomas was one of 829 men who, on that wet and cold day, arrived at the Melbourne Town Hall to enlist in the war. As he was over the age of 21 years, he did not require his parents’ consent to enlist. Thomas’ parents would not provide their consent for Thomas’ younger brother, Francis, to join the AIF[i].
As part of the recruitment process, Thomas undertook a physical examination. 216 of the 829 men who wanted to enlist were prevented from doing so because they failed their physical examination. During the 1st year of the war, about 1/3 of men failed their physical examinations and were turned away [ii].
Thomas was one of over 36,000 who enlisted into the Australian army in July 1915. He was the first member of the Carrucan family to join the war. Thomas completed and signed the enlistment papers and for reasons that are not clear, he wrote only his father’s name down as next of kin.
The Argus newspaper has more to say about enlistment proceeding on 8th July 1915. click here to read
i This information provided in Nov 2010 by Fr Peter Carrucan, who is Thomas' cousin and son of Francis Carrucan.
ii The enlistment criteria was eased during the war so that more men were eligible to enlist.
