The spring of 1915 saw Thomas celebrate his 23rd birthday, 3 days after his beloved Collingwood Football Team(i) was defeated by 33 points by archrival Carlton, in just the 18th VFL Grand Final. The spring of 1915 also saw Thomas continue with his military training with the 29th Battalion whilst his second cousin, Patrick Carrucan, having enlisted on the 19th July 1915, was discharged from the Australian Infantry Force on the 7th September, 1915 due to health related issues. Thanks to the Carrucan Chronicles, you can read about Patrick Carrucan by clicking here.
On Thursday 4th November, 1915, The Argus newspaper reported that the 29th (and 31st Battalion) were camped at the Broadmeadow's Military Training camp and were nearing the end of their training. The following day, Friday 5th November, 1915, The Argus newspaper reported that the two battalions left Spencer Street railway station at 11.30am and marched around Melbourne's CBD to a cheering crowd of onlookers. On page 19 of the The Argus newspaper, the battalions were described as "one of the most highly trained units that have paraded the city since the war began". The newspaper article described the men has having above average physiques and "workmanlike appearance". It went on to say that "no other infantry unit from the Commonwealth has had such a thorough musketry training as they have received before embarking for Egypt." To read the full newspaper article, click here.
Of course it is important to understand the context in which this article was written. The military and political establishments, which had witnessed a steady decline in enlistments since mid 1915, were desperately trying to coerce young men to join the AIF. Hence, the article reads like an advertisment that attempts to create a favourable impression for those young men who were still contemplating joining the war. War posters were also a powerful propaganda medium. If you wish to view a slideshow of the war posters that were mass produced during late 1915 and 1916, click on Thomas' blog.
(i) I was told that our (Grand)father would listen to Collingwood VFL matches on the radio each Saturday afternoon from New Zealand.
Thomas' fifth son, Robert Ambrose Carrucan aged 74, remembers his father as a passionate Collingwood supporter: "dad would tell us to get out of the house from 4 pm to 6 o clock, so he could listen to (Collingwood matches on) radio Australia on a Saturday afternoon".
ReplyDeleteDid you know that Lance Corporal Percy Rowe (aka 'Paddy' Rowan), who was a member of our (Grand) father's 29th Battalion, was also a Collingwood football player and played for Collingwood in the 1915 VFL Grandfinal? On the morning of the 1915 Grandfinal, Percy and the 29th Battalion were ordered to march a 10 mile route. After the march, Percy dashed to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and arrived just minutes before the match began. Despite Collingwood losing to Carlton, Percy was one of the best players for Collingwood. Sadly, Percy was killed in France in December 1916.