Australian Naval And Military Expeditionary Force News

On 19 August 1914, an Australian expeditionary force sailed out of Sydney Harbour bound for German New Guinea. The departure was barely 15 days after Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Enlistment of the infantry based Army contingent was completed at Victoria Barracks, Paddington and further preparation and training occurred at the nearby Agricultural Showgrounds. The over 1,000 strong contingent of soldiers would later march down Oxford, College and Macquarie Streets to Fort Macquarie - the current site of the Sydney Opera House - to be ferried to Cockatoo Island. Six companies of Naval Reserve sailors from four states, each of about 50 men were concentrated separately.