‘Australia prepared’ – making ammunition
‘The Amazing Micrometer’, a machine measuring to one 40,000th of an inch, is one star of this 1916 film, made at Australia’s Colonial Ammunition Company. Many of the factory’s workers are women, symbolising a community united in the war effort and highlighting women’s vital contributions on the home front. They are seen making .303 cartridges, packing them in cases, and filling a soldier’s bandolier (ammunition belt). This is an extract from an hour-long documentary showing how Australia ‘made and equipped the expeditionary forces’ to contribute to the Allied cause during the Great War.
‘Australia prepared’ – making ammunition
‘The Amazing Micrometer’, a machine measuring to one 40,000th of an inch, is one star of this 1916 film, made at Australia’s Colonial Ammunition Company. Many of the factory’s workers are women, symbolising a community united in the war effort and highlighting women’s vital contributions on the home front. They are seen making .303 cartridges, packing them in cases, and filling a soldier’s bandolier (ammunition belt). This is an extract from an hour-long documentary showing how Australia ‘made and equipped the expeditionary forces’ to contribute to the Allied cause during the Great War.
Year: 1916
Length: 03:47
Production Company: Australasian Films
Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
Catalogue Reference: NFSA title: 37063
People: Mr G.A. Cartwright (General Manager, Colonial Ammunition Company)
Location: Australia
Tags: Australia, ammunition, factory, workers, women, bullets, cartridges
Until the release of the one-hour documentary Australia Prepared, military authorities thought it unwise to reveal to the public any aspect of ‘what an immense part the Commonwealth [had] been playing in the mighty struggle of man and munitions’. But by 1916 it was obviously felt that such a film might assist recruitment for Australia’s war effort, and help maintain morale in the wider community. The film was also prepared for exhibition in Europe and for screening to Australian troops. The publicity campaign for Australia Prepared described it as ‘a revelation of our hitherto unknown industrial and military powers’. The film premiered at Sydney’s Crystal Palace on 10 July 1916 and at the Melba Theatre in Melbourne a week later.
‘Australia prepared’ – making ammunition
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Australia
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0:03
Male workers operate machinery, manufacturing ammunition
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0:16
Female workers operate machinery, manufacturing cartridges
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0:47
Suited man behind desk operating the micrometer
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1:08
Mr G. A. Cartwright seated at desk attending to paperwork and answering the telephone
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1:28
Female worker sorting cartridges. Soldier goes up to her and she fills his bandolier with cartridges. Others look on. He salutes her and leaves
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1:45
Crowds of workers leave ammunitions factory. Armed guards stand at the entrance
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2:08
Workers in numbered shielded stalls sort cartridges
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2:18
Close up of female worker sorting cartridges in her stall. She weighs a cartridge on a set of scales
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2:40
Female workers in pairs operate machinery, fixing bullets into each cartridge
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3:18
Female workers sort cartridges, gauging each cartridge’s length
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3:40
Female workers weigh each cartridge