The First World was a global war. While the sight of Australian troops travelling to and from other countries was commonplace, foreign troops also passed through Australia on their way to and from the battlefront, helping to raise awareness of the international nature of the conflict. This footage from Sydney’s Domain shows French and Pacific colonial troops (possibly on 15 June 1916) waiting to be inspected by NSW State Governor Sir Gerald Strickland and State Commandant Brigadier-General Ramaciotti. Someone inspecting the troops can be seen toward the end of the clip but it is not possible to identify them.

The first line-up of soldiers are dressed in European-style uniforms. The next group are dressed in light, loose-fitting uniforms designed for the tropics. They appear to be indigenous people from France’s Pacific colonies of Noumea (New Caledonia), Tahiti and the Loyalty Islands.

Although the Pacific Ocean seemed away from the Western Front, a number of naval conflicts took place where France had colonies and resources in the Pacific. On 22 September 1914 the port of Papeete, Tahiti was attacked. The German armoured cruisers SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau entered the port and sank the French gunboat Zélée and freighter Walkure before bombarding the town's fortifications.