Back

Joining the Flotilla, 1914

Play Video Pause Video
More Info View Shotlist Share Comments

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, dozens of vessels were hastily converted into troopships to transport military units to their destinations overseas. This film shows newly recruited AIF troops boarding troopships at Woolloomooloo (Sydney, NSW) and Port Melbourne (Melbourne, Vic.)  Their ships then joined the flotilla at King George Sound (Albany, WA), the final Australian anchorage for the first convoy of almost 30,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers heading to Egypt.

Year:1914

Location:Sydney, Melbourne, Albany; Australia

See someone you know? Email us

Featured

More...

Marching in Dunedin

0:03:31 View Video F1205 anzac day

'When the war is over, mother dear'

03:09 View Audio When the war is over mother dear 2

Sheep dogs & medieval knights, Australian Gazette

03:19 View Video 1129 newsreelsegs 01 ab

Returning Home

0:27 View Video Returning home

First day on the Somme for Kiwis and tanks

03:53 View Audio British mark i male tank somme 25 september 1916
Close

Joining the Flotilla, 1914

At the outbreak of war in August 1914, dozens of vessels were hastily converted into troopships to transport military units to their destinations overseas. This film shows newly recruited AIF troops boarding troopships at Woolloomooloo (Sydney, NSW) and Port Melbourne (Melbourne, Vic.)  Their ships then joined the flotilla at King George Sound (Albany, WA), the final Australian anchorage for the first convoy of almost 30,000 Australian and New Zealand soldiers heading to Egypt.

Year: 1914

Length: 07:42

Source: National Film and Sound Archive of Australia

Catalogue Reference: NFSA title: 45988

Location: Sydney, Melbourne, Albany; Australia

Tags: Australia, embarkation, troopships, AIF

Subject: Troopships, embarkation

Each requisitioned and refitted troopship was given a transport number with the prefix ‘A’ to denote Australian service. The 26 AIF and 10 New Zealand transport ships [check], known as Convoy 1, left from Albany on 1 November 1914, carrying almost 30,000 men and 8000 horses. Escort was provided by the cruisers HMS Minotaur, HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney. Two days after sailing, the force grew larger with the arrival of the Japanese armoured cruiser Ibuki and two more transports from Fremantle (WA). The Japanese were allies in WW1.

Related links

Close

Joining the Flotilla, 1914

  • Sydney, Melbourne, Albany

  • 0:00

    Mounted troops arrive at Woolloomooloo for embarkation onto troopships

  • 1:00

    Soldiers on the dock salute. Some wear pith helmets. Transport ship in background

  • 1:15

    Soldiers arrive, marching in columns

  • 1:55

    Soldiers on foot arrive at the dock

  • 2:03

    Soldiers arrive by tram

  • 2:08

    Soldiers assembling in the rain

  • 2:34

    Crowds follow the troops

  • 2:43

    Soldiers wave from a troopship

  • 2:49

    Troopships arrive (including the A9 Shropshire and A14 Euripides)

  • 3:29

    Troops on deck smoke and walk past the camera

  • 3:50

    Close up of horses in their stalls and embarking

  • 4:31

    Horses being led on deck for exercise

  • 4:49

    Crowds on the dock farewelling troopships

  • 4:56

    Officers talking

  • 5:19

    Crowds on dock farewelling troops

  • 5:27

    Troops on ship waving farewell

  • 5:44

    Troopship A6 Clan Maccorquodale departs

  • 5:57

    Troops on ship waving farewell

  • 6:04

    Troopship A14 Euripides departs

  • 6:45

    Crowd farewelling troopship A29 Suevic

  • 6:57

    Troops on deck

  • 7:05

    Troops on A16 Star of Victoria waving farewell

  • 7:21

    Crowds farewelling troopship

  • 7:29

    Troopship A29 Suevic departs