Training of WW1 Soldiers in Kiama
Did you know the significant role Kiama played in the training of Australian WWI soldiers before they embarked for war?
In December 1915, Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes selected Kiama to be the site for the NSW signalling school and a training and drill camp for new recruits designated as reinforcements for the 13th, 30th and 45th battalions, AIF.
In February 1916, the Dept of Defence met with the Kiama Agricultural Show Committee to request the use of the Kiama Showground and its buildings for this purpose (the military authorities could take possession of any public or private property under war conditions, as required).
Although the establishment of the camp would mean an influx of money into the community, many community members were against the camps. Nonetheless, by late March 1916, the camp was ready for occupation by up to 2000 soldiers at a time. Shortly after, another Kiama camp was set up where the new Blue Haven Bonaira complex is located, called Barroul Camp. All South Coast recruits were initially trained in Kiama at these camps.
The camps required a continuous supply of meat, bread and other provisions from local suppliers, and would need approximately 10,000 gallons of water per day and 120 sanitary pans. The military laid their own water pipes and paid a 9 pence per 1000 gallons. Council supplied the sanitary pans and a daily attendant, whom the military paid 3 pence per pan.
The main pavilion was used as a recreation hall. The poultry shed, quarter-masters mess and stables were used for the horses, and the cattle pens were dismantled and the wood given to the military for firewood. Chapman Point was used for drills, and the rifle range on Kendall’s Point was used for musketry practice. Bombo Beach was used to practice digging trenches.
The tents were in rows and housed eight men in each. The sanitary and bath facilities were constructed with concrete floors directly over the rocky escarpment on the outer edge of the showground.
There were many communal tents, such as a 400-capacity tent for concerts and entertainment (in June 1916, Miss Farquharson entertained soldiers with several songs), and a Salvation Army tent that was used as a reading and writing room.
The soldiers spent most of their week in training, and on Sundays the local townspeople were allowed to visit the camp site. The children loved this because the soldiers would give them sweet treats.
There were fortnightly socials organised by local ladies from various religious groups. These were so popular that they had to restrict attendance to those that had gone to Sunday service.
By late November 1916, the Showground and Barroul camps were discontinued. About 20,000 soldiers had passed through the camps in the short time they had been operating. A grant of £400 was given to the Agricultural Society to restore the showground.
We now have the privilege of being able to step back in time to experience what life was like in Kiama during the First World War with the ‘Kiama’s First World War’ walking tour app. Visit significant WWI locations around Kiama, including the military camps, and listen to some of the stories of our local soldiers. Lest we forget.