Quota Joins A.I.F. at Brisbane

Brisbane

rE population of Rabaul turned out en masse, in the third week of February, to watch the New Guinea quota of the Australian Imperial Force march through the town for embarka tion for Brisbane, where they now are in camp.

New Guinea was given permission to recruit 60 men for the A.1.F., and 60 men were duly brought into camp at Malaguna, just outside of Rabaul. Five men subsequently were rejected, on medical grounds, and 55 actually sailed.

The men, while in camp, were sub jected to training, and the usual camp routine; but the thing which nearly killed most of them was the lavish hos pitality of the people of Rabaul, who loaded them with luxuries, entertain ments and gifts. The United Women’s League formed a special Comforts Com mittee and, in a short time, collected £l4O, with which various articles were purchased and from which gifts will be forwarded to the quota from time to time.

The men marched twice through the town —once, by way of ceremony, in which they gave a formal salute to the Administrator and Lieut.- Colonel Walstab. and in which they were cordially supported by the Volun teer Force and the returned soldiers; and, again, a few days later, when they marched to embarkation. On both occa sions they were enthusiastically ac claimed.

On the second occasion, led by the police band, the quota left their camp at Malaguna and marched through the town to the wharf between cheering crowds. At the wharf they found, drawn up, the Rabaul detachment of the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, and another detachment comprising re turned soldiers.

There were animated and lively scenes, later on, as the ship drew away from the wharf and the New Guinea men set out on their world-wide journey in defence of freedom, and the end of which no man can see.

The following are the names of the men who comprise the quota:— C.S.M.: L. W. Heinicke.

Staff-Sergeant: B. Fairfax-Ross.

Sergeant: A. G. Pearce.

Corporals: A. Maclean, L. T. Hurrell, C.

Hendrick, F. L. Burke.

Lance Corporals: F. N. Boisen, R. B. Scholes, V. M. I. Gordon, R. H. C. Cardew, A. H.

Ross, R. C. Taylor.

Privates: G. Renton, R. J. Clancy, G. L. W.

Gray, A. L. B. King, S. S. Grimson, J. E.

Grimson, J. L. Gilmore, N. K. Sawyer, W. R.

Scott, L. M. Mazlin, E. E. Proctor, A. L.

Hurrell, M. W. S. Rylands, W. Kalbfell, L.

Young, S. J. A. Shields, L. G. Reece, F. C.

Moore, J. Murdoch, S. L. A. Ashton, J. C.

Doonar, P. F, Barrie, E. S. L. Burke, R. S.

Connor, N. A. Bowman, J. C. Dennis, F, R.

Weston, J. P. Morrissey, J. A. Grant, L, F.

Hewlett, R. R. Cole, W. B. Giles, J. T. Barra cluff. K. S. Sheekey, V. F. Pearson, N. Bert whistle, A. F. Williams, G. B. Black, J. F.

Morell, E. M. Granter, W. Pearson, W. H.

Lannen.

The following men volunteered but were not accepted; J. D. Scurrah, F. A. Jacobsen, F. H.

Beighton, W. A. Washington, W. H. Theobald, N. S. Duncan, R. H. Stevens, P. E. R. Coe, F. N. Schou, W. R. Reynolds, E. L. Eglington, E, C, Davies.

The arrival of the New Guinea quota in Brisbane, to join the section of A.I.F. in camp there, created quite a stir, and the newspapers devoted much space to photographs of the New Guinea men, and to articles warmly praising their fine physique and soldierly appearance.

Left to right: Lieut.-Colonel J.

WaIstab, G.S.O., with the Ad ministrator (Brigadier-General Sir Walter McNicoll); Native-Police Bandmaster Crawley, Company- Sergeant-Major Heinicke, Staff- Sergeant Fairfax-Ross, Sergeant Pearce.