At the commencement of World War I in 1914, Australia had only been a nation for 13 years and the RAN was only three years old (NZ had been a dominion for 7 years and had no independent navy). Transporting the Anzacs to war was a massive undertaking. This book tells the story of the planning stages and the requisition of ships through to the Gallipoli landing of 25 April 1915.
The book tells of the mobilization of troops and sailors, requisition and refitting of ships, the convoys and number of voyages, various changes of plan and destination, and the assistance offered by ships of allied navies. Drawing on newspaper accounts, diaries and memoirs of sailors and soldiers involved, the book describes conditions on board - training, sport, exercise, living and eating conditions, hygiene, medical examinations and supervision, even 'crossing the line' festivities; also conditions for horses - and details of convoy formation. By the time of the blooding of ANZAC forces at Gallipoli, the force had been moulded very much 'on board' and 'in transit'. Two appendices give details of all the transport ships involved.At the commencement of World War I in 1914
This book is available from good bookshops and on-line.
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