LIGHT HORSE CAMP. ON THE GAWLER OVAL. The military camp on the Gawler Oval started last Wednesday, when an advance party of about 20 officers and troopers arrived. The balance reached Gawler on Thursday morning and there are now over 300 men in camp. About 15 tents have been pitched at the rear of the Exhibition Building and under the trees on the eastern side. The grand stand has been enclosed with canvas and is used by Officers. In the main hall the majority of the men will sleep on account of the shortage of tents, while it will also be used as a mess room. The Light Horse of South Australia consists of the 8th Brigade, which is comprised of three regiments— the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th. Colonel Dean is in command of the Brigade and Capt. Butler is the Brigade Major. The 22nd regiment comes from the South East and will be in charge of Major Barnett who is acting commander. The 23rd regiment under Lieut. Col. Hancock hales from Orroroo, while the 24th regiment the one in camp at the present moment, has for its commander Lieut. Col. R. R. Baldwin, in the absence of Col. Miell who has gone to the war. This regiment draws its men from the Port Pirie and Wallaroo districts. Col. Baldwin's adjutant is Lieut. Gill, while Lieut. Scotcher is quarter master. The officers in camp are as follows-:— A Squadron, Capt. Walsh (in command), Lieut. Wilson (second in command), Lieut. Sampson, Second Lieut. Watt, and Second Lieut. Forgan (machine gun officer) ; B Squadron, Lieut. Rosie (in command); Second Lieut. J A. Sampson, Second Lieut. Pascoe and Second Lieut. Scott ; C Squadron, Second Lieut. Lambourne (in command) and Second Lieut. Kitto. When seen' on Thursday afternoon by a 'Bunyip' representative, Col. Baldwin said that on account of the late season and the fact that a large number of the men came from the farming districts, the parade was not up to expectations. The work to be done at camp will be chiefly musketry exercises, including several visits to the rifle ranges.
The Bunyip 23rd April 1915
MILITARY CAMPS. THE LIGHT HORSE AT GAWLER. EXIT 24th; ENTER 22nd.
The 24th Light Horse Regiment that has been in camp on the Gawler Recreation Ground left us on Wednesday and Thursday morning after a fortnight's training in musketry. When a representative of 'The Bunyip ' waited on Lieut.-Col. R. R. Baldwin on Wednesday afternoon to enquire how they had fared the first thing he said was that he could not find words to express his gratitude and thanks for the way the societies and people of Gawler had entertained the officers and men. That, he said was the sentiment of one and all of them from the officers down to the rank and file. The camp broke up on Wednesday and as Col. Baldwin put it, ' The men are going back to plough the land and trust in Providence for a good season. It was a good camp from every aspect, Col.Baldwin added. The instruction has been particularly good and a marked improvement has resulted in all ranks. The officers and men settled down to hard work at once. The musketry course was finished with, satisfactory results. The men missed their horses, but the foot work was good for them. Nothing will please us better than to have the camp here next year, concluded the colonel. Another thing I would like to mention is the very fine band (Riggs') you have here. We are very grateful to them for supplying us with the church parade music and also for the selections they played. I would have liked to have arranged an evening in aid of the funds, but our time was too limited. We enjoyed, their music very much. The officers in their limited mess did a good deal of entertaining and invited the Mayor and several other citizens at different times to the camp and on Tuesday evening entertained the officers of the artillery in camp at Smithfield. Wednesday was occupied by the men in cleaning up and adjusting things so that everything should be in order for their successors — the 22nd Light Horse. Wednesday was also pay day and about £1,100 was distributed to the trainees. The new comers, who hail from the South-East, marched in on Thursday under the command of Major Barnett. The behaviour of the troops has been very good.
The Bunyip 10th September 1915
THE GAWLER MILITARY CAMP. The Military Camp at the Evanston Racecourse is now firmly established and between 500 and 600 men are now in, possession of the place. No time was lost last week in organising after the Commandant (Col. Sandford) visited Gawler on the Monday and the full complement of men arrived by special train on Friday afternoon shortly before five o'clock. The CO., Major Barnett, and his staff had previously installed themselves and as the recruits marched into the grounds it was seen that they were a splendid lot of men whom the officers will fashion into the finished article in a very short while. The raw material made good progress this week with their drill and the health of the campers has been stated to be very satisfactory. The Commandant expects at no distant date to enlarge the camp and when extra tents are available another 500 or 600 men will be sent.
The Bunyip 4th August 1916
GAWLER MILITARY CAMP. Arrangements have been completed for holding the Camp for a portion of the Citizen Forces on the Evanston Racecourse. On Saturday afternoon Lieut-Col. Dr. Hill, Capt. Glenon, Capt. White, and Capt. Wylie, accompanied by other members of the staff, inspected the Course and mapped out the necessary conveniences that wiIl be required. The order in which the Force will occupy the Course is as follows: -- Aug. 14th to 29th, 77th Infantry, 31st A.S.C., 20th A.M.C., B. Section, Bearer Division ; Sept. 1st to 16th, 79th Infantry, 19th A.S.C. (half -company), 20th A.M.C., C. Section, Bearer Division ; Sept. 19th to Oct. 4th, 80th Infantry, 19th A.S.C. (half -company) 20th A.M.C.,B Section, Tent. Division ; Oct. 6th to Oct. 21st, 81st Infantry. 20th A.S.C. (half-company) 20th A.M.C., C. Section, Tent Division Oct 24th to Nov. 8th, 82nd Infantry, 20th A.S.C. (half company), B and C Sections, Transport Divisions.
The Bunyip 27th October 1916
THE GAWLER OVAL CAMP. The 81st. Infantry, under command of Major A. A. Pearce, V.D., completed their period of training and left for their respective centres on Tuesday last. The 82nd. (Harrier) Infantry arrived from Broken Hill the same day and went into camp at the Exhibition Grounds. The Commanding Officer of the Regiment is at present engaged in other military duty and Lieut. A. H. Swan assumed temporary command and brought the Regiment into camp. The other Officers in camp are: — Lieut. G. E. Gill (Brigade Major, 19th Brigade), Lieuts. J. H. Creeney, A. and I Staff, (Adjutant), R.N.J. Hatcher, E F. Harris, E. Miller, Simpson, E. N. Milne (11th Engineers), Hursthouse (11th Engineers), Poole (11th Engineers). In addition to the 22nd Infantry, the 11th Engineers, In charge of Lieut. E. N. Milne, and a section of the 20th A.A.M.C. are also undergoing training.
The Bunyip 5th November 1915
Departure of Soldiers from Gawler. THE MILITARY CAMP The Evanston Racecourse was occupied by the Military on the 3rd. September when two Companies of recruits were encamped under the Camp Commandant (Major E. F. Barnett). The raw material made very rapid progress and last week over 300 were drafted into the Reinforcements and left Gawler for the City. The remainder of the men did not strike camp until Wednesday, when they entrained for the City. The men on the whole have behaved splendidly and their conduct has been exemplary. They all express themselves delighted with the Camp and the picturesque surroundings. Although the Commandant is noted as being a strict disciplinarian he has been delighted with the soldiers and they have not caused any trouble to the officers when at drill, or forgotten themselves when on leave in the town. The maximum number of men encamped was 523 and the race course proved an ideal spot in regard to their health, their training, and their enjoyment. It has been stated that it was one of the best camps in the Commonwealth. The stands, jockey's quarters and stables were utilized for the officers and men's quarters, whilst a tent was erected for the hospital out on the flat, and a galvanized iron structure erected for washing and bathing. The Y.M.C.A. also had a large tent on the grounds. The kitchens were erected in the stand enclosures, with huge meat safes in close proximity. The totalizator building was used as a store room. Nearly all the supplies were brought from the City including bread and the Camp Quarter-Master, Lieut. Richards, who was responsible for supplies, carried out his duties in a manner that called forth high praise from the soldiers and staff. The health of the men has been exceptionally good and they all express the wish, if occasion arises, to again camp in Gawler whose inhabitants they are much pleased with. The list of officers would seem a formidable one for a small contingent, but the exigencies of the case caused the removal of them at different times and they were relieved by others. The following comprised the list : — Major E. F. Barnett, Camp Commandant; Lieut. T. F. Rice, Camp Adjutant; Lieut. T. R. Richards, Camp Quarter master; Lieut. J. G. Macmahon, Camp Supply Officer; Capt. A. G. Ireland; Capt. H. G. Freeman; Lieutenants, H. S. Cope, N. R. Priest, L. T. Hallifax, F. G. Gibson, H. A. Kempson, R. D. McNeil, C. J. Scott, T. R. Lamborne, S. J. L. Summons, J. McAnna. A. Elms, W. R. Wills, D. J. Walsh, A. Beddome, A. G. Moyse, J. Wilson. Captains ,D. C. Connor Gladman, Heming. A.A.M.C's, Major Bennett, Captns. Dawes, Love, Eric Lewis, and J. R. Tobin. The medical needs of the camp , it will be seen were well provided for although they had not all been in attendance at the one time. Prior to their departure on Wednesday the Camp Adjutant forwarded the following to the Chairman of the Gawler Jockey Club : — 'I am directed by the Camp Commandant (Major E. F. Barnett) to thank you and the members of your Committee for the kindness which has been extended to the Officers of this Camp during their stay in Gawler. Signed Thos. F. Rice Lieut. Camp Adjutant. 4th. Depot Battalion, A.I.F. Camp. Gawler. Nov. 2nd.
The Bunyip 18th August 1916
GAWLER MILITARY CAMP. The Camp arranged at Evanston for the training of the Citizen Forces started in earnest, on Monday, when the 77th Infantry arrived by special train at Gawler. The weather was anything but favorable and the half inch and more of rain the previous night and that morning did not make the rendezvous too inviting. How ever, the men quickly entered into the spirit of the situation and cheeringly set to work to get their quarters in order. They are 'housed' in the Grand and Derby Stands, the Jockeys' quarters, and the scraping sheds, and within the Grand Stand building the office of the 'Permanent'' Staff and the Regimental Office are situated ; the casualty room has been made the hospital, and the totalizator building is the supply store. The engineering staff and a preliminary party had previously prepared the camp, the kitchens, a large meat safe at the rear of the Derby Stand, and an ablution house on the flat had been erected. The whole camp is brilliantly lighted electrically from Gawler's Municipal supply, and the Y.M.C.A. have erected a large marquee for the benefit of the trainees. The 77th Infantry in camp comprises 400 men and 17 officers, under the command of Lieut. E. Hughes, CO. and Camp Commandant, who has Lieut. C. H. Edmonds as Adjutant, and Lieut. W.R. Swann as Regimental Q.M. In addition there are also in camp at present Lieut, (G E. Gill, A. and I. Staff, Brigade-Major 19th Brigade, and Lieut. H. E. White, D.C. and Camp Q.M. (who will remain through out the period of the camp), and a staff of 53 men, and the 20th A.A.M.C. is represented by Capt. Rice from 7th A.G.H. Keswick. On Monday afternoon Capt. Bushel], of head quarters' staff inspected the camp and witnessed the men being exercised. The 77th Regiment will remain in training until the 29th Aug. and on Sept. 1st the 79th Infantry, the 19th A.S.C., and the 20th A.M.C. will occupy the Course.
The Bunyip 8th September 1916
GAWLER MILITARY CAMP. On Friday last the 79th Infantry arrived by train and entered camp on the Evanston Racecourse.The 79th regiment hail from Norwood, Magill, and the citizen forces in that locality. They are under the command of Capt. R. A. L. Laughton, and the officers comprise: — Adjutant, Lieut. C. A. Steen ; Quartermaster Lieut. A. Jeffrey ; Captain, S. H. B.BlacK ; Lieutenants, S. J. L. Simmons, R. J. B. Smith, and & C. Gooden 'A' Coy; H. E. White, H. Penhall C. A. Cronin, and L. R. Grubb. 'B' Coy. ; W. R. Farr, G. T. Powlesland, F. S. Hall, and E. E. White. 'C' Coy.
The Bunyip 29th September 1916
GAWLER MILITARY CAMP. The 80th Infantry now in camp on the Evanston Racecourse are actively training. The heavy rains experienced at the end of last week necessitated a number being transferred to the Area Barracks in Jacob-street at night because the rain was beating into the stands which are unprotected in the front. Since then hessian screens have been erected. The Commanding Officer, Major Esau, speaks very highly of the conduct of the regiment, and so far only one discipline case has had to be dealt with out of nearly 500 men who are in the camp. The health of the men has been exceptionally good and only cases with which the men were suffering when they came in have needed attention. We have been informed by the Mayor of Gawler (Mr. W. H. Cox) that the regiment will move into the Exhibition Grounds on Monday and occupy it until Wednesday, when the camp will break up, the Racecourse will be required for the occupation of other Military purposes.
The Bunyip 8th December 1916
MILITARY NOTES. THE RACECOURSE CAMP. The 76th (Hindmarsh Infantry complete the annual training at the Evanston Racecourse on the 13th inst. Lieut-Colonel D. D. Gordon, the commanding officer, is at present on Active service. and Colonel F. H. Howland, V.D., brought the regiment into camp. The other officers in camp are: — Captain L. J. Dunstone, M.I.; Lieut. G. E. Gill (Brigade Major); Lieut. I.W.D. Le Cornu (Adjutant); Lieut. A. W. Waddell (Q.M.); Lieut. C. W. S. Coombe (O.C., A Coy); Lieut. L. Elms (O.C., B Coy.); Lieut. J. Rostrum (O.C., A Coy.); Lieut. J. E. Byrne, Lieut. P. Hoffman, Lieut.L. D.' Denholm, Lieut. .T. D. Saunders.
THE GAWLER OVAL CAMP. The 12th Field Company Australian Engineers now encamped at the Exhibition Ground will complete their training on the 12th inst., when they return to Broken Hill on that day. The Exhibition Camp will then be closed.
The following regiments will go in to Camp at the Racecourse in the new year: -- 79th Infantry, 5th January. 74th Infantry, 20th January. 24th Light Horse, 1st March.