15th-16th Infantry. (Newcastle)

15th-16th INFANTRY REGIMENT (Newcastle)

Pre World War One

"Compulsory Military Training Scheme that was introduced in 1910, which was directly responsible for expanding the Citizens Forces by up to 50 percent in the three years prior to the outbreak of World War I. Undoubtedly, the scheme proved to have numerous benefits, as many of these youths went on to serve in the First AIF during World War I and the expanded organisation allowed citizens forces officers more experience in commanding formed bodies of men. However, it was the main factors contributing to the decision to recruit the AIF on the basis of voluntary enlistment. Because the army in 1914 was largely made up of young men aged between 19 and 21 who had been enlisted under this scheme, and due to the provisions of the Defence Act that precluded sending conscripts overseas, upon the outbreak of the war it was necessary for the Australian Government to raise a separate force, outside of the Citizens Forces organisation for service overseas."

Wikipedia

Empire Day Challenge Cup Medal.

1914 Competition was won by the 16th Infantry stationed at Newcastle.

Held from the 1st of April until the 24th May 1914 Teams consisting of 40 of any rank not more than 6 Warrant Officers or non Commissioned Officers. Rules: Stage 1. A is a shot at 150 yards and Stage 1. B is a shot from 400 yards.

"DAILY MAIL" EMPIRE DAY CHALLENGE CUP.

The "Daily Mail" Empire Day rifle competition is an important event of the near future. The contest will be divided .into two sections: 1. Open to rifle clubs in any part of the British Empire outside the United Kingdom. 2. Open to rifle clubs in the . British Isles. On offer is a hundred-guinea cup to be known as the "Daily Mail" Empire Challenge Cup to the rifle club which makes the best score in the whole Empire. this cup to be held for one year only unless of course the same club should win it two years running. The "Daily fail" Empire Cup will be offered under the following conditions:1. The Inter-Empire Challenge Cup, to be competed for by rifle clubs in any part of the British Empire either at home or abroad will be held for one year by the president or captain of the winning association or club. 2 Before the Challenge Cup will be despatched to the person entitled to hold it, he will be required to give a receipt for the same, and an undertaking to provide for its safe custody, and to return it in as good condition as that in which he received it, or to be answerable for any cost to which the "Daily Mail" may be put for its complete restoration. 3. The Challenge Cup must be returned 1 to the editor, "Daily Mail," Committee House, London, E.O, on or before May 10 of the year following that in which it is won. Furthermore, the "Daily Mail" intends annually to offer two fifty guinea challenge cups to be won outright. To the winning team from any militia, volunteer, police, or civilian rifle club in the British Empire (or British rifle club in a foreign country). 2. To the winning team from any militia, volunteer, police or civilian rifle club in the British Isles. These cups will be won outright each year, and will remain the property of the clubs which win them. In addition, each member of the first three teams in each section. of the competition will receive a silver medal each member of the fourth, fifth, and sixth teams will receive a bronze medal, while a silver medal will be presented to each member of the most successful ladies' rifle teams. It is further proposed to award a solid silver- spoon to each member of the most successful team in every section of the Empire from which more than five entries have been received. The following is the list to date' of the sections in which these prizes will, be awarded: British Columbia, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan. British British West Indies. India, Burma, and Ceylon, South Africa., Cape Colony, Natal, Rhodesia. Australasia. New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, West Australia. In several instances individual sections of the Empire only require one or two more entries to bring them into this special prize list. These are at the time of writing, New Brunswick (4), Channel Islands (3), British East Africa (3), Malay and Straits Settlements (3), New Zealand (4), Tasmania (3), Transvaal (3).

Wangaratta Chronicle (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), Wednesday 15 July 1914, page 2

EMPIRE DAY SUP. LONDON, Monday Night, It is officially announced that the 16th Infantry Regiment of Newcastle (N.S,W.) has won the Empire Day Cup with a score of 2932 points,

Trove

Second Place was 4th Battalion, King's Royal Rifles (Gharial, Murree Hills, Pakistan) with a score of 2740. Third Place was 38th Dogras (Malakand, India) registered a score of 2644 while the Marine Artillery (Portsmouth) were Fourth with 2632.

Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1883 - 1930), Wednesday 26 August 1914, page 9

PARADE AT NEWCASTLE.

NEWCASTLE, Tuesday.— The 16th Infantry Regiment, which been been in camp at the Newcastle Racecourse for the post fortnight marched through the city this afternoon. The parade was in every way credible to Lieutenant Colonel Clark, officer commanding, and to the men themselves. The regiment, headed by the band, turned out in full strength, and there were not wanting signs of the good work done while in camp, and the public who turned out in large numbers, showed appreciation of the display. Four companies will be dismissed tomorrow, when their places in camp will be taken by a similar number from the 14th Regiment. Thirty-two volunteers for the Australian Expeditionary Force were enrolled with the Council Chambers today. Several of them wore men with previous Service, and will go into camp at Sydney without delay. The Newcastle Patriotic Fund now totals £3418.

Trove

16th Infantry "A" Company; Newcastle, Merewether, Stockton, Carrington. "B" Company; Wickham, Tighe's Hill, Islington, "C" Company; Lambton, Waratah, New Lambton, Charlestown. "D" Company; Hamilton, Adamstown. "E" Company; Wallsend.

Major: Hugh John CONNELL. School Teacher, Hamilton West via Newcastle (16th Infantry)

Major: Harry Lambert Edward Dixon WHEELER. Newcastle, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Major: Brent Burnell RODD. Insurance-Manager, Newcastle. N.S.W. (15th Infantry)

Captain: Frank Harold JARRETT. Lambton, N.S.W. (C Company 16th Infantry)

Captain: 1167 Richard Valentine LATHLEAN. Lambton, N.S.W. (C Company 16th Infantry)

Captain: William Walter MATTHEWS. Wallsend, N.S.W. (B Company 15th Infantry. Staff Sergeant Major)

Lieutenant: 535 Percival Augustus PARSONS. Gosford, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

2nd Lieutenant: 526 Robert Donaldson PERRAU. Hamilton via Newcastle, N.S.W. (D Company-16th Infantry)

Armourer Sergeant: 817 Albert Edward KIRK. Cessnock, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

Sergeant: 2518 George Arthur BLISS. D.C.M. Boolaroo, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

Sergeant. 432 Frederick Gallagher GALLEGHAN. Newcastle, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Sergeant: 434 Robert Talbot GARDNER. Adamstown, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

Sergeant: 109 John HADDOW. (C Company 16th Infantry) Wheeler, Charlestown, N.S.W.

Sergeant: 1151 George Thomas JACKSON. Minmi, N.S.W. (B Company 15th Infantry. Lieutenant)

Sergeant: 561 Cyril SMITH. West Wallsend, N.S.W. (15th Infantry)

Sergeant: 922 Thomas Flood WARDLE. Seahampton via west Wallsend, N.S.W. (15th-16th Infantry)

Temporary Sergeant: 1432 James PATRICK. Blacksmith, New Lambton, N.S.W. (C Company. 16th Infantry)

Lance Sergeant: 2405 Neil Robert SUTHERLAND. Newcastle, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Corporal: 2521 James Burraston ANGOVE. MM. Adamstown , N.S.W. (D Company-16th Infantry)

Corporal: 721 George Lesby BROWN. Lambton, N.S.W. (C Company-16th Infantry)

Corporal: 2916 Clarence GALLOWAY. Merewether, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Corporal: 1449 John "Jack" Drummond JOHNSTON. Wallsend, N.S.W. (15B Wallsend Senior Cadets)

Corporal: 1264 Wilfred Walter TAYLOR. Holmesville via West Wallsend, N.S.W. (E Company-16th Infantry)

Lance Corporal: 2598 Stanley Lloyd HACKWORTHY. (B Company-16th Infantry)

Lance Corporal: 2585 Benjamin Connel HARRIS. Wallsend. (15th Infantry)

Lance Corporal: 806 William Adolphus JOHNSTON. M.M. Barnsley, (E Company- 16th Infantry)

Private: 359 Randolph ADAMSON. Glenoak Public School, N.S.W. (15th Infantry)

Private: 1058 William Hamilton AULD. (16th Infantry)

Private: 22 Joseph Allan BAILLIE. Adamstown, N.S.W. (D Company-16th Infantry )

Private: 1060 Peter BARRASS. (15th Infantry)

Private: 1075 John Matthew BLAKELY. (15th Infantry)

Private: 2277 Robert Douglas BREESE. Islington, N.S.W. (B Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 2540 Harold Edward BROWN. (16th Infantry)

Private: 580 Herbert BULL. Waratah, via Newcastle, N.S.W. (C Company 16th Infantry)

Private: 229 Thomas Henry BURNS. Smedmore, N.S.W. (15th-16th Infantry)

Private: 2421 Leslie CLOUTEN. Toronto, N.S.W. (E Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 1634 Adrian CROESE. Islington, N.S.W. (B Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 2056 Alfred Ernest DAVIES. (E Company-15th Infantry)

Private: 765 James Paul DAVIS. Wickham, N.S.W. (16th Infantry) C Coy 35th BN Under Construction

Private: 779 -1112 Wilfred DENTON. Adamstown, N.S.W. (16th Infantry Band)

Private: 2916 Clarence GALLOWAY. Merewether, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 443 Austin Vincent GARVEN. Merewether, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry Senior Cadets)

Private: 439 Herbert Paul GIDLEY. Hamilton, N.S.W. (B Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 88 Charles John GOULD. Stockton, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 774 Albert GREENFIELD. Killingworth, N.S.W. (A Company-15th Infantry)

Private: 118 John HORN. Teralba, N.S.W. (15th Infantry)

Private: 7489 Harold Unwin HUNT. Grover, Merewether, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry) 25th Reinforcements 13th Battalion AIF)

Private: 466 William JONES. Hamilton, N.S.W. (15th Infantry)

Private: 828 James Muir LECKIE. Baker, West Maitland, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

Private: 503 Robert Peter McQUEEN. Dairyman, Carrington, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry Senior Cadets)

Private: 12584 Robert Harold MORRIS. + Labourer, West Maitland, N.S.W. (16th Infantry Senior Cadets)

Private: 1221 John George PEARCE. Wheeler, Weston, N.S.W. (16th Infantry)

Private: 3432 Earle Desmond ROBSON. Labourer, Hamilton via Newcastle, N.S.W. (D Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 2383 John SLATER. Carrington. N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 584A Reginald John TURNER. Cook's Hill, N.S.W. (A Company-16th Infantry) x 39th Fortress Engineers.

Private: 1275 John Harold WILLIAMS. MM Carrington, N.S.W. (C Company-16th Infantry)

Private: 1274 George WILLIAMS. Minmi, N.S.W. (E Company-16th Infantry)

Driver: 2382 Allan William RICHARDS. Clerk, Newcastle, N.S.W. (D Company-16th Infantry)

7th August 1914.

The Sixteenth Infantry Regiment, the headquarters of which are at Newcastle, will be mobilised tomorrow. A notice appears in this issue, calling on all members, with the exception of the 1898 quota, that is those who joined after June 30th, to parade at the drill hall, Langford-Street, at nine o'clock in the morning, in marching order, and bring all kits with them. The troops will go into camp at the Newcastle racecourse. Colonel Paton is the officer commanding the regiment. Lieutenant Naghten, of the administrative staff, is his adjutant. The 16th Infantry (Newcastle Regiment), less 1896 quota, will mobilise at the Drill Hall, Langford Street, Newcastle, at 9 a.m.

on Saturday, 8th August, 1914. H.Naghten, Lieut. A. and I. Staff. Adjutant 16th Infantry (Newcastle Btn.)

15th-16th Infantry Battalion circa 1916

Newcastle, N.S.W. September 1916. Group portrait of buglers of the 15th and 16th Infantry (Newcastle Battalion) Broadmeadow Camp

From left to right: back row: Thomas C. Atkinson; V. Princehorn; T. Coates; J. Minchin; T. Blaxland; C. Hugo; H. L. Taylor; second row: R. D. Morgan; J. Jefferson; Sergeant-Bugler H. E. Rosevear; Sergeant G. W. Vallender; S. Ott; third row: C. Hughes; J. Morris. All are holding bugles except for Sergeant-Bugler Rosevear and Sergeant Vallender. All are wearing the pre-war shirt or militia tunic and are most probably senior cadets. (Donor T. Atkinson)

15th Infantry Battalion circa 1915 15th Infantry, C Company, Newcastle Battalion (Circa 1915)