41st Infantry Battalion. (Blue Mountaineers)

41st Infantry Battalion (Blue Mountaineer)

Pre Word 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

By the year 1912 a percentage of the local 3rd Australian Infantry Regiment was made up with a Battalion of the re-organised 41st Infantry Regiment of the 11th Brigade to train Senior Cadets. The military districts were then divided into large areas, some some of which did not coincide with some State boundaries (e.g.) Broken Hill extended into South Australia. the

The districts were then divided into brigades, and each brigade consisted of three battalions, each had between eight and twelve companies that were grouped for simplicity of supervision. The 41st Infantry Battalion was known as the (Blue Mountaineers) and had four companies allocated to the senior cadets in the city of Bathurst, the companies that represented the local schools and boys that already had left school were.

"K" Company - Town Boys.

"L" Company - All Saints College.

"M" Company - Public High School & No: 2 District School.

"N" Company - St Stanislaus College.

The cadets were required to train on alternate nights or afternoons at their respective schools or at the Drill Hall that was once on the corner of Durham and George Streets. The cadets were under the overall administration of the District Area Officer, Captain R.H. BROWNING. All cadets were trained along the same principles as infantry soldiers, and when attaining the age of eighteen, were eligible to enlist in the partly Volunteer Militia of this city. The 41st (Blue Mountaineers) senior cadets and a battalion of the 42nd (Lachlan Macquarie) senior cadets, were closely linked in the Western area.

(History of the Bathurst Contingents. Denis J Chamberlain. 1987)

41st Infantry Band 1914. Bathurst Court House Steps

Sergeant: 3284 Alfred Edward DORRELL Staff Sergeant; Instructional Staff. (41st Infantry) Guilford, N.S.W.

Corporal: 3124 John SIMMONS. Clerk, Bondi, N.S.W (41st Infantry)

Lance Corporal: 2917 Victor Thomas WHATLEY. (41st Infantry)

Cadet: B. HOWE. (M Company 41st Infantry Battalion) Public High School & No: 2 District School. No War Service.

Australian Senior Cadet Competitions, Brigade Series Competition 1913-14, silver badge. Cadet. B. HOWE. M. Coy. 41st Battn. Engraved. Good very fine.

Ex Warwick G.Cary Collection