Chapter 7 – Jayjay

The First Infantry Battalion War Diary records that on 9 September 1914, “All tents were lowered by 9am as a race meeting was held. Marched to Long Bay Rifle Range. Musketry all day. Marched back to camp arriving 6pm. Musketry was confined to grouping practice. Results were only moderate as men were unacquainted with rifles.” AIF war diaries can be accessed via the Australian War Memorial website:

http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/awm4/

The first route march of the full 1st Brigade (1st to 4th Battalions) to “the heathland overlooking the sea at Maroubra” is mentioned by Charles Bean, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 , vol I, p. 85

Archie Barwick, a private in the 1st Battalion, recorded in his WWI diary, In Great Spirits , how he saw his first aeroplane flying over Randwick early one morning while camped before leaving Sydney  and this was a great distraction for the men (p. 10).

The Musketry Small Book for the Australian Imperial Force , published for the Department of Defence by Angus and Robertson (1916), describes how a soldier should go about setting their rifle sights for accuracy, provides hints on aiming and shooting, and includes the following diagrams to illustrate good shooting technique: