Embarkation of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) for New Guinea, 19 August...

Previously H11558. (Press photo). Ministers caption: 'Embarkation of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force for New Guinea, 19 August 1914' At the request of the British Government a special force, the Australian Navy and Military Expeditionary Force, was raised between 10 August 1914 and 18 August 1914, and despatched against the neighbouring German colonies. It was a volunteer force, enlisted partly from the naval reserves in the various states and partly from the militia. A portion of the military contingent is shown, being ferried down Sydney Harbour in course of embarkation. These were the first infantry to leave Australia.