Rabbit skin jackets for nurses and and the troops

Australian Motor Transport Supply Column in England:  One of the men wearing one of the rabbit-skin waistcoats presented by the Lady Mayoress of Melbourne. From Page 22 of the Queenslander Pictorial, supplement to The Queenslander, 1 May, 1915 retrieved from http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/191568898

On 17 October 1914 an item appeared in the Avoca Free Press announcing that 8,000 rabbit skins were being sought to supply to nurses who would sew them into jackets for use when working in the open.  This request also appeared in many other newspapers

No title. (1914, October 17). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151624635

While it seems that the nurses would sew their own jackets, Melbourne's Lady Mayoress organised for jackets to be sewn for soldiers. The Echuca and Moama Advertiser and Farmers' Gazette provided details of the design of rabbit skin jackets for the troops. At least 18 rabbit skins would be needed to make a jacket.

RABBIT-SKIN JACKETS. (1914, October 22). Echuca and Moama Advertiser and Farmers' Gazette (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article154400598

The Argus of 27 October provided advice to boys about gathering rabbit skins

 

 In 1917 the Commonwealth Government gazetted a regulation concerning rabbit skins under the War Precautions Act. Regulation 4 provided that:

All rabbit skins shall, unless the Prime Minister otherwise directs, be forwarded to a Government Agent who shall, subject to these Regulations, be authorized to purchase such skins on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.

CONTROL OF TRADE. (1917, May 4). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 9. Retrieved October 27, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1615281

In 1918 the Hatters and Furriers Company Inc. of Connecticut, U.S.A. made a claim against the Australian Government for losses suffered as a result of having to pay more than initially contracted for rabbit skins supplied by Wilcox and Sons, an Australian firm. The Australian Government Solicitor, George Shaw Knowles, was of the opinion that there was no liability of the Australian Government to pay compensation.

Australia was not alone in its use of rabbit skins. This German poster from 1917 is in the collection of Colombia University in the City of New York.

One of the posters from an exhibition at Columbia University in the City of New York: The European Home Front in WWI: Posters from the Frankenhuis Collection retrieved from http://news.columbia.edu/oncampus/3484

The best dressed woman on a European throne in 1914

Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria 1913

On 17 April 1914 the Avoca Mail advised its readers that the Empress of Germany was the "best dressed woman on a European throne." By contrast, Queen Mary of England dressed comparatively plainly and seldom fashionably. As for Queen Wilhelmina, she was accused of showing very bad taste. However, she had an excuse, for from loyalty to her own country she employed only Dutch dressmakers. "Whoever heard of a noted Dutch modiste?" The Empress of Germany bought her dresses in Berlin, London, and Vienna, but not Paris.

A search on Trove shows that this article appeared in at least sixteen other newspapers, with the first article appearing in the Adelaide Advertiser of 3 January 1914 on page 7. The Bruthen and Tambo Times (Vic.) reproduced it on 22 April 1914. Newspapers that syndicated the story include:

    Clunes Guardian and Gazette (Vic.)
    Euroa Advertiser (Vic.)
    Gippsland Mercury (Sale, Vic. )
    Gippslander and Mirboo Times (Vic.)
    Great Southern Advocate (Vic.)
    Kalgoorlie Miner (WA)
    Kyabram Guardian (Vic.)
    Lismore, Derrinallum and Cressy Advertiser (Vic.)
    Shepparton Advertiser (Vic.)
    South Gippsland Shire Echo (Vic.)
    Swan Hill Guardian and Lake Boga Advocate (Vic.)
    The Horsham Times (Vic.)
    The Narracoorte Herald (SA)
    Upper Murray and Mitta Herald (Vic.)

(The larger number of  Victorian newspapers in the list synidicating the article is due to the project to digitise 216 newspapers of the World War I era. The digitisation project was sponsored by local councils, historical societies , the Public Libraries Victoria Network, and the State Library of Victoria.)

On 10 June the Avoca Free Press wrote with enthusiasm about sausage making in Germany.

No title. (1914, June 10). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151625168

Also enthusiastically in June 1914 the Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW) published three paragraphs about Germany, where the sentiment is sympathetic to Germans. One paragraph discusses the craze for clubs and societies in Germany. Another, about diet, mentioned that the battalions of Germany, as well as those of England, have "proved their bravery and endurance on a hundred stubbornly-contested fields". The third paragraph is about a doll belonging to the Empress of Germany, said to be one of her most cherished possessions. (FACTS AND FANCIES. (1914, June 3). The Lockhart Review and Oaklands Advertiser (NSW : 1910 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved October 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137894945)

These examples from the newspapers of early 1914 show no antipathy towards Germans and Germany before the outbreak of World War I.

Barry Wilson

No title. (1914, October 14). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 3, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623934

Barwise Carr Wilson (1874 - 1943), a 40 year old widower with three children and one step child, enlisted at Avoca in October 1914.

Wilson was a coach painter by occupation and had only recently set up business in Avoca.

No title. (1914, June 17). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623918

On enlistment Barry Wilson arranged for his children be boarded with a Mrs Daly of Percydale.

National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office; B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920; Wilson Barwise Carr : SERN 606 : POB Talbot VIC : POE Avoca VIC : NOK N/A. Page 5.

Wilson sailed from Australia on HMAT A10 Karroo on 11 February 1915. He fought at Gallipoli,  most notably at the Battle of Hill 60 where his regiment, the 9th Light Horse, suffered many casualties.

Members of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment standing to in the trenches at Gallipoli. Australian War Memorial image id H02778 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H02778/

A group of 9th Australian Light Horsemen at the foot of Walker's Ridge. (Gallipoli). Australian War Memorial image id C04613 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C04613/

Rhododendron Ridge, Gallipoli. 1915. Members of the 9th Light Horse regiment sniping over the top of the trenches. Australian War Memorial image id P01531.005 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P01531.005/

Although he was not wounded in the Battle of Hill 60, Wilson became ill soon afterwards and after several admissions to hospital was eventually repatriated to Australia on 12 November 1917 and was discharged as medically unfit in January 1918.

NAA:B2455, Wilson B C. Page 18.

NAA:B2455, Wilson B C. Page 19.

In 1916 Wilson wrote to Mrs Daly. His letter probably refers to the Battle of Romani fought 4 to 5 August 1916.

For the Empire. (1916, September 27). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151684914

Masaid, Sinai. c. 1916. The Headquarters of the 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigade and the camp site of the 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment at a post near El Arish. Australian War Memorial image id H13715 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/H13715/

Wilson had been born in Talbot,  25 kilometers east of Avoca.  He was a member of the Australian Natives' Association, a mutual society for men born in the Australian colonies. He received a parcel of tobacco and cigarettes from the Avoca ANA Lodge.

No title. (1917, October 10). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151686116

Trooper Wilson was welcomed home to Avoca in December 1917.

WELCOME HOME TO TROOPER B. C. WILSON. (1917, December 28). Avoca Mail (Vic. : 1915 -1918), p. 2. Retrieved October 5, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article152147949

Avoca Shire Council 30 September 1914

On 30 September 1914 the monthly meeting of the Avoca Shire Council was held at Moonambel. The proceedings were reported in the Avoca Free Press of Saturday 3 October 1914.

Among the items of correspondence considered was an item from the British Empire Trade League.

The Shire Councils were used throughout the war for communication and exhortation about the war effort and related matters.

An invitation from the Borough of Ararat to support another patriotic fund was rejected.

The council considered the level of rates and elected to reduce them due to the drought and the war. The discussion mentioned the possibility of a war tax.