World War 1, the Cornstalks Rally

STEP BACK IN TIME.

World War 1, The Cornstalks Rally.

1st March, 1916.

After the devastation of the Gallipoli campaign and the need for more soldiers to be sent to the front, the government of the day was considering conscription to get the required numbers. This was strongly opposed throughout the country, so the great recruitment drives for volunteers began.

A lot has been heard and written about the great recruitment marches that went from town to town. The Coo-ee March from Gilgandra, and the Kangaroo March from Wagga during 1915 are perhaps two of the better known. However these long marches going all the way to Sydney meant that a lot of the participants arrived at the city camps unfit for any military service. The Central Recruiting Committee decided that if men could be recruited in, or close to, a central country town and pass their medicals there, then there would not be such a loss of eligible recruits.

Temora was chosen as one of these towns to host such a rally. Temora was to become the centre of a month long recruiting drive in February 1916 which would culminate in a rally on March 1st, 1916. Consequently Recruitment Officers arrived from Sydney. These men were all servicemen who had come home from the Front. They were welcomed to the area with much fanfare and many speeches by the civic fathers. Then a huge push began to get young men to sign up. The pressure on the young men of the time to join up was enormous.

Accompanying the Recruitment Officers were members of the local War Committee. Together they travelled as far as Yalgogrin, Marsden,Wyalong, Barellan, Narraburra, Grogan, Stockinbingal, Bectric, Sebastopol and all centres in between.

The month long campaign was widely reported in the local paper as well as in the Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney Sun, and the Farmer and Settler. Open air meetings were held with large crowds attending. At one meeting on February 16th, thirteen volunteers signed up.

The local Recruiting Depot was set up in the Miller and James building. Meetings continued, with many long, but apparently inspiring speeches. The Temora Independent was able to report that nine men had volunteered on one Saturday alone, and that the daily average was being well maintained.

“This fully justified the establishment of a local depot,” stated one member of the Temora Recruiting Committee.

During the month a great deal of preparation went into working up this rally. The local and district recruits were being brought together under the banner of “The Cornstalks”. The local cinema operator was contracted to take a photo of the march in Temora. The local business houses were asked to decorate their buildings. The local newspaper ran patriotic advertisements and the cinema showed films from the war glorifying heroism and support for the Mother Country. In the churches, ministers and priests spoke from the pulpit on duty and sacrifice. Cornstalk badges were sold.

A large programme of music, singing and recitations was prepared. The Wyalong and Barmedman sub-committees were asked to attend to help co-ordinate the plans for the big day. A special train was also requested for March.

As recruits were signed up, they were asked to wear a blue ribbon with “Cornstalks” printed in gold on it. “Cornstalk” badges were also being sold.

The local ladies were in charge of the banquet preparation. They also had a pair of hand knitted socks to present to each recruit on the day.

When the final day came, the recruits assembled at the Depot, where they received their badges.

The procession then formed up, led by the Temora Town Band and cars containing the Mayor and members of the War Service Committee and the representatives from the other district centres. These were followed by the “Cornstalks”, the junior cadets, the boy scouts and the general public. The march then made its way to the local railway station.

After the trains arrived, the now enlarged procession marched back to the Star Theatre via Baker St, Victoria St and Hoskins St. At the theatre, the “Cornstalks” were entertained at afternoon tea by the Temora ladies. Valedictory and patriotic speeches were made by the Mayor and many others. A musical programme then followed until it was time for the recruits to depart for the railway station, where they caught the train taking them to Cootamundra. Here they would go into camp for training.

Despite the intensity of the campaign, the number of recruits who enlisted did not meet expectations. Apparently many recruits had previously enlisted and already gone to the Cootamundra camp. However the final number of young men who enlisted for that day was 130.

After the event, the local paper berated the “nervous brigade” of those who had not volunteered. One reason for the lighter than expected numbers was that harvesting was still in progress.

The “Cornstalk” Rally did prove that the Central District Rally System (all the local recruits were “effectives”) was superior to the Route March System where the strength of the contingent after a long and fatiguing march may be seriously diminished by the time of the medical and military tests.

This article was compiled by Wilma and Ken McCubbin from articles in The Temora Independent newspapers, February and March, 1916......

On March 1st next year, this campaign for volunteers and its special farewell day will be exactly 100 years ago. As a notable time in our town’s history, surely as a part of our World War 1 remembrance, this day deserves some form of commemorating.

The Temora Heritage Committee feel that an event up at our local railway station would be a good idea, but support to organize and run such an event is needed. If any group or persons are interested in assisting or participating, would they please contact Wilma McCubbin on 0488 557 419.