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50th Anniversary of the Coo-ee MarchPrint Page Print this page

19-July-2021 (Henry Moulds)
19-July-2021 (Henry Moulds)

Photographs supplied by Peter F Williams / Sandra Brown / Henry Moulds

The marker commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Coo-ee march. It marks the point where the Cooee March commenced, and where Gilgandra’s civic leaders made their final speeches to the volunteers.

Following the disaster of Gallipoli and the heavy casualties in France in the latter half of 1915, recruiting figures for enlistment in World War One had dwindled. Numerous recruiting rallies became increasingly ineffective. It was at this dark hour that Gilgandra's butcher, R.G. Hitchen and his brother Bill, the local plumber, had the idea of organising a route march of volunteers to Sydney, enlisting recruits as they marched. Twenty five men left Gilgandra on the 10th October 1915. They were feted at each town on the route, and the stirring story of their march has become part of the official war history of Australia. Recruitment meetings were held in each centre and their number increased to 263 by the time they reached Sydney on the 12th December 1915.

 

Location

Address:Bridge Street , Gilgandra, 2827
State:NSW
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -31.710075
Long: 148.669138
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Monument
Monument Theme:Conflict
Sub-Theme:WW1
Actual Event Start Date:10-October-1915
Actual Event End Date:10-October-1915

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1965
Front Inscription

The "Coo-ee" March started from here on 10th October 1915

 

Source: SKP, MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au