Constant rain didn’t dampen the spirit of the 34 men and women who re-enacted the Cooee march through the Blue Mountains last week.
The participants were greeted with a warm reception as they made their way along the same route as the original marchers 100 years before them.
After departing Gilgandra with 26 keen army recruits — mostly in their mid to late teens — the Cooees grew to about 180 on arrival in Mt Victoria on November 4, 1915. According to newspaper reports at the time, between 24 and 44 young men had signed up by the time they reached Penrith.
On arrival in Sydney on November 12, they had 263 recruits in their ranks.
Cooee re-enactment president Brian Bywater told the Gazette the event was the first World War I recruitment march in the British Empire and was the idea of Bill Hitchen, the captain of the Gilgandra Rifle Club and his brother, Dick.
“It was so successful it led to eight more recruitment march routes in NSW alone,” Mr Bywater said.
“Things were really bad at the time and news was coming in of Diggers being killed in Gallipoli, so for young lads to walk away from their farm, town or job was a huge thing to do.”
Organising committee member and fellow Gilgandra resident Don Kannaugh agreed.
“They came looking for a big adventure, as most hadn’t been to Sydney before, let alone overseas,” Mr Kannaugh said.
“They didn’t know what they were getting themselves in for, but they were joining so they could assist their mates who’d gone to the Dardenelles. Many never returned.
“It was needed at the time, but we don’t want to ever see a need for these types of recruitment marches again.
“For the schoolkids who saw the re-enactment pass through their town, it would be nice if it sticks in their memory.”
Mr Bywater said the mood among the re-enactment volunteers and support crew “built up as the march went, as I’m sure it would have done back then”.
“We told them all once we got to the Blue Mountains . . . don’t worry — it’s all downhill from here.
“The main reason we are doing this, apart from marking 100 years since the Cooee march, is for education and greater awareness.
“It’s so important that our kids understand the history of it and what it represents.
“Mateship — that would be the number one thing.”
The marchers arrived in Mount Victoria last Wednesday before making their way down the Mountains by Friday.