Item ST 35987 Document - Clothing Sizes, Rottnest Guard, World War I, circa 1915

Summary

Hand-written list of personnel, corresponding regiments, clothing and boot sizes for the Rottnest Guard, and a list of blankets and equipment of Transport Guard, circa 1915.

At the outbreak of World War I, the Commonwealth Government took over Rottnest Island, near Perth, for use as an internment camp. Internees were considered 'emeny aliens', many from Slavic regions, under the control of the Austro-Hungarian empire, as well as people of German and Austrian origin. The camp held almost 1000 men before it was closed in late 1915, and the internees were transferred Garden Island camp in Western Australia and then to Holsworthy in New South Wales.

Physical Description

The list of clothing sizes consists of ten lined foolscap pages secured with rusted safety pin at centre of lefthand edge. Handwritten text in pen and pencil organized into ruled columns with the headings Reg No., Rank., Name, Hats, Boots, Breeches, Shirts. The list of blankets, equipment etc of Transport Guard consists of nine lined foolscap pages secured with metal split-pin and string at upper left corner.