English: This photograph depicts troops of the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, marching along Macquarie Street for final embarkation on HMAS BERRIMA. The troops comprised a small volunteer force of about 2,000 men, whose purpose was to seize and destroy German wireless stations in German New Guinea. HMAS BERRIMA departed Sydney the following day, on 19 August 1914 and the troops returned on 16 January 1915. The Sydney Morning Herald reported on 19 August 1914:

'Despite the fact that nothing was published in the papers about the march, there were tens of thousands thronging the streets to see the first division of the great expeditionary force.'
'Our Troops March Through the City', 19 August 1914, The Sydney Morning Herald, p. 12. trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15530850
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This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum’s Samuel J. Hood Studio collection. Sam Hood (1872-1953) was a Sydney photographer with a passion for ships. His 60-year career spanned the romantic age of sail and two world wars. The photos in the collection were taken mainly in Sydney and Newcastle during the first half of the 20th century.
If reproduced or distributed, this image should be clearly attributed to the collection of the Australian National Maritime Museum; and not be used for any commercial or for-profit purposes without the permission of the museum. For more information see our Flickr Commons Rights Statement.
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Photographer: Samuel J. Hood Studio Collection

Object no. 00024576