Genealogy Chat

Why would an english person have joined the Australian Army? Is it likely that they emigrated prior to the war or was it common for english people to join up abroad?

One of my ancestors was in the Autralian Army:

WEBSTER, Lieutenant Tom., C Squadron.
Born Mercaston, Derbyshire, England. Age at enlistment: 23. Religion: Prot. Single. Grazier, of Sarum Bell, Queensland.
Next of kin: Father; William Webster, of Pebble Hall, Theddingworth, Rugby, England.
Source: Original, joined Regiment 08 Dec 1914. Trooper - Lieutenant.
Wounded November 7 1917
Died Of Wounds 8 Nov 1917 in Palestine. Grave: Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel, Q.72..

I have downloaded his service records from the Australian National Archives site but am intrigued as to why he joined the Aussie Army? There are letters among his service records that show his mother living in Sarum Bell, Queensland but all correspondence to his father is addressed to/from Rugy, England.

Any ideas? Are there any sites for passenger lists to Australia?
Sam x

Found this chap on the Findmypast lists. No guarantee that he's yours, but the age does seem to tie in.


Passenger lists leaving UK 1890-1960

Name: Mr Tom WEBSTER
Date of departure: 3 August 1907
Port of departure: Liverpool
Destination port: Sydney
Destination country: Australia

Age: 16
Marital Status: Single
Sex: Male
Occupation: Clerk
Notes:
Passenger recorded on: Page 9 of 11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ship: AFRIC
Official Number: 0
Master's name: F B Howarth
Steamship Line: S/s Afric
Where bound: Sydney, Australia
Square feet: 10559
Registered tonnage: 11948
Passengers on voyage: 343

Thanks Sue, it's definately a start!

Sam x

My grans Brother went to Australia in the early 1900.s and joined the Australian Army in 1916

He gave his Mum still in England as his next of kin and amended her address when she moved !

I have just managed to download his records too from the National Archives Australia site ( been trying for ages but not getting further than his record transcript coming up as site was very busy) Anyway he came to london in 1917 some three months after he joined up and then got appendicitis and ended up being medically discharged later in 1917 .he was repatriated back to Australia. Bet it was nice seeing him Mum and family tho whist he was here. His Mum died in 1919!.

Shirley

Similarly two of my great-great uncles emigrated from London to Australia in their teens to work on a sheep farm. They both joined the ANZACs near Melbourne when they were 18 and unfortunately were both killed at the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium.

I would imagine there would be a fair bit of pressure to join up and fight a common enemy. After all, Australia had very close links with Britain, sharing the same Queen.