From assembly of the First Convoy in King George Sound in October 1914 until the final repatriations in August 1919, Australia chartered and requisitioned a wide variety of steamships for use as military transports on World War 1. Most were assigned a numerical code and were known as HMAT and their launch name. This sub-collection records many of these vessels who carried Australian volunteers to the war fronts in Europe, South West Asia and the German colonial possessions in the Pacific. The story of civilian vessels requisitioned by Australia began with the 2nd Anglo-Boer War in 1899 and continued during World War 2. This collection assembles those memories. Australian Hospital ships and Army Auxiliary vessels are also included in this Sub Collection as are images of life on board.
