Darley Camp

History

World War Two had a big impact on Bacchus marsh by the Darley Camp. There were many local enlistments, and non-combatants gave unstinted support to patriotic efforts which included a local unit of the Volunteer Defence Corps. In late 1940 a military camp was established at Darley. Over its time is has accommodated the AIF, Militia and Women's Units, officers schools, transport schools, etc., as well as United states marines and draftees, and Netherlands colonial troops from Indonesia and Guiana

After the defeat of the Japanese repatriated prisoners or war were brought to the Darley Camp Hospital by the Red Cross.

By 1957 only bitumen roadways and slabs of concrete indicated the site of the Darley Military Camp.

To provide facilities in the town for soldiers on leave from the camp, citizens of Bacchus Marsh formed the "Bacchus Marsh Soldiers' Welfare Committee". Thanks to co-operation between the Shire Council and the R.S.L> War Service Fund, a large recreation room was built in brick as an addition to the existing R.S.L. clubrooms erected in 1921. The room was furnished through the generosity of donors. The recreation room was equipped with up-to-date buffet and gas hot water service, ping pong tables, radio set, piano, reading and writing facilities, library books, gramophone and records, parlour games, etc. The community were able to keep the room and canteen open seven nights per week for five years under a voluntary staffing on a roster system. On peak Sundays the canteen dispensed up to 400 serves of refreshments. At the end of the war the Welfare Committee handed overt its remaining funds to renovate the clubrooms before handing them over to teh Bacchus Marsh Sub-branch, R.S.L.

See also

Bacchus Marsh

Darley

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