Database
Each apprentice had an Immigration Department file which is now archived at State Records of South Australia (series GRG7/3). Please see the following index to the files, including:
- the apprentices' names;
- their dates of birth or ages;
- the ships and dates they arrived on;
- their home address and parents'/guardians' name;
- their host farmers and farms; and
- if applicable, their World War I Australian Imperial Force (AIF) regimental number.
Note this index has more detail than the hardcopy 'special list' available from State Records (created by Graham Savage in 1995).
Download the database in Microsoft Excel
Approx. 200KB, best printed on A3 paper. Don't have Excel? Download Microsoft's free Excel Viewer.
Once you have found a person, place or organisation of interest, please:
- consult these maps showing the locations of the apprentices' homes in Britain and host farms in South Australia;
- browse or search this website to see if any further information is available here; and
- consult the guide to primary sources if you are interested in undertaking further research (you are warmly invited to contribute to the website).
Missing Files
The following file numbers are missing from State Records series GRG7/3: 98, 111, 112, 154, 155. They are at the beginning/end of each shipment, so it is possible that the numbers were not used. However, Peter Grant has checked the shipping lists and it is likely that either files 111/112 or 154/155 related to:
- George James Akehurst, 16 years old
- Sam Robinson, 19yo
Both boys travelled without their parents on the SS Irishman.
George is almost certainly a close relation (if not the brother) of Charles Akehurst (19yo), who also travelled on the Irishman. Both boys were from Rusthall and were probably recruited by the Kent Colonising Association. George's regimental number was 2327.
Sam Robinson was from Thatto Heath, St Helens, Lancashire (son of Thomas and Martha Robinson) and his regimental number was 3743. His address at time of enlistment (24/8/1915) was William Street, Wallaroo, but his occupation was not related to farming. Gunner Robinson was killed in action on 26/11/1916 and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.