Army Apprentices

1965, 20 Minutes

In 1948, the Australian Regular Army (ARA) opened a trade training school outside Melbourne in Victoria to meet the growing technological needs of the post-war Australian Army. From across Australia, under-mature age soldiers between 15 and 17½ years old were enlisted after a challenging selection process to undergo a live–in, three–year trade qualifying course at the Army Apprentices School (AAS) located at Balcombe Army Camp, Mt Martha.

This short film shows life for apprentices at the Army Apprentices School in 1965, where they received an excellent education, trade and military training.

Graduates included architectural draughtsmen, blacksmiths, bricklayers, carpenters and joiners, clerks, electrical fitters, electricians, electronics technicians, fitters and turners, motor mechanics, musicians, plumbers and gasfitters, radio and telecom mechanics and welders.

© National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.

https://austarmyapprentice.org/