The military service records of the Coo-ee recruits show that some had previous military service before joining the Coo-ee March.
The following article, transcribed from The Farmer and Settler (15 October 1915, p. 3) lists the previous military service of the original 25 Gilgandra recruits:
‘OLD SOLDIERS.
Eight of the original twenty-five recruits enrolled at Gilgandra had seen previous service:–
Humphrey, Frank—Royston’s Horse, South Africa.
McGregor, A. J.—Commonwealth forces.
McKeown, Jas.—N.S.W. Mounted Rifles, South Africa.
McNamara, John—R.A.A. Brabant’s Horse, Light Horse.
Pearce, A. W.—R.A. Artillery.
Quinn, John—R.A. Engineers and R.A. Artillery.
Stephens, S. E.—R.A.N.R., New Guinea Expedition.
White, F.N.—Royal East Kent Mounted Rifles.’
Old soldiers (Farmer & Settler, 15/10/1915)
Click here to view the article on Trove: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article116673888
1915 Coo-ee March 