Rosie Ware discusses her family’s experience in the Torres Strait during World War II, both in the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion (TSLIB), and as civilians. Rosie’s father and many of her uncles served in the TSLIB, and were based on Thursday Island. Her mother and other family were left behind on the other islands, which was a difficult experience. Rosie has produced art work that commemorates the TSLIB and the experiences of her family and the broader Torres Strait community in service and on the home front during World War 2.

This interview took place on 10 April 2014 at Thursday Island and was conducted by Dr Allison Cadzow with Craig Greene as part of the Australian Research Council-funded research project Serving our Country: a history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the defence of Australia.

The interview recording above is made available to be viewed here by permission of the interviewee(s), Rosie Ware. The recording may not be copied, reproduced or communicated in whole or in part without the prior permission of the interviewee(s). Requests for permission for use of this material should be made to the Serving our Country research project: our contact details.

• Return to Rosie Ware’s participant page.