Jackie McDonald and Trish Borg discuss the ‘Men from Solomon’s Row’ in Murwillumbah who enlisted and served in World War 1. No less than 18 men from 16 houses enlisted from Solomon’s Row including Trish Borg’s grandfather Arthur Sinclair and Jackie McDonald’s great uncle Arthur Brown who both served at Gallipoli. Arthur Sinclair returned wounded to Australia but Arthur Brown died at Gallipoli on Hill 971 in August 1915. Trish and Jackie speak about the process of discovering and researching the shared histories of their families through the connections of the men from Solomon’s row who served, and the women and families of that generation that were impacted by this service.

This interview took place on 22 April 2015 in Tweed Heads and was conducted by Dr Allison Cadzow with Craig Greene and Magali McDuffie 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. Joyce Frater was also present during this interview which is the first of two Jackie gave for the project, Jackie’s second interview focuses on her grandfather’s side of the family.

The interview recording above is made available to be viewed here by permission of the interviewee(s), Jackie McDonald and Trish Borg. 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 Jackie McDonald or Trish Borg’s participant page.