Eliza Woods and her brother Aden Eades discuss the World War 2 service of their father Frederick Eades. Frederick spent the first years of the war working on a cargo ship and as a labourer before joining the AIF in 1942, and he served in Borneo in 1945. Frederick enlisted willingly, feeling that he had to defend Australia. Aden was 2 or 3 when his father went to war, and barely knew him when he returned home. Frederick did not receive recognition when he returned from the war, nor did he receive benefits or land. Indeed, it was particularly galling for him that those with whom he served in the war received grants of land. He helped these men on their farms out of a sense of friendship more than anything else. While their father was away, Eliza and Aden’s mother found it hard to support their family, and they supplemented their rations with hunting. Both Eliza and Aden feel strongly that all aboriginal servicemen and women deserve much greater recognition.

This interview took place on 1 September 2015 in Albany and was conducted by Dr Allison Cadzow and Dr Mary Anne Jebb 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), Eliza Woods and Aden Eades. 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 Eliza Woods or Aden Eades’ participant page.