A History of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in the Defence of Australia
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Serving our Country: Indigenous Australians, war, defence and citizenship

One of the major outcomes of the Serving our Country research project, Serving our Country:Indigenous Australians, war, defence and citizenship, has just been published by NewSouth Publish

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Serving our Country: Indigenous Australians, war, defence and citizenship

Missing voices: Aboriginal experiences in the Great War

Aboriginal involvement in World War I is at once complex and full of contradictions.

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‘Victory Celebrations at Terry-hie-hie’, Sydney Mail, 18 December 1918, 25.

Len Waters included in the Australian Dictionary of Biography

Leonard Victor Waters (Len) (1924–1993), shearer and airman, was born on 20 June 1924 at Euraba Aboriginal Mission near Boomi, New South Wales … Len enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF

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Len Waters, 1940s, Courier Mail.

Aboriginal Enlistment During World War I

A century ago in May 1917, the Australian Army issued a Military Order stating that “half castes may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force providing that the examining Medical Officers are s

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William Rawlings, a Victorian Aboriginal man who enlisted at Warrnambool on 14 March 1916. Serving in the 29th Battalion on the Western Front, Rawlings was awarded the Military Medal for his feats during successful advances along Morlancourt Ridge on 28-29 July 1918. Ten days later he was killed in action at Vauvillers (Image AWM).
Vietnam veteran Mick Markham being interviewed by Michael Dodson and Allison Cadzow for the Serving Our Country project at his home in Pine Creek, Northern Territory, 14 September 2015. Photograph by Craig Greene.

Serving Our Country participant profiles and interviews

15 December 2017

You can now view over 180 Serving Our Country Participant profiles and interviews on the Yarn...

Len Waters, 1940s, Courier Mail.

WWII RAAF veteran Len Waters included in the Australian Dictionary of Biography

22 May 2017

Leonard Victor Waters (Len) (1924–1993), shearer and airman, was born on 20 June 1924 at Euraba Aboriginal Mission near Boomi, New South Wales … Len enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (...

William Rawlings, a Victorian Aboriginal man who enlisted at Warrnambool on 14 March 1916. Serving in the 29th Battalion on the Western Front, Rawlings was awarded the Military Medal for his feats during successful advances along Morlancourt Ridge on 28-29 July 1918. Ten days later he was killed in action at Vauvillers (Image AWM).

Aboriginal Enlistment During World War I

09 May 2017

A century ago in May 1917, the Australian Army issued a Military Order stating that “half castes may be enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force providing that the examining Medical Officers are...

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Updated:  16 July 2015/Responsible Officer:  Director, Serving our Country/Page Contact:  CAP Web Team