Gordon Marshall discusses his National Service during the Vietnam War, including the rigorous and extreme training he underwent and then the disappointment at his tour of duty being called off at the last minute when Australia pulled out of the war. Gordon also talks about the service of some of his mates who did fight in Vietnam, including the problems they experienced when they returned home. Gordon is very proud of his service, and is very keen to recognise all indigenous servicemen and women, and explains his extensive community service since leaving the army, his involvement in many Anzac Days and his current work with the Derby RSL sub-branch. Gordon also talks about his childhood and family history, including the story of how his mother and cousin were taken away as children to Sister Kate’s Children’s Cottage Home in Perth.

NOTE: This recording is split into two video files as it is too long for a single video file on this system.

This interview took place on 7 and 8 September 2015 in Derby 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. This is the second of three interviews Gordon Marshall was involved in for the project, in the first interview, Gordon was joined by John Watson and Anne Milgin and they spoke about the area around Jarlmadangah, Nookanbah and Derby in the Kimberley during World War 2 - about what people saw and remembered about the army from back then, in the third interview, Gordon and his wife Glynis focused on the service of Gordon’s father John Marshall in World War 2.

The interview recording above is made available to be viewed here by permission of the interviewee(s), Gordon Marshall. 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.

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