Claude McDermott talks about his son Shannon’s service in the army in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq. Claude discusses his son’s entry into the army and service in recent conflicts, the skills the army gave him, and the continuing impacts of this service on his son and his family, and those mates he served with.

This interview took place on 23 April 2015 in Tweed Heads 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. Reuben Chadburn and Jackie McDonald were also present at this interview.

The interview recording above is made available to be viewed here by permission of the interviewee(s), Claude McDermott. 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 Claude McDermott’s participant page.