Image from Sydney Festival
a work in progress
The full story of Aboriginal servicemen in World War I is something that is still being researched and studied. It remains unclear how many actually served and the numbers given were 300 to 400 men. The Australian War Memorial now believes up to 800 may actually have been involved.
commonwealth defence act
The Commonwealth Defence Act 1909 prevented any male who was not 'substantially of British descent' from enlisting. This meant that Aboriginal people could only enlist by hiding their Aboriginality. Many were excluded from the services during the early stages of the war but when the 1916 conscription referendum failed and demand for more troops became desperate, regulations relaxed. It was decided that part- Aborigines (called 'half-castes' at the time) could be accepted providing the medical examiner was convinced that one of the parents was of ''European descent'.
These restrictions mirror the highly racist nature of Australia at the time. Aboriginal people had very limited rights and in the most part could not vote or hold property rights. Their civil liberties were also severely restricted and they were being forcibly moved onto reserves and missions. Their families could be broken up and children taken at will. Why then, would young Aboriginal men decide to fight for the British cause in World War I?
These restrictions mirror the highly racist nature of Australia at the time. Aboriginal people had very limited rights and in the most part could not vote or hold property rights. Their civil liberties were also severely restricted and they were being forcibly moved onto reserves and missions. Their families could be broken up and children taken at will. Why then, would young Aboriginal men decide to fight for the British cause in World War I?
Aboriginal soldiers and their brides at a dual wedding after returning from the war
Links to more information
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TASK
After you explore this website answer the following questions in any form that you like; you may like to draw a cartoon to show your understanding, make a voice recording or write your answers in the form of a letter or a short report. Make sure that you write in full sentences if you choose to answer in writing and think deeply about your response (it needs to be at least a full page).
1. Why would Aboriginal men want to enlist when they were being treated so poorly in Australia? 2. Describe the experience of war from the perspective of an Aboriginal soldier. 2. What was it like for the Aboriginal soldiers when they returned home (make sure you refer to at least 3 examples)? |