The unknown story of 13 Aboriginal servicemen from Western Australia who fought at Gallipoli have been brought to light in a new book.Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier said ‘They Served with Honour: Untold Stories of Western Australian Aboriginal Servicemen at Gallipoli’ was remarkable.
“These men enlisted to serve their county despite being subject to restrictive laws that excluded them from the wider non-Aboriginal society,” Mr Collier said.
The opportunity to serve gave Aboriginal men and women throughout the country the means to achieve a degree of equality not experienced since European settlement.
The stories not only look at the soldiers’ war experiences but also touch on their lives prior to enlisting and following their return.
“There are tales of courage, valour, of finding love, and of their continued struggles after the war,” the Minister said.
“Denied equal rights, their transition to civilian life was traumatic, and military service had done little to enhance their ability to obtain full-time work.
“They could not even attend an RSL club to share a beer with their fellow soldiers.
“This publication is the first step in ensuring that the contribution of Western Australian Aboriginal servicemen in World War I is recognised and preserved forever.”
Gallipoli’s Aboriginal servicemen honoured added by Indian newspaper Sydney on
View all posts by Indian newspaper Sydney →