Indigenous veterans
General history
The struggle for equality for Indigenous Australians was long and slow through the twentieth century, while thousands of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders fought and many died for their country. The Australian War Memorial (AWM) encyclopedia gives a concise recount of the Indigenous military experience, while the site Indigenous Australians at War presents a more personal perspective. The AWM resource book Too Dark for the Light Horse (.pdf 611 kB) has plenty of detail and a series of primary sources and activities. Acknowledging the role of Indigenous military service and comparing that with the treatment of Aboriginal peoples at home are themes of this short ANZAC Day video (YouTube, requires teacher access). The ABC’s Message Stick gives greater depth to these issues in transcripts for the programs ‘The Forgotten’ and ‘Lest We Forget’. In recent years, long overdue recognition has been paid to Indigenous veterans. The Headstone project, managed by an Aboriginal Vietnam War veteran, aims to restore dignity to 400 ‘forgotten’ soldiers. In Sydney, this ceremony (see photo) acknowledges the contribution of Australia’s Indigenous armed forces. |
Case studiesPrivate Steve Dodd, South Korea, March 1953 Harry Thorpe was one of about 400 Indigenous Australians who volunteered for World War I. Find out more about Harry Thorpe by examining his military record. A generation later the most decorated Aboriginal soldier was Reg Saunders who fought in both World War II and the Korean War. Also serving in Korea was Private Steve Dodd who would later pursue a distinguished acting career. Indigenous unitsDuring World War II the Aboriginal Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit had a unique function in warning of Japanese attacks. It still operates today. The Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion were also involved in the northern defence of Australia. |
ActivitiesComplete a brief biography of Harry Thorpe using his military record. Thorpe was one of 60, 000 Australians who did not return from World War I. Indigenous soldiers who did come home were ‘welcomed’ by the same discrimination that existed before the war. This timeline contrasts some of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the First and Second World Wars with their treatment by military and civilian authorities in mid-twentieth century Australia. Reg Saunders was one person who fought not only his enemies on the battlefield but also the stereotyped attitudes towards Aboriginal people. Complete this quiz about his life. To complete your study of Indigenous military history, consider these discussion points. Syllabus linksThe resources linked from this Sites2See provide students with the opportunity to work toward the following outcomes taken from the NSW History 7-10 Syllabus (.pdf 435 kB). |