A born leader
Using this page, complete the quiz on the life and career of Reg Saunders.
Question 1
Which of these statements about Reg Saunders is true?
- He grew up away from his family
- He served in the first AIF
- He was killed in action in Korea
- He enlisted when under age
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- Correct. He spent 10 years at the Lake Condah Mission with just his brother.
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Question 2
Which of Reg Saunders’ relatives also served in Australia’s defence forces?
- Brother
- Father
- Uncle
- All of the above
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- Correct. His father and uncle served in World War I and his brother in World War II.
Question 3
Reg Saunders was the first Indigenous Australian to be a commissioned soldier. From the page we can deduce that a ‘commissioned’ soldier is:
- a soldier killed in action
- a soldier who has received military decoration
- a soldier holding the rank of at least Second Lieutenant
- anyone in the army.
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- Correct. Sergeants and below were non-commissioned officers.
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Question 4
The page includes many historical sources. Which of these is a secondary source?
- The photo of his battalion
- The letter to Gordon Rowe
- The oil painting of Reg Saunders
- The military medals of Reg Saunders
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- Correct. It was painted in 1978, well after Reg Saunders' time in the army.
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Question 5
In the letter to Rev. Rowe, Reg Saunders revealed a belief that:
- Aboriginal peoples must accomplish things to change attitudes towards them
- Aboriginal peoples would be inspired by motivational speeches
- his actions were responsible for a more positive attitude towards Aboriginal peoples
- all of these statements are true.
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- Correct. Reg Saunders believed that the changing of (the negative attitude towards Aboriginal peoples) rest(ed) with the Aborigines themselves'.
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Question 6
Reg's preference for fighting was in:
- Crete
- the desert
- Greece
- New Guinea
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- Correct. He said 'I preferred fighting in the jungle. You had more cover in the jungle. And, being a bush boy, I was at home in the jungle'.
Question 7
Which of these honours did Reg Saunders not achieve?
- Graduation from Officer Training School
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
- Military Medal
- US Presidential Unit Citation
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- Correct. His uncle received the Military Medal in World War I.
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