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?

  1. He grew up away from his family
  2. He served in the first AIF
  3. He was killed in action in Korea
  4. He enlisted when under age
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  1. 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?

  1. Brother
  2. Father
  3. Uncle
  4. All of the above
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  4. 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:

  1. a soldier killed in action
  2. a soldier who has received military decoration
  3. a soldier holding the rank of at least Second Lieutenant
  4. anyone in the army.
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  3. 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?

  1. The photo of his battalion
  2. The letter to Gordon Rowe
  3. The oil painting of Reg Saunders
  4. The military medals of Reg Saunders
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  3. 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:

  1. Aboriginal peoples must accomplish things to change attitudes towards them
  2. Aboriginal peoples would be inspired by motivational speeches
  3. his actions were responsible for a more positive attitude towards Aboriginal peoples
  4. all of these statements are true.
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  1. 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:

  1. Crete
  2. the desert
  3. Greece
  4. New Guinea
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  4. 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?

  1. Graduation from Officer Training School
  2. Member of the Order of the British Empire
  3. Military Medal
  4. US Presidential Unit Citation
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  3. Correct. His uncle received the Military Medal in World War I.
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Solution