Indigenous Stories
The Memorial is honoured to be able to share the stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
'It’s probably the most challenging thing I’ve ever done'
When Indigenous artist Megan Cope was asked to be an official war artist, she thought of her Uncle Dick, who was killed during the First World War.
First Aboriginal commissioned officer – Reginald Saunders
Many thousands of Australian Aboriginals have enlisted and served in Australia’s defence forces since 1901, and several have won decorations, but the first to be promoted to a commissioned rank was Reg Saunders of Victoria.
Captured in paint - a 69 year old mystery solved.
On 11 June 1945 the Official Australian War Artist Stella Bowen captured the image of an Australian soldier. One critical piece of information was never recorded - his name.
Aboriginal presence on Gallipoli grows
In 2014 the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander soldiers who were known to be involved in the Gallipoli campaign stood at 50 men.
Brothers in Arms and Aboriginal ANZAC Families
The Australian War Memorial has recently added two names to the list of First World War servicemen: James Smale and Walter Edward Smale.
The story of William Charles Westbury Aboriginal Soldier, The Boer War and First World War
William was born in Mount Gambier, South Australia, in 1878.
Indigenous volunteers in the first AIF
Those identified now number more than 1,000
Queen of the desert
Horso Creek Killings by Queenie McKenzie AWM2017.665.1 Copyright the Estate of Queenie McKenzie.
The Black Prince of Gallipoli
Indigenous Officer in the first AIF