Australian War Memorial Logo
Search
  • Online Shop Use this login for Shop items, and image, film, sound reproductions
    Cart  |  Log In
  • Collection Open Information Close Information
    • Official Histories & Unit Diaries
    • Understanding the Collection
    • Research at the Memorial
    • Donating to the Collection
    • National Collection Loans
    • Projects
  • People
  • Visit Open Information Close Information
    • Visitor Information
    • Exhibitions
    • Schools
    • Memorial Development Project
    • Research Centre
  • Commemorate Open Information Close Information
    • Last Post Ceremony
    • Honour Rolls
    • Anzac Day
    • Remembrance Day
    • Customs & Ceremony
    • Speeches
  • Learn Open Information Close Information
    • Schools & Teachers
    • Memorial Articles
    • Encyclopedia
    • Understanding Military Structure
    • Podcasts
    • Glossary
    • Wartime Magazine
  • Get Involved Open Information Close Information
    • Donations & Bequests
    • Corporate Partnership
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Volunteer at the Memorial
    • Friends of the Memorial
    • eMemorial Newsletter
    • Grants, Scholarships & Residencies
    • Research Papers
  • Shop Open Information Close Information
    • Help and Information
    • Lone Pine Seedlings
    • Images, film and sound

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Memorial Articles
  3. Blog
  4. Indigenous volunteers in the first AIF

Main navigation

  • Our People
  • Our Work
  • Our Organisation
  • Media Centre
  • Memorial Articles
    • Australians and Peacekeeping
    • Australians at war
    • Gulf War 1990-1991
    • Journal of the Australian War Memorial
    • Korean War 1950 - 1953
    • NAIDOC Week 2020
    • RAAF Centenary
    • Victory in the Pacific Day
  • Speeches

Indigenous volunteers in the first AIF

Michael Bell

04 July 2017
3 mins read

Those identified now number more than 1,000

In 1931 and 1932 Reveille, the journal of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia (the predecessor of today’s Returned and Services League or RSL) published lists of Aboriginal men who had served in the First World War. The journal identified 289 Aboriginal men.That figure was a little misleading and contained some errors, as these lists named volunteers only from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The service of Aboriginal men was then forgotten and assigned as a footnote, presumably never to play a part of Australia’s history of this conflict.

Collection Item C2145978

Accession Number: AWM2016.641.2

Wedding portrait of William Wallace Chatfield and his bride, Mary Jane Cain.

In the early to mid-1970s Dr. Chris Clark discovered these lists and recognised their significance, which sparked an interest in identifying and recognising this contribution. In 2017 those named number 1,015 at the time of this post. This number will continue to rise, thanks to the wave of interest in Australia today to fully understand the past and to discover the stories of these Indigenous Australian diggers during the current centenary commemorations.

Collection Item C258666

Accession Number: P01695.002

Studio portrait of Aboriginal serviceman, 5459 Corporal (Cpl) Harry Thorpe MM. 

Although this focus and renewed interest has assisted the process of identifying Indigenous service, most of the additional names come from a dedicated group of enthusiastic and committed researchers. Philippa Scarlett took the number to 945, ably assisted by Christine Cramer, in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteers for the AIF: the Indigenous response to World War One. Christine and Philippa have recently added another 151 names; refer to “Aboriginal service in WW1: 151 names added to the growing list of aif volunteers” at https://indigenoushistories.com/

Collection Item C1068779

Accession Number: P00889.007

The wedding party at the double wedding of two members of the 11th Light Horse Regiment outside St Lukes Church of England. Left to right: 2433 Trooper (Tpr) James Lingwoodock, a Kanak from Gin Gin, Qld, Mrs Daisy Lingwoodock (nee Roberts), unidentified, 2429 Tpr John Geary, an Aboriginal serviceman from Bundaberg, Qld, The Reverend W P B Miles; and Mrs Alice Geary (nee Bond). 

Philippa and Christine’s work and research are responsible for the confirmation of the majority of the new names. The Australian War Memorial would like to thank those who have shared their research or given advice, including Aunt Margaret Beadman, AWM volunteer; Major Lea Dunn; Uncle Des Crump; the State Library of Queensland; Sandra Smith of Dubbo, NSW; Peter Bakker of Cranbourne Victoria; Mia and Ivan Copley, South Australia; Andrea Gerrard, Tasmania; Jan “Kabarli” James and Jade Balfour, Western Australian; Uncle Gary Oakley, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Service and Veterans Association; Joy Pickett and Nancy Wiese; and the Coonabarabran DPS Local and Family History Group. Thanks go especially to the countless family and community members who have provided individual names, background, images and support.

These new numbers are particularly valuable, as under the Australian constitution, Aboriginal people were not recognised as citizens. The 1903 Defence Act specifically exempted those “not of substantial European descent” from service in cadets and the militia. Over 1,000 volunteers wanted to do their part in the defence of a nation that had taken so much from them less than 4 or 5 generations before.

The new names and the full list.

Collection Item C1068777

Accession Number: P00889.005

Studio portrait of two Aboriginal servicemen from Taree, NSW; 6564 Private (Pte) William "Nip" Simon (left) and 6551 Pte Harold Howard Maher.

About the author

Michael Bell is a Ngunnawal/Gomeroi man and is the Indigenous Liaison Officer with the Australian War Memorial. He is trying to identify and research the extent of the contribution and service of any person of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who has served, or is currently serving, or has any military experience and/or contributed to the war effort.

Michael would like to get further details of the military history of all of these people and their families.

He can be contacted via Michael.Bell@awm.gov.au

Author

Michael Bell

Last updated: 30 March 2021

  • Back to Articles
Explore the Collection

Explore the Collection

Our collection contains a wealth of material to help you research and find your connection with the wartime experiences of the brave men and women who served in Australia’s military forces.

Find out more
The Australian War Memorial at Night

Visit

The Australian War Memorial was voted the number one landmark in Australia by travellers in the 2016 Trip Advisor awards. Come and see why.

Find out more
The Donations and bequests

Donations & Bequests

Your generous donation will be used to ensure the memory of our Defence Forces and what they have done for us, and what they continue to do for our freedom remains – today and into the future.

Find out more
The placesofpride

Places of Pride

Places of Pride, the National Register of War Memorials, is a new initiative designed to record the locations and photographs of every publicly accessible memorial across Australia.

Find out more
Canberra Highlands in Grayscale

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF
TRADITIONAL CUSTODIANS

The Australian War Memorial acknowledges the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and waters. We pay our respects to elders past and present.
Location map of The Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial building

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent
Campbell ACT 2612
Australia
View on Google Maps (opens in new window)
Google Map data ©2021 Google
Australian War Memorial Logo
  • Go to AWM Facebook
  • Go to AWM Twitter
  • Go to AWM Trip Advisor
  • Go to AWM Instagram
  • Go to AWM Youtube

Footer

  • Memorial Articles
  • About
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Wartime Magazine
  • Donate Today

The Australian War Memorial

Treloar Crescent

Campbell ACT 2612

Australia

 

Opening Hours

10 am to 5 pm daily (except Christmas Day)

Get your ticket to visit: awm.gov.au/visit

 


Please enter a valid email address

Legal

  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of information

Copyright 2021 Australian War Memorial, Canberra. All rights reserved