The Foo Brothers
Francis and Walter Foo were Chinese–Australian brothers who served in the First World War. The brothers were working as labourers in Mackay, Queensland, before they enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF).
It was not always easy for Chinese men to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force, as they could be rejected if a medical officer concluded that they were “not substantially of European origin”. This was in line with other discriminatory policies of the time, such as the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901, also known as the White Australia Policy. These obstacles did not stop Australian-born Chinese men from volunteering to serve. Like others from non-British backgrounds, many found that once they were in the AIF, they were accepted as equals.
Francis was 18 years old when he signed up in September 1915. Joining reinforcements for the 9th Battalion, Francis was admitted to hospital with bronchitis soon after arriving in Egypt in early 1916. Upon recovery, he rejoined his battalion in France. On 3 July 1916, the 9th Battalion was operating in the village of Outtersteene. Francis received a severe gunshot wound to his left wrist, and was evacuated to England. After returning to Australia in November, he was discharged on 21 March 1917. It is unknown what became of Francis after his discharge.
Francis’s older brother, Walter, enlisted in January 1916 at the age of 21. He sailed out of Sydney with reinforcements to the 2nd Light Horse Regiment on board the troopship Karroo on 5 May 1916, bound for Egypt, where he completed his training. Walter transferred to the Imperial Camel Corps in July, but became ill soon after.
An Australian officer of the Imperial Camel Corps, Palestine, 1918. Frank Hurley.
In August, a letter was sent to Walter’s mother, Elizabeth, advising her that Walter had been sent to the 3rd Australian General Hospital suffering from fever. Walter was discharged to his unit but continued to suffer poor health throughout his service. He was admitted to hospital on several more occasions between 1916 and 1919, with insolation (exposure to the sun), fever, headaches, and muscle stiffness. At one point, doctors treated Walter with quinine, a drug used to treat and prevent malaria. His tests came back negative, and his illnesses were recorded as “pyrexia of unknown origin”, and “not yet diagnosed”.
Walter commenced his journey back to Australia in March 1919 and was discharged soon after disembarking. He passed away in 1950 at the age of 55.