anzac

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island war heroes ‘vanished’ from the Anzac legend Don't miss out on the headlines from City East. Followed categories will be added to My News. Follow Horace Dalton was so keen to fight for his country in 1918, he lied about his “substantial European” origins in order to enlist. The 19-year-old Queenslander signed up in May, and by August was disembarking in Suez, Egypt, to begin training for the Australian Light Horse Remount Unit. The young indigenous trooper would fight in the 11th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt for the next year before he was hospitalized with an ear infection and discharged. It was a short service, but one he gave proudly for the rights and freedoms of his fellow Australians. Sadly, when he returned home in 1919 he found he had few of his own. Like so many indigenous diggers, Trooper Dalton’s homecoming was marred by racism and inequality. It would be 56 years after his death that his contribution would be honored in military service in Ipswich. Some came back to find their children had been taken away or their homes on mission stations were carved up for soldier settlements and distributed to white war veterans – only three Aboriginal servicemen who served in World War I received a land grant. They were not even allowed into their local RSL to buy a beer and many were prevented from marching on Anzac Day. “It’s like we vanished,” Gary Oakley, indigenous liaison officer for the Australian War Memorial, said. “Many (soldiers) came back from war, took the uniform off, hung it up in the wardrobe and went back to work. Most indigenous people came back to no job.” Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/aboriginal-...

Alfred Blackman was born to Mrs Emily Deshong in 1889 in a small town called Tiaro in QLD. At 26 years of age, Alfred enlisted in Maryborough on the 6th January 1917. His two brothers, Charles Tednee Blackman and Thomas Blackman, were already fighting on the Western Front. Alfred joined them deep into the conflict in Flanders, Belgium and served in the same unit as his brother, Thomas. Both Thomas and Alfred were injured in the same battle, Alfred with shell wounds to his neck. After four days, he succumbed to his wounds and died on the 8th of October 1917 at the 7th Canadian General Hospital in Etaples, France. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery and was awarded both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Source: cherbourgmemory.org/profiles/alfred-john-blackman/ The website also provides old photographs in relation to the Blackmann's burial place, a Field service report, Alfred wounded in action, Travel to Flanders-France. and more.

Norman Baird once wrote that he was prepared to advocate for the Kuku Yalanji people as long as there was 'a spark left within'. As a young man Norman fought to defend the rights of Australians in World War 1 only to come home and fight for his own freedom and that of his children. As an old man and almost blind, Norman recorded an ancient language and preserved part of a unique Australian culture. Norman's mother was an indigenous Australian and his father was native to Scotland. He learnt skills from both cultures: reading and writing, mining and hunting, English and Kuku Yananji - skills that served him from the jungles of Far North Queensland to the battlefields of Europe. Norman's story provides an opportunity to glimpse the history of Far North Queensland - a shared history, and one that needs to be told so that common ground can be found to strenghten and unite Australian communities. "Norman Baird : a spark within", written by Kathleen Denigan ; narration: Caden Pearson

Wujal Wujal's first generation of Indigenous recruits in 100 years have marched in the small far north Queensland Aboriginal community's first Anzac Day parade. The last time someone from Wujal Wujal served in the Defence Force was when brothers Norman and Charlie Baird fought in France and Egypt during World War I, at a time when Indigenous servicemen and women did not receive the recognition and entitlements they deserved. This year's Anzac Day commemorations honoured the two men, with members of the Baird family carrying their photographs as they led the march through the town, north of the Daintree. Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-26/fnq-aboriginal-community-w...