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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.

The attestation (enlistment) paper notes that Frank Fisher enlisted in World War I on 16 August 1917, at age 37. The document does not indicate that he was of Aboriginal descent, however his permanent address is listed as ‘Barambah Aboriginal Reserve’ in Queensland (later known as Cherbourg Aboriginal Settlement). * At the time of Frank Fisher's disembarkation in Egypt in January 1918, his unit, the 11th Light Horse Regiment, was resting and training. But by April it was involved in new operations against Turkish and German forces in Palestine which lasted until the end of October. Before it returned to Sydney in August, the regiment also helped to quell the Egyptian revolt against British rule that erupted in March 1919. Fisher was discharged in September 1919. * Fisher's attestation paper reveals that he was married to Esme Fisher (listed as his next of kin), that he had three children, and that he allotted 'not less than three-fifths' of his pay during his overseas service for their support. * Esme Fisher wrote a letter to authorities concerning her difficulty in accessing her husband's military pay. Under Queensland legislation, the Chief Protector of Aboriginals controlled the wages of all Aboriginal people living on reserves and missions. To access this money, Aboriginal people had to get permission from the Chief Protector or a local Protector. * Fisher was the great-grandfather of champion Olympic sprinter Cathy Freeman. Freeman's grandfather, also Frank Fisher, attempted to enlist in World War II but was rejected because of his ethnicity. It wasn't until 1949 that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could join the Australian military forces unrestricted. Source: www.naa.gov.au/students-and-teachers/learning-resources/l...

Thomas joined his brothers Charles and Alfred Blackman. Alfred and Thomas were both injured in the same battle: Thomas suffered from “shell-shock”. He is also listed as A.W.L. (Absent Without Leave) for a period after Alfred died of his wounds. Thomas returned to Australia on the 17th of December 1918. His other brother Charles also returned to Australia on the 12th April 1919. Some years later Thomas Blackman wrote to Caroline Tennant-Kelly, an anthropologist who worked in Barambah, asking her to intervene on his behalf regarding his forced removal to Cherbourg by the Chief Protector. He feels victimized as a former WW1 digger and questions why he has had his exemption removed after serving his King and country. (See his letter in full, below p.x) “Shell shock” was a term used to describe the reaction of some soldiers in World War I to the trauma of battle. It could include symptoms as varied as panic, intense fear, horror, and an inability to reason, sleep, walk, or talk. During the war, cases of “shell shock” could be interpreted as either physical or psychological, or even as a lack of “moral fiber”. Many soldiers never fully recovered from the horrors of war and brought these symptoms home with them. At the time of WWI, none of these conditions were properly recognized or understood. Limited support and treatment were offered to those who presented with symptoms, which today are described as PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We must recognize the toll that war takes on individuals and show understanding and compassion to those who suffer as a result of their sacrifice and service. Source: cherbourgmemory.org/profiles/thomas-blackman/