worldwar

Red Cross Society in Queensland Within weeks, 196 branches were established across Queensland, as the Society’s mission and ideals spread and thousands of people, mostly women, volunteered in towns all over the state. Joining the Society gave its volunteers a dutiful purpose and a sense that they could contribute to the war effort from the home front. Their tireless work provided money, clothing, comforts for the sick and wounded, and equipment for military hospitals in Queensland and overseas. The geographical distance between branches presented many challenges, and the nature of district activities was adapted for each branch location. Some branches held fundraising events, and knitted and sewed socks, towels, and vests, while others sewed uniforms, or put together comfort parcels containing soap, cigarettes, fruit cake, tinned foods, and handkerchiefs. Remote branches with few resources sometimes simply collected money. The Queensland division established its headquarters at 409 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, and it became the communications centre and distribution point for all goods made, collected, or donated in the branches. From headquarters, goods were repackaged and sent to military hospitals in Queensland, or overseas to England for distribution, directly to troops in France and Belgium, or to field hospitals in Europe, the Middle East, and India. In 1915, several Queensland branches raised £450 to buy motor ambulances to send to the front line. An Information Bureau was also established in 1915, to help families obtain information about their loved ones overseas. By 1917, the Queensland division had turned its attention to providing supplies for Australian prisoners of war in Germany. By June 1918, there were 225 Red Cross member-based branches in Queensland. Most were run by women, many of whom remained with the organisation after the war, to provide a lifetime of service. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/red-cross-society-queensland

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Indigenous Australian, Harry Roberts, 5th Light Horse Regiment Harry Roberts, a stockman was born at Huntley Station near Clermont, Queensland in April 1887 to William Roberts, a Scotsman and Annie. One of five children, Harry volunteered to serve with the first AIF in January 1918. Harry trained both at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera and Lytton Camp, near the port of Brisbane before embarking from Sydney in June 1918 with the 1st General Service Reinforcements, arriving at the Port of Suez five weeks later. Roberts and the 5th Light Horse Regiment remained in Egypt after the surrender of Turkey in late October, assisting in quelling the Egyptian civilian revolt of 1919 before he sailed for home in June 1919 on board the troopship 'Madras'. After his return, Roberts was living and Hillview, near Beaudesert, but in the 1930s Roberts and many of his siblings were removed to Woorabinda and although Harry held an exemption certificate from the Protection of Aboriginals Act, it was canceled in 1933. He died in 1966. Harry's brother Herbert also volunteered to serve but was discharged medically unfit. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/harry-roberts-50278

Indigenous Australian, Patrick BRADY, 11th Light Horse Regiment. Aged just 19 and 5ft 11in tall, Patrick was one of several Aboriginal servicemen who formed part of the 1st Queensland Reinforcements Egypt, the others were: Willie Allen 50246 | Glen Combarngo 50248 | John Lewis 50276 | Harry Roberts 50278 | Herbert Roberts 50265 | Alexander Stanley 50280 After training at the Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera, Trooper Brady departed with his unit from Sydney on board HMAT Wiltshire and arrived at Port Suez 17 July 1918. They trained at Moascar Camp and was allotted to the 11th Light Horse Regiment. Brady was admitted to hospital with fever in December 1918 but returned to serve with his regiment until the end of the war. Troops from the Light Horse Regiments were used to maintain civil order during the Egyptian uprising in March 1919. Brady returned to Australia on board HMAT Morvada in July 1919 and later became known as a 'rough rider' or 'buck jumper' competing in carnivals with the best of the time. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/patrick-brady-50271

During the Great War, some 500 men of Aboriginal extraction enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces. Out of this number, 118 or just over 20% of men of Aboriginal origin saw service in the Australian Light Horse during the war. Some parts of Australia were more liberal in admitting Aboriginal men into the AIF as compared to others. By far the largest proportion of Aboriginal men who enlisted came from Queensland. So many enlisted that nearly one group of reinforcements for the 11th Light Horse Regiment was composed of men of Aboriginal origin, the only time this happened during the war. Like the rest of the Australians who enlisted, these men were from all different professions and differing levels of education. They served with similar results as the larger population. Some were heroes, many did their duty well, while some did not so well. Others were killed in action and more than a few were wounded in action or gassed. Once in the AIF, there was nothing to separate the men of Aboriginal origin from other soldiers. They served as Australians and did so with pride and distinction. 50246 Pte Willie Allen, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 10/12/1917 50248 Pte Glen Combarngo, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 12/01/1918 50265 Pte Herbert Roberts, Did not embark; Enlisted 21/02/1918 50271 Pte Patrick Brady, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 14/02/1918 50276 Pte John Horner Lewis, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 12/04/1918 50278 Pte Harry Roberts, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 22/01/1918 50280 Pte Alexander Stanley, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 25/02/1918 Source: alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1853730/ab...