worldwarone

Anzac Day 2018: Family of Gus Davies left waiting for land 96 years after World War I For 96 years, the late Private Augustus Hodgkinson Davies and his descendants have lived on one property in suburban Brisbane — yet they have never held freehold title of the land. The return of soldiers after World War I saw Private Davies — or 'Gus' as he was known — offered a 99-year-lease as part of the Soldiers Settlement Scheme. Initially, the scheme allowed honorably discharged members of the naval or military forces — once returned from war — to be offered land in across parts of Australia. For Private Davies, who returned from WWI in 1918, was offered the lease in Bald Hills in south-east Queensland. Granddaughter of Private Davies, Aunty Paula Williamson-Babarovich is a Kuku Kulunggur elder and has been battling to get freehold title for the family for decades. "He lived down Deep Water Bend since he came back from the First World War," Aunty Paula said. "It was a soldier settlement right on the river. "Originally it was 52 acres, and this was in — as far as I've been able to research it — from 1922." Aunty Paula said there was a possibility that more documentation was yet to be recovered. "I honestly believe there's an earlier one than that but I haven't been able to find it," she said. "We have been paying rent on that land since 1922 and have still not been able to freehold it." The Legacy of Gus Davies "He signed up for both wars, he served his country well. He was finally discharged for having flat feet and he got an honourable discharge," Aunty Paula said. Private Davies left an impact on the community by having a park named after him in Bald Hills. He was well known in Brisbane, where he eventually married his wife Easter Evelyn Smith in 1912, had seven children and many grandchildren before passing away in 1956. Aunty Paula said her grandfather's legacy was important to honour having given his service in two wars for Australia. "Grandad was the gentlest person … he wouldn't hurt a fly," she said. "He was a true gentleman. He never drank, he never smoked, he just got on with his business. "All the old people in Bald Hills always say what a gentleman he was. "He'd wear a suit and tie, but no shoes … he never ever wore shoes." Source: www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-20/anzac-wwi-veteran-gus-davi...

The text written in French at the side gives: 'Aéroplane Allemand capturé par les Italiens. Le moteur Benz 6 cylindres 180 HP et la mitrailleur qu'il commande pour le tir à travers l'hélice (Biplan LVG).'

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-...