Topic: AIF - Aboriginal LH
Education Centre
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre in conjunction with the various Education authorities in Australia, has embarked upon producing a program of instruction targeted initially towards the Later Adolescence band of scholars, characteristically those who are studying in Year 9 and 10 within Australia. Each lesson will be a self contained module. Some will be more difficult than others and graded accordingly.
Lesson 11 Aboriginal Light Horsemen
Resource - Light Horseman Service Record - Essential Pages
2460 Pte John Hall, 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement
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The front cover of the Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad provides the reader with the following information:
- Service Number,
- Surname,
- Given Names,
- Age,
- Employment,
- Married or Single,
- Next of Kin Relationship,
- Next of Kin Name and Address,
- Enlistment Date.
This information is vital as it identifies the specific soldier and in case of death or injury, allows the relatives to be informed. The next of kin was important for another reason. Each soldier was compelled to give an allotment of their daily wage to the person nominated as the next of kin. This was an essential financial consideration.
Once this information was gathered, the second page dealt with an oath to the King. The next page to give information was page 3.
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The third page of the Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad provides the reader with the following information:
- Height,
- Weight,
- Chest Measurement
- Complexion,
- Eyes,
- Hair,
- Religion.
The health of the potential soldier was important as the life was particularly strenuous. The ability to carry heavy weights for great distances was most important.
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Since 2460 Pte John Hall deserted, Page 1 of the Transferred to Australian Imperial Force D was not utilised but instead page 4 of the Attestation Paper was used which provides the reader with the following information:
- The last rank held in the AIF,
- The date of Discharge,
- The place where Discharged,
- The eligible medals awarded to the serviceman.
Information on this form depends upon the individual. This particular form can at times run into many pages.
The police were employed in tracking down a deserter. Below is one such report.
2460 Pte John Hall, Police Report
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This particular police report deals with the capture of 2460 Pte John Hall which led to his placement with the 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcements.
2460 Pte John Hall, a brief military biography from The AIF Project:
John HALL
| Regimental number | 2460 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Farmer |
| Address | Pickenjinnie, Queensland |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Next of kin | Father, Alfred Henry Hall, Pickenjennie, Queensland |
| Enlistment date | 15 September 1916 |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 10/16/3 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on 19 December 1917 |
| Fate | No details of fate entered on Nominal Roll |
Additional Research:
To understand the terms employed in the B103, the Casualty Form - Active Service, an index is available here:
For those interested in further study on this man, the following internet resources are available:
ADFA Summary - This is a cameo summary of his service record.
http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080/showPerson?pid=106590
National Archives - This is the complete service file of 2460 Pte John Hall
http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/imagine.asp?B=3007659&I=1&SE=1
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial carries two biographical data bases - the Embarkation Roll and the Nominal Roll which was closed in August 1919.
Embarkation details:
http://www.awm.gov.au/nominalrolls/ww1/embarkation/person.asp?p=42569
Nominal Roll:
No entry
Further Reading:
Other Aboriginal Servicemen
2919 Pte Alfred John Henry Lovett
Other related items
Reveille Articles on Aboriginals in the AIF
11th Light Horse War Diary Index for 1918 - 1919, Lesson 11 Resource
11th LHR, AIF account about the 2nd Es Salt Raid - March to May 1918, Chapter XVI
11th LHR, AIF account about the Jordan Valley – May to August 1918, Chapter XVII
Citation: 2460 Pte John Hall, 11th LHR, Lesson 11 Resource
