"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
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Thursday, 3 December 2009
Aboriginals in the AIF Topic: AIF - Aboriginal LH
Aboriginals in the AIF
Great War Service
While not given the recognised status enjoyed by all other non-indigenous people in Australia but still regarded as British subjects, the Aboriginals came forward in numbers to join the AIF and fight on the various fronts. One group for special attention relates to the Aboriginal men who served with the Australian Light Horse. This section provides a tribute to honour the service and sacrifice of the Aboriginal Light Horsemen to the Australian nation.
Aboriginals in the AIF, A Scheme for Training the Aboriginal Natives in the Northern Portions of the Commonwealth by Major WO Mansbridge Topic: AIF - Aboriginal LH
Aboriginals in the AIF
A Scheme for Training the Aboriginal Natives in the Northern Portions of the Commonwealth
Major WO Mansbridge
In 1911, Major WO Mansbridge of the 84th Infantry (Gold-Fields Regiment) wrote the following brief essay called A Scheme for Training the Aboriginal Natives in the Northern Portions of the Commonwealth Military Journal with the aim of promoting the recruitment of the indigenous population in the defence forces. The article reflects the feelings of the time amongst those of European origin and should be seen in that context. The essay was published in the January 1912 edition of the .
Mansbridge, WO, A Scheme for Training the Aboriginal Natives in the Northern Portions of the Commonwealth, Military Journal, January 1912, pp. 99 - 100.
Having lived for some years in the northern portions of the Commonwealth, it has suggested itself to me that some use could be made of the aboriginal native for our purposes. With that end in view, I beg to submit suggestions whereby his services could be utilized, and I am of the opinion that he would become a very useful ally in case of an invasion in those parts.
Approximately there are 50,000 aboriginal natives in the northern portion of the Commonwealth, and one so often hears the question - What can we do for them or with them?
I have a remedy which would not only be beneficial to the individual native, but make him also of some use to the country, as at present he has not any object in life save that of wandering aimlessly around his own particular territory, and this is undoubtedly a wilful waste of human energy. Therefore, why not turn it into our own channels and make them useful, firstly, by providing the male member with instructions in the use of arms; secondly, by engaging the women folk in one or more of the dormant industries indigenous to the soil?
I am well aware that many will argue that the aboriginal native has not yet reached that standard of civilization to understand, much less to assimilate, any instruction or teaching in that direction; yet, after some years' residence in the sub-tropical parts of Australia, the writer is of opinion that both the male and female aboriginal are amenable to order and discipline. His whole life in his savage state is one of warfare with his neighbour, and from birth the embryo warrior is taught the use of his particular arms-the spear and boomerang: and at all times is instilled into him by the elders of the tribe the necessity of being a “man." He is a hunter not only of game, but of men. Their blood feuds with adjacent tribes have been handed down from time immemorial. He has a keen eye, and is inured to hardships, which means much to make an efficient soldier. The stringent discipline of the elders over the young buck is very marked, and it would be necessary to direct this training into our own channels to make him serviceable. With regular rations he quickly becomes contented, and would be of incalculable value in case of an invasion in those parts and any one acquainted with him would be aware of his animosity to anything pertaining to the Orient.
To find the worth of raw and savage levies we have only to look back to very recent times.
In the initial stages of the scheme I would not suggest the concentration of the whole in one locality, for the reason that each tribe has its own admitted territory and hunting grounds. Reserves in the vicinity of these could be proclaimed; camps established where men would undergo training, and until such time as they became sufficiently educated to remain within their own sphere (after the trainees had realised the advantages of their training) there would be no difficulty in concentrating any numbers, be they from North Queensland, Northern Territory, or Kimberley (Western Australia).
The matter of "putting the question" to the native would have to be in the hands of experienced bushmen, assisted by civilized natives. However, I do not anticipate any difficulty in gathering them in.
The matter of clothing would be a minor detail. Kilt, shirt, and cap would be all that was required.
As to the women folk, those who have been amongst the aboriginal nitres will fully recognize the attachment of the man for his woman, and as the young buck is allotted companion when about twenty-one years of age, I do not suggest that they be put apart-in fact, any effort in that direction in the initial stages would weaken the scheme; therefore, not to unduly burden the scheme with extra provision for the female, I propose that she be employed in opening up the several dormant industries indigenous to the soil, such as cultivation of "kapok" and the culture of the "spider silk." The work of both being of a light nature is well adapted to native female labour, with the prospects of developing an export trade in both commodities. Then again the climate and soil are favourable for the introduction and cultivation of cotton, coffee, rice, &c., all of which would provide employment for the women.
In offering these suggestions I have of necessity introduced the commercial aspect for the reason that in any scheme for training the aboriginal native to be successful it would be unwise to have the sexes separated. My suggestion is, therefore, to have both in the one compound, the man being taught the use of the arm, and the woman taking an interest in the industries named.
I am aware that there are many seeming difficulties in the way, yet with time these would be overcome, with the results-protection and development of the country's resources by its' aboriginal folk, a thriving export trade, and a contented and happy community.
The Australian Light Horse, Aboriginal Light Horsemen, Those who served Topic: AIF - Aboriginal LH
The Australian Light Horse
Aboriginal Light Horsemen
Those who served
3662 Pte Harold Arthur Cowan [see below], his cousin Hazel Williams and her baby sister, name unknown.
[From: AWM P02229.002]
Aboriginal service during the Great War, 1914-19
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 from Aboriginal origin, the only time this happened during the war. Like the rest of 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 not so well. Others were killed in action, more than a few were wounded in action or gassed. Once in the AIF, there was nothing to seperate the men of Aboriginal origin to other soldiers. They served as Australians and did so with pride and distinction.
Aboriginal Light Horsemen who served during the Great War, 1914-19
Below is a list of all known Aboriginal Light Horsemen who served with the Australian Imperial Force during the Great War, 1914-19. The aim is to give credit to the indigenous Australians who served during the Great War but received little recognition for their participation. Hopefully, this long overdue recognition removes this stain from our collective Australian history.
This list is as extensive as possible although it is not exhaustive. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information but mistakes do occur. Should there be a mistake or an omission please inform the site through the "Post Comment" link at the bottom right hand corner of this post.
A
242 Pte Michael John Allen, 11 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 29/01/1915
50246 Pte Willie Allen, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 10/12/1917
63982 Pte Edwin James Arnold, 5 General Service Reinforcements Qld, Did not embark; Enlisted 4/7/1918
B
1234 Pte Charles Baird, 5 Light Horse Regiment, 5/05/1915
3024 Pte Charles Baker, 6 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 22/03/1916
19600 Pte Harry Baker, Did not embark; Enlisted 14/05/1917
3469 Pte Frank Balser, 5 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 3/10/1917
1741 Pte Robert Beale, 1 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 14/09/1915
19608 Pte Bertie Beckett, Did not embark; Enlisted 14/05/1917
3467 Pte Albert Beulah, 1 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 14/06/1917
3288 Pte Victor Harold Blanch, 2 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 30/10/1916
64321 Pte Martin Blyth, 6 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 19/08/1918
50271 Pte Patrick Brady, 1 General Service Reinforcements Qld; Enlisted 14/02/1918
1154 Pte Stephen James Brown, 2 Light Horse Regiment; Enlisted 25/02/1915
Reveille Articles on Aboriginals in the AIF Topic: AIF - Aboriginal LH
Reveille Articles
Aboriginals in the AIF
Article #1
In 1931, the RSL [Returned Serviceman's League], through their monthly magazine, Reveille, made an attempt to recognise the services given to the AIF by the Aboriginal members. This was quite a radical departure from the usual Australian social policy
Reveille, 30 September 1931, p 6.
[Click on document for larger version.]
The article deals specifically with the 11th Light Horse Regiment and a particular group of reinforcements. The reinforcement group mentioned is the 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement, which embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on board the HMAT A38 Ulysses on 19 December 1917. Most of the reinforcements arrived for absorbtion in the 11th Light Horse Regiment by April 1918.
The full list of men involved in this reinforcement group may be found at the The AIF Project:
Those specifically identified as Aboriginal Light Horsemen include the following 29 men in this Reinforcement group:
2422 Pte William Bert Brown 2423 Pte Frederick Arthur Burnett 2424 Pte Edward Collins 2459 Pte Fred Collins 2458 Pte Samuel Cooper 2425 Pte Jack Costello 2426 Pte Harry Doyle 2428 Pte Frank Fisher 2427 Pte Joe Fitzroy 2462 Pte Rupert Franklin Gore Gallaway 2429 Pte John Geary 2460 Pte John Hall 2430 Pte John Johnston, Died of Wounds, 1 June 1918 2431 Pte Jack Kearns 2432 Pte John McKenzie Laurie 2433 Pte James Lingwoodock 2434 Pte Leonard Lynch 2438 Pte James Mcbride 2437 Pte David Molloy 2435 Pte Frank Morris 2458 Pte Martin Mulrooney 2436 Pte Harry Murray 2439 Pte William Nicholld 2440 Pte Jack Oliffe 2443 Pte Charlie Parkes 2441 Pte Jack Pollard 2445 Pte Edward Smith 2447 Pte Joe White 2448 Pte Leslie Thomas Wogas
Apart from four other men in this group, the 11th Light Horse Regiment, 20th Reinforcement was the only exclusively Aboriginal formation created within the AIF during the Great War and so holds a special place in the recognition of the Aboriginal participation of this conflict.
Article #2
This article in the November 1931 edition of Reveille was the follow up of the first article displayed above.
Reveille, 30 November 1931, p 22.
[Click on document for larger version.]
This was an important piece of work in the process of identifying those members of the AIF who were of Aboriginal origin. The list is far from complete and is of dubious accuracy but it does provide the researcher with some solid information. Where service numbersare given in the list, the accuracy of the list comes into its own. Notes by the Aboriginal Protectors of Victoria and Queensland are indicative and issued with the best knowledge available at the time. Spelling variations are not accounted for nor are a number of other factors which generally reduces the value of this list.
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
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.
2460 Pte John Hall, Attestation Paper, p. 3
[Click on document for larger version.]
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.
2460 Pte John Hall, Attestation Paper, p. 4
[Click on document for larger version.]
Since 2460 Pte John Hall deserted, Page 1 of the Transferred to Australian Imperial Force Dwas 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
[Click on document for larger version.]
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.
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