Were Indigenous people aloud to enlist in the war? Yes/ No and why?
Over 600 Indigenous Australians fought in the First World War. They came from a section of society with few rights, low wages, and poor living conditions. During the First World War, the Indigenous Australians were treated with the lowest amount of respect. Indigenous soldiers fought alongside non-indigenous soldiers (white people) in World War I. Recruiting officers allowed Indigenous Australians to enlist World War 1, only if their skin was considered white enough and were from predominantly white backgrounds, but as the war went on, and recruitment numbers dropped, the officers weren't as selective allowing more indigenous soldiers to enlist. They were not sure how many Indigenous Australians fought in the first war but it is believed to have been around 500-600 mainly from the Northern territory. A lot of the indigenous enlisted with the hope that fighting for their country would change the way they and the other Indigenous Australians were treated.
Since the beginning of time Indigenous Australians and Maoris felt it was there duty to care for and fight for the land they inhabited, so enlisting was not thought twice about. On the battle field Indigenous soldiers were treated with equal respect to their white counter parts, but once the war had finished and they returned home, things went back to the way they were. Many historians find it obscure that Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and Maoris wanted to serve a country that did not treat them with respect. There were many reasons for indigenous people’s enlistment; some hoped that their war service for the white skinned Australians might help the Indigenous campaign for equal rights and citizenship. Others joined not for equal rights but for adventure, good pay, the chance at a racism free environment due to the army’s belief that soldiers were treated on merits not race and most importantly the chance to receive an education.
Explain the ANZAC Legend?
The Anzac legend is an enormous and moving part of Australian culture. The word ANZAC stands for “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The legend is that the Australian and New Zealand troops helped to establish their countries reputation in the world by showing the other countries how much strength and bravery the Australians and Maoris had when facing the triple alliance. In fact, it is much more than that. The legends of these men who endured so much and have gone past the limits to save/protect their country and majority of these men have died doing so. This is a reason why we have a remberance day. The men that enlisted knew that there was only a slight chance of coming home to their families. The ANZAC legend is the story that defines Australia, since WW1 was Australia’s first major war, Australia hadn’t had a chance to earn it’s expect. On the shore of Gallipoli, on April 25th 1915 that respect was earned through blood, loss and tears. “Soldiers, your deeds have won you a place in the temple of the immortals. The world has hailed you as heroes. Your comrades in the British Army have claimed you as brothers in arms, and the citizens of the empire are proud to call you kinsmen.”
How many and where were indigenous soldiers stationed?
Since the aboriginals of WW1 were treated with respect in the AIF, they were stationed in the same rough places across the world. The Indigenous soldiers lived and fought on the western front, next to Germany and Austria-Hungary, on the eastern front next to Germany and the Russian Empire. Apart from the main fronts, ANZAC soldiers fought on various battle fronts; from Serbia to Bulgaria and Jerusalem to Kuwait. Many indigenous soldiers, rather than fighting in trenches volunteered to join the Australian light horse.
For example; Indigenous Private Joe Fitzroy, born and bred in Queensland fought In Gallipoli before being transferred to the Egyptian deserts to fight the Turkish soldiers. His experience as a farm laborer on horses made him a perfect candidate for the newly formed 11th light horse regiment.
Since the aboriginals of WW1 were treated with respect in the AIF, they were stationed in the same rough places across the world. The Indigenous soldiers lived and fought on the western front, next to Germany and Austria-Hungary, on the eastern front next to Germany and the Russian Empire. Apart from the main fronts, ANZAC soldiers fought on various battle fronts; from Serbia to Bulgaria and Jerusalem to Kuwait. Many indigenous soldiers, rather than fighting in trenches volunteered to join the Australian light horse.
For example; Indigenous Private Joe Fitzroy, born and bred in Queensland fought In Gallipoli before being transferred to the Egyptian deserts to fight the Turkish soldiers. His experience as a farm laborer on horses made him a perfect candidate for the newly formed 11th light horse regiment.
In the Australian light horse Calvary there were a total of 29 indigenous soldiers that trained and fought in the Egyptian desert. The indigenous women that were accepted into the war played a big part in assisting all of the wounded soldiers. Many of the women enlisted in the women’s services or worked in war industries. The women that wanted to fight in the war were unlikely to return so they gave them jobs such as: secretaries, typists and telephonists. When the Aboriginal men or women enlisted and were rejected because of their race, they were sent back to their towns and community’s. Then often arrested for leaving there prescribed land.
9 Powerful Photos Of The Forgotten Indigenous Soldiers Of World War I
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/powerful-photos-of-forgotten-indigenous-soldiers-of-wwi#4ao0b8d
http://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/powerful-photos-of-forgotten-indigenous-soldiers-of-wwi#4ao0b8d
How were the indigenous people treated during early 19th century?
For many years historians have presented the beginning of Australian history when Captain Cook landed on Botany Bay in 1770, this is wrong. In fact Australian history started more than 60,000 years ago when the Aborigines migrated from South East-Asia (Monroe, 2008). Ever since the White colonists came from Britain, Aboriginals have been subject of racial abuse. For example, at the time of arrival Captain Cook and his crew marked Australia as “unoccupied land” due to the fact that Aboriginals did not believe in or practise agriculture. Because of this, the Indigenous inhabitants were branded monsters and wild. As Australia’s development and growth was in top gear throughout the 19th century, the Aboriginals continued to be ostracized, separated from their kin, beaten as slaves and put into hard labour for quarter the pay of their white counterparts. Most regarded them as “Sub-Human” and had no issue treating them similarly to animals. Some however weren’t bothered with their presence, only acted rationally when the land they used for agriculture was damaged by Indigenous hunting parties.
Similar to Australia, New Zealand, some 4000kms across the Tasman was originally colonised by the British, forcing the indigenous Maori tribes into war and pressuring them to modernise and adjust to British living standards (Lawson, 2013). Throughout the 19th century Christian missionaries set out to covert Maoris to Christianity, the Tribes who converted were awarded guns for hunting and land protection. As seen with the Nebraska Indians in Central America, giving guns to uninformed tribes isn’t the best idea. War quickly sparked between Maori tribes and the British. To end the war and settle New Zealand, the British formed the treaty of “Waitangi with local chiefs” in 1840 (Studies, Nebraska, 2013). Although for a long period after there was a cultural and spiritual division between the Maori and the colonists, the Maori were never forced into slavery and deprived human rights like the Australian Aboriginals were. Because of this Maoris and British settlers have become a united Country, with schools teaching the Maori language and the Maori culture being expressed through the traditional Haka before all international rugby matches (ICRA, 11).
For many years historians have presented the beginning of Australian history when Captain Cook landed on Botany Bay in 1770, this is wrong. In fact Australian history started more than 60,000 years ago when the Aborigines migrated from South East-Asia (Monroe, 2008). Ever since the White colonists came from Britain, Aboriginals have been subject of racial abuse. For example, at the time of arrival Captain Cook and his crew marked Australia as “unoccupied land” due to the fact that Aboriginals did not believe in or practise agriculture. Because of this, the Indigenous inhabitants were branded monsters and wild. As Australia’s development and growth was in top gear throughout the 19th century, the Aboriginals continued to be ostracized, separated from their kin, beaten as slaves and put into hard labour for quarter the pay of their white counterparts. Most regarded them as “Sub-Human” and had no issue treating them similarly to animals. Some however weren’t bothered with their presence, only acted rationally when the land they used for agriculture was damaged by Indigenous hunting parties.
Similar to Australia, New Zealand, some 4000kms across the Tasman was originally colonised by the British, forcing the indigenous Maori tribes into war and pressuring them to modernise and adjust to British living standards (Lawson, 2013). Throughout the 19th century Christian missionaries set out to covert Maoris to Christianity, the Tribes who converted were awarded guns for hunting and land protection. As seen with the Nebraska Indians in Central America, giving guns to uninformed tribes isn’t the best idea. War quickly sparked between Maori tribes and the British. To end the war and settle New Zealand, the British formed the treaty of “Waitangi with local chiefs” in 1840 (Studies, Nebraska, 2013). Although for a long period after there was a cultural and spiritual division between the Maori and the colonists, the Maori were never forced into slavery and deprived human rights like the Australian Aboriginals were. Because of this Maoris and British settlers have become a united Country, with schools teaching the Maori language and the Maori culture being expressed through the traditional Haka before all international rugby matches (ICRA, 11).
These are various aboriginal men who fought with the 15th light horse regiment.
http://www.anzacwebsites.com/tradition/aboriginals-ww1.htm |
What was the role of indigenous soldiers in the ANZAC legend?
The ANZAC legend is often referred to as the birth of Australia, and in the Gallipoli landings case, the christening of a united country through blood and tears. As Australians who celebrate ANZAC day every year, we mostly tie the ANZAC legend to the Gallipoli landing, due to the fact that before the war Australia had only been a country for 13 years and had not yet proved its significance and worthiness of respect to the rest of the world. This worthiness and respect was most definitely earned on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula some 99 years ago. As Edwina Chestney put it “The ANZAC spirit is and integral part of the Australian past and present, and central to the Australian identity. When the first ANZACS swarmed the beaches of Gallipoli, the seeds of a legend were planted… Everyone who has heard the stories from their parents, grandparents and the teachers carry the ANZAC spirit inside them” (Carrodus, 2012). But what role did the indigenous soldiers play in the forming and upholding of the ANZAC legend and Australian drive the world has come to know? Before WW1 the Australian government did not class the indigenous population as citizens, because of this Indigenous people were not counted in census or aloud to vote, but at the dawn of 25th of April 1915, none of this mattered, for the first time in Australian history, on the shores of Gallipoli, more than 30 Aboriginals fought alongside their white brothers who had enslaved them and beaten them for decades. As more and more aboriginal soldiers lost their life fighting for a country that ostracised them just for being a different colour, the respect the indigenous generation deserved was slowly becoming relevant (Darlington, 2012). As the ANZAC legend is all about unity, pride in one’s country, the coming together of mates, loyalty and most importantly forgiveness, the deed the indigenous men paid in the AIF (Australian Infantry Forces) was no lesser than any white man who fought that day. During the years after the war, specifically 1933, former Private of the 15th Battalion drew attention to the service of Aboriginal men at Gallipoli “I have stood shoulder to shoulder with (Indigenous Diggers) in Hell’s Pit, on Quinn’s Post, and seen them die like the grandest of white men” (Camp Gallipoli, 2014). |
How where indigenous soldiers treated when they return from war in comparison to Caucasian soldiers.
The photo (shown left) is of an Aboriginal digger wearing his badges earned throughout WWI at the first "Diggers March" in 2007.
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/anzac-day-coloured-digger-march
“When you're serving, things are pretty equal. You do your job well, your mates respect you and you get promoted. It's when you get back that it gets hard on the black Digger.” This quote by David Williams, president of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association gives a brief insight into the struggles returning Indigenous veterans faced. The war often left not only physical scars on the returning soldiers but mental scars, leaving them scarred with the horrors of war, endless nightmares and night sweats (The Australian Army, 2014 ). To aid this Australian and New Zealand governments gave the returning veterans benefits such as land and large pay-outs. The money and land was used to aid the pain of war so the soldiers were not burdened with financial worries (Camp Gallipoli, 2014).
The government also paid for counselling and sessions to aid soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. This effects most war veterans and causes them to be incapable of forming lasting relationships, often in indigenous Australians case, resorting to alcohol and drugs. Indigenous soldiers received no treatment for this or any benefits at all, often coming home to find their land repossessed and their children taken to be used as and labourers servants. Additionally, the returning Aboriginals were excluded from Returned and Services League clubs (RSL), giving them no chance to interact with the men they had grown so close to overseas. The RSLs across the country provide support and advocacy for the soldiers (Korff, 2014).
As an even larger sign of disrespect, many Indigenous soldiers were given grave stones with missing names and service details to be remembered as an unknown solider instead of receiving a proper funeral and burial. In Australia the “ANZAC’s” have hero status and are recognized every year on April 15th as they march the streets of all major cities and towns, but most don’t know of the “Coloured Diggers” march (Education, 2014). The march takes place on ANZAC day and pays recognition to all Indigenous soldiers who fought and died for their country throughout WWI. Previous to the first march in April of 2007, Indigenous veterans were not eligible to march or attend after march events with white veterans. Gracelyn Smallwood put this issue into a simpler perspective in her reader letter with the quote, “I know of at least one Aboriginal veteran of World War I who was not only denied his pay packet and his pension, but upon his return was given the very same rags he had been wearing the day he volunteered, and sent back to work on a station, as if the trenches and mud and the fighting had never happened” (Korff, 2014).
The photo (shown left) is of an Aboriginal digger wearing his badges earned throughout WWI at the first "Diggers March" in 2007.
http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/anzac-day-coloured-digger-march
“When you're serving, things are pretty equal. You do your job well, your mates respect you and you get promoted. It's when you get back that it gets hard on the black Digger.” This quote by David Williams, president of the NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Veterans Association gives a brief insight into the struggles returning Indigenous veterans faced. The war often left not only physical scars on the returning soldiers but mental scars, leaving them scarred with the horrors of war, endless nightmares and night sweats (The Australian Army, 2014 ). To aid this Australian and New Zealand governments gave the returning veterans benefits such as land and large pay-outs. The money and land was used to aid the pain of war so the soldiers were not burdened with financial worries (Camp Gallipoli, 2014).
The government also paid for counselling and sessions to aid soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. This effects most war veterans and causes them to be incapable of forming lasting relationships, often in indigenous Australians case, resorting to alcohol and drugs. Indigenous soldiers received no treatment for this or any benefits at all, often coming home to find their land repossessed and their children taken to be used as and labourers servants. Additionally, the returning Aboriginals were excluded from Returned and Services League clubs (RSL), giving them no chance to interact with the men they had grown so close to overseas. The RSLs across the country provide support and advocacy for the soldiers (Korff, 2014).
As an even larger sign of disrespect, many Indigenous soldiers were given grave stones with missing names and service details to be remembered as an unknown solider instead of receiving a proper funeral and burial. In Australia the “ANZAC’s” have hero status and are recognized every year on April 15th as they march the streets of all major cities and towns, but most don’t know of the “Coloured Diggers” march (Education, 2014). The march takes place on ANZAC day and pays recognition to all Indigenous soldiers who fought and died for their country throughout WWI. Previous to the first march in April of 2007, Indigenous veterans were not eligible to march or attend after march events with white veterans. Gracelyn Smallwood put this issue into a simpler perspective in her reader letter with the quote, “I know of at least one Aboriginal veteran of World War I who was not only denied his pay packet and his pension, but upon his return was given the very same rags he had been wearing the day he volunteered, and sent back to work on a station, as if the trenches and mud and the fighting had never happened” (Korff, 2014).
After the war and all the efforts that the indigenous soldiers put in, all respect that was gained on the war grounds was lost because of their skin colour. The aboriginals went back to their community where there was no recognition of what they did for their country. While the white folk came back to fame and glory. The Australian and New Zealand indigenous soldiers who fought during the years of WWI played a large, long-lasting role in the unity, glory and respect that Australia earned through blood, sweat and loss.
References:
2427 Pte Joe Fitzroy, 11th LHR, Lesson 11 Resource. (2008, November 6). Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Desert Column: http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1853164/2427-pte-joe-fitzroy-11th-lhr-lesson-11-resource/
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre. (2014). Aboriginal members of the Light Horse, AIF. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Australian Light Horse Studies: http://alh-research.tripod.com/ab_LH.htm
Camp Gallipoli. (2014). Indiginous Diggers. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Camp Gallipoli, Commemerating 100 years of ANZAC Spirit : https://www.campgallipoli.com.au/indigenous-diggers/
Carrodus, D. H. (2012). Oxford Big Ideas. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Darlington, R. (2012). History Alive 9. Milton, QLD: John Wiley and Sons Australia.
Education, R. A. (2014). From ANZAC Cove to ANZAC Day. Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Skwirk.com.au: Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces
ICRA. (11, November 2002). Aboriginal Diggers. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces: http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/32360/20100306-0022/www.diggerhistory.info/pages-aboriginal/aboriginal1.html
Korff, J. (2014, August 31). Anzac Day Coloured Digger march. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Creative Spirits: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/anzac-day-coloured-digger-march
Lawson, H. (2013, March 4). Australia Versus New Zealand . Retrieved September 2, 2014, from Convict Creations: http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/newzealand.html
Monroe, M. H. (2008, November 15). Aboriginal History of Australia. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Australia: The Land Where Time Began: http://austhrutime.com/aboriginal_history_in_australia.htm
O'Connel, G. (2014, febuary 3). Indiginous Australians at War. Retrieved 4 September, 2014, from Australian institute of aboriginal and torres straite ilander studies: http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/iaaw/home.html
Studies, Nebraska. (2013, January 10). Geopolitical Power Shifts. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from Nebraska studies: http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0300/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0300/stories/0301_0118.html
The Australian Army. (2014 , March 2). Mental Health. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from The Australian Army: http://www.army.gov.au/Army-life/Wounded-Injured-and-Ill-Digger/Support-to-Wounded-Injured-and-Ill/Soldier-recovery/Mental-health
War, A. a. (2013). Aboriginals in World War 1. Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Anzac Day Websites: http://www.anzacwebsites.com/tradition/aboriginals-ww1.htm
2427 Pte Joe Fitzroy, 11th LHR, Lesson 11 Resource. (2008, November 6). Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Desert Column: http://alh-research.tripod.com/Light_Horse/index.blog/1853164/2427-pte-joe-fitzroy-11th-lhr-lesson-11-resource/
Australian Light Horse Studies Centre. (2014). Aboriginal members of the Light Horse, AIF. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Australian Light Horse Studies: http://alh-research.tripod.com/ab_LH.htm
Camp Gallipoli. (2014). Indiginous Diggers. Retrieved September 1, 2014, from Camp Gallipoli, Commemerating 100 years of ANZAC Spirit : https://www.campgallipoli.com.au/indigenous-diggers/
Carrodus, D. H. (2012). Oxford Big Ideas. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.
Darlington, R. (2012). History Alive 9. Milton, QLD: John Wiley and Sons Australia.
Education, R. A. (2014). From ANZAC Cove to ANZAC Day. Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Skwirk.com.au: Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces
ICRA. (11, November 2002). Aboriginal Diggers. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from Digger History: an unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Forces: http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/32360/20100306-0022/www.diggerhistory.info/pages-aboriginal/aboriginal1.html
Korff, J. (2014, August 31). Anzac Day Coloured Digger march. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Creative Spirits: http://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/history/anzac-day-coloured-digger-march
Lawson, H. (2013, March 4). Australia Versus New Zealand . Retrieved September 2, 2014, from Convict Creations: http://www.convictcreations.com/culture/newzealand.html
Monroe, M. H. (2008, November 15). Aboriginal History of Australia. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from Australia: The Land Where Time Began: http://austhrutime.com/aboriginal_history_in_australia.htm
O'Connel, G. (2014, febuary 3). Indiginous Australians at War. Retrieved 4 September, 2014, from Australian institute of aboriginal and torres straite ilander studies: http://www.aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/iaaw/home.html
Studies, Nebraska. (2013, January 10). Geopolitical Power Shifts. Retrieved September 5, 2014, from Nebraska studies: http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0300/frameset_reset.html?http://www.nebraskastudies.org/0300/stories/0301_0118.html
The Australian Army. (2014 , March 2). Mental Health. Retrieved September 3, 2014, from The Australian Army: http://www.army.gov.au/Army-life/Wounded-Injured-and-Ill-Digger/Support-to-Wounded-Injured-and-Ill/Soldier-recovery/Mental-health
War, A. a. (2013). Aboriginals in World War 1. Retrieved September 4, 2014, from Anzac Day Websites: http://www.anzacwebsites.com/tradition/aboriginals-ww1.htm