Despite laws to the contrary, ATSI peoples enlisted in all conflicts fought by Australia since Federation in 1901.  And, even according to some sources, also served in the Boer War (1899-1902) as light horsemen or trackers.
Estimated figures cite up to 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people served with the Australian Imperial Force in the First World War, and 4,000 in WWII. It is difficult to establish exact numbers because the enlistment process did not record a person’s ethnicity at the time, and it was not until 1948 that ATSI peoples were legally recognised as Australian citizens.  Read full post for all sources!

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.awm.gov.au/indigenous

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/world-war-ii-1939-1945/resources/indigenous-australians-service-during-world-war-ii

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/personnel/indigenous-service

https://www.latrobe.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/585594/NAIDOC-2014-Servicing-Country-.pdf

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/resources/media/image/awm-p02229001


WWII fighter pilot Len Waters

 

https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/serving-their-country

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