Monthly Archives: June 2013

HE LOST BOTH LEGS: POSSIBLE ABORIGINAL SOLDIER OF WORLD WAR ONE

Posted on June 24, 2013 by Indigenous Histories

Casualties for the AIF were devastating for the mainly young men who left Australia sound in body. A widely reported statement of the number and types of casualties incurred by the AIF during WW1 gives sobering statistics. A.I.F. CASUALTIES., MELBOURNE, … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1 | 1 Comment

WILLIAM PUNCH OF GOULBURN: ABORIGINAL ‘MASCOT OF HIS BATTALION’

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Indigenous Histories

At 3 pm on 31 August 1917, Private William Joseph Punch, AIF was buried in East Cemetery Boscombe, Bournemouth, in England. He was accorded a full military funeral with the firing party supplied by the New Zealand Engineers, Christchurch. Wreaths … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1 | 6 Comments

WILLIAM ‘MICK’ KING AND THE POSITION OF ABORIGINES IN THE AIF

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Indigenous Histories

Information requested from volunteers for the AIF did not include details of race although this may be mentioned incidentally in service records. In other instances secondary sources can assist in establishing the fact that an individual is Aboriginal and may … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1 | 1 Comment