Author Archives: Indigenous Histories

About Indigenous Histories

Author & Publisher of Australian history, art and culture.

THE ABORIGINAL FIRTHS: AN UNUSUAL ANZAC CONNECTION

Posted on April 24, 2016

Ernest Firth  Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales In 1918 the Trustees of the Mitchell Library appealed to families for photographs of men who had served in the AIF. Aboriginal families were amongst those who responded and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

UNDERSTANDING THE NUMBERS: THE REVEILLE LISTS AND ABORIGINAL MEN IN THE FIRST AIF

Posted on March 29, 2016

In 1931 and 1932, Reveille the journal of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, (the predecessor of the Returned and Services League and referred to as the RSL) published lists of Aboriginal men who served in the … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1 | 4 Comments

IDENTIFIED! SOLDIER WHO LOST BOTH LEGS 1917

Posted on December 7, 2015

In June 2013 I posted a photograph of a member of the AIF in a group of patients  from the Horton War Hospital, Epsom, City of London. The photograph was dated 4 April 1917. Close examination of this image shows that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Other non white Australians and the AIF, WW1, WW2 | 6 Comments

ABORIGINAL OFFICERS IN THE FIRST AIF ?

Posted on November 3, 2015

In 2012 Andrea Gerrard of the University of Tasmania identified an officer of Aboriginal heritage in the first AIF. This serviceman was Alfred John Hearps who volunteered on 20 August 1914 and served with the 12th Battalion at Gallipoli and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, WW1 | 1 Comment

GALLIPOLI TO THE SOMME: THE SHORT LIFE OF SIDNEY JONES

Posted on October 17, 2015

Sidney Gerald Jones volunteered to serve in the First World War in December 1914. At age 19 he was just within the army age limit of 19 – 38, but legally underage. His record shows he received his parents’ consent … Continue reading →

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GALLIPOLI: THE ABORIGINAL PRESENCE

Posted on April 23, 2015

I have stood shoulder to shoulder with half castes in Hell’s pit, [Hell’s Spit] on Quinn’s Post, and seen them die like the grandest of white men and other little stunts I can mention. Cairns Post, 28 January 1933 These … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

CHARLIE ALLEY LIGHT HORSEMAN: THE SERVICE TRADITION OF THE ALLEY FAMILY

Posted on April 15, 2015

Charlie Alley was born in Charters Towers, Queensland in 1901. His father also Charles came from the Malay Straits and his mother Fanny Palmer was born under a tree at  Canobie station near Blackjack. During the World War One Charlie’s … Continue reading →

Posted in WW1, WW2 | 15 Comments