WITH the releasing of records and the increased interest in our military history that has occurred in the past few years, more and more insights can be gained into those tumultuous years when Australians of all walks of life answered the call to arms in great numbers.
During WW1, approximately 420,000 Australians volunteered to serve in the military, in the Australian Imperial Force and the Royal Australian navy.
More than 330,000 of them were sent overseas to fight and a staggering 60,000 were to be killed with 137,000 wounded. These volunteers reflected the social and cultural backgrounds of our society at the time.
Predominantly Western European in origin, descendants of the early settlers, convicts, or recent migrants, some were also diggers of Eastern European, Asian and of course Indigenous heritage.
It is known that close to 1000 members of the Australian Imperial Force were of Chinese ancestry, and one, Billy Sing was the subject of an earlier column, while the most decorated Chinese-Australian solder of the war was Caleb Shang who lived much of his life in Cairns.
Many Australians of Eastern European descent also volunteered and books such as” Russian Anzacs- in Australian History” by Elena Govor has detailed their role brilliantly It should also be remembered that our most famous General of the war, Sir John Monash was born in Australia but his parents had migrated from a part of Germany that is now part of Poland.
But what about our Indigenous soldiers? Their stories are now being told, but for too long it seems we didn’t know enough about their efforts.
Recently the NQ Toyota Cowboys co- captain, Johnathan Thurston highlighted the need to remember the feats of Indigenous soldiers and as records become more available, this must happen.
So who were these men who proudly wore the Australian uniform in war time and found equality in the military that for many, sadly eluded them in civilian life in those times? It is estimated that between 500-800 Indigenous Australians answered the call to arms during World War I.
Two Indigenous diggers from this number who can be used as examples of the roles Indigenous Australians played in World War I are William Reginald Rawlings and Frank Fisher. Just two who were to leave a lasting legacy for our nation.
William (Bill) Reginald Rawlings came from country Victoria from where he joined up in March 1916. A 25 year old horse breaker he opted to join the infantry and ended up in the Victorian 29th Battalion in France.
By February 1916 the enlistment rate in Australia was very high following the Gallipoli campaign when the Australian Imperial force had to be reinforced and in fact doubled in size. Many thousands of volunteers rushed to join, becoming known as “The fair dinkum’s” because by then the grim reality of war was well known and the chances of surviving unscathed were slim.
Bill Rawlings was a “fair dinkum” and he proved to be a courageous, resourceful soldier. In July 1918 he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery and his citation read in part “his irresistible dash and courage set a wonderful example to the remainder of the team”.
A few weeks later, Bill was killed by shell fire. One of his fellow diggers was reported to recall in later years “The AIF judged a man not by his colour, but by his worth”.
Bill Rawlings legacy was to live on though, through his nephews, Reg and Harry Saunders. Reg, born in 1920, was to become the first Indigenous Australian soldier to be commissioned in the field as an officer during World War II. Both Reg, and his younger brother Harry grew up knowing the stories of their uncle Bill (and their dad, Chris Saunders who also served in World War I) and it was no surprise that both volunteered when the World War II started. Harry was still under 18 when he volunteered and he was to die on the Kokoda track fighting for his country with the 2/14th Battalion.
Reg meanwhile had joined the 2/7 Battalion, made famous by the 1970-80’s TV show ‘the Sullivans”, and in fact in that TV series, Reg featured as a real character (played for TV by his own son). Reg Saunders fought through the Middle East, and in Greece with the 2/7 Battalion before returning to Australia and fighting in Papua New Guinea. He was commissioned in 1944. After the war he returned to civilian life but answered the call to arms again in 1950 for the Korean War and served as a Captain in the Australian army. The Saunders family has certainly served Australia well and can be proud of their contribution to this great land in times of war.
The other notable indigenous Australian Soldier in World War I who was to leave a great legacy was Frank Fisher. Frank was one of the many Indigenous volunteers who joined the Queensland 11th Light horse in 1917.
He lived in Townsville for a while where his son Frank junior was born in 1905. Frank senior was 38 when he volunteered, and he served with distinction in the Middle East with the Light Horse. His legacy lived on in sporting circles as his son Frank jnr became a superb Rugby League player in the South Burnett region, and was named in the Indigenous team of the century in 2008.
Frank junior was to become the grandfather of a champion athlete named Cathy Freeman. How proud old Frank senior would have been, the World War I veteran to see one of his descendants representing Australia as Cathy did on the track!
As we celebrate 100 years since the original ANZAC day, the stories of all Australians who served our country from the many ancestral and cultural backgrounds should be told and honoured. Their stories could fill many books.
Lest We Forget
