WW1
Before WW1 Aboriginal Men, Women and Children lived in a society with low wages, harsh living conditions and very few rights. For example: the men were not allowed to vote. When Australia went to war in 1914, Indigenous Australians saw this as an opportunity to prove themselves as equal and worthy to the white Australians and to no longer be discriminated after the war ended. Although, another reason that Indigenous Australians enlisted was identical to the white Australians, for the opportunity to travel overseas with the offer of 6 shillings. For some of the Indigenous men it was their first experience of being treated as equally as the white Australians. Upon enlisting many Indigenous Australians were rejected as a result of their race and nationality. Therefore some Indigenous men lied about their nationality to serve and fight for their country, claiming that they were Maori, Indian or Pacific Islander. By October 1917 recruitment was difficult to find, so a new military order stated: "Half-castes may be enlisted providing that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one of the parents is of European origin". This is as far as the enlisting officers would go in accepting Indigenous recruitment. After this was announced, large numbers of Indigenous men volunteered, claiming they were half-caste. It is estimated that 500 Indigenous men enlisted to serve Australia in the war. All of these men served in all but two of the sixty infantry battalions and all of the light horse regiments. Out of these 500 men, 5 were buried in Gallipoli
WW2
Unlike WW1, Indigenous Australians had the right to enlist to serve for Australia, therefore many men were keen and willing to sign up. Similar to WW1, Aboriginal men believed that war service would help push for citizen rights and respect. The white Australians saw Aboriginal enlistment as a chance to learn about Aboriginal culture and see the poor conditions lay upon the Aboriginal society. Although there still seemed to be some discrimination between the two races. In 1940, the Australian Defence Committee decided that the enlistment of Indigenous Australians was 'unnecessary', however this is partly because the White Australians objected to serving with the Indigenous men. Like WW1, some men would claim to be another nationality that was not Aboriginal, although sometimes the recruiting officers would let some men slip through because of confusion on their race. When Japan decided to go to War, the need of male enlistment increased dramatically, Aboriginal men enlisted in large numbers and were mainly recruited into labour corps. Hundreds of Indigenous Australians served throughout WW2 and the numbers are not exact. Many were killed in battle and at least a dozen died as prisoners of war. In Northern Australia, Aboriginal women had the right to enlist and many did, enlisting in the women's services or in war industries. They supported isolated RAAF outposts and even helped salvage crashed aircraft
Before WW1 Aboriginal Men, Women and Children lived in a society with low wages, harsh living conditions and very few rights. For example: the men were not allowed to vote. When Australia went to war in 1914, Indigenous Australians saw this as an opportunity to prove themselves as equal and worthy to the white Australians and to no longer be discriminated after the war ended. Although, another reason that Indigenous Australians enlisted was identical to the white Australians, for the opportunity to travel overseas with the offer of 6 shillings. For some of the Indigenous men it was their first experience of being treated as equally as the white Australians. Upon enlisting many Indigenous Australians were rejected as a result of their race and nationality. Therefore some Indigenous men lied about their nationality to serve and fight for their country, claiming that they were Maori, Indian or Pacific Islander. By October 1917 recruitment was difficult to find, so a new military order stated: "Half-castes may be enlisted providing that the examining Medical Officers are satisfied that one of the parents is of European origin". This is as far as the enlisting officers would go in accepting Indigenous recruitment. After this was announced, large numbers of Indigenous men volunteered, claiming they were half-caste. It is estimated that 500 Indigenous men enlisted to serve Australia in the war. All of these men served in all but two of the sixty infantry battalions and all of the light horse regiments. Out of these 500 men, 5 were buried in Gallipoli
WW2
Unlike WW1, Indigenous Australians had the right to enlist to serve for Australia, therefore many men were keen and willing to sign up. Similar to WW1, Aboriginal men believed that war service would help push for citizen rights and respect. The white Australians saw Aboriginal enlistment as a chance to learn about Aboriginal culture and see the poor conditions lay upon the Aboriginal society. Although there still seemed to be some discrimination between the two races. In 1940, the Australian Defence Committee decided that the enlistment of Indigenous Australians was 'unnecessary', however this is partly because the White Australians objected to serving with the Indigenous men. Like WW1, some men would claim to be another nationality that was not Aboriginal, although sometimes the recruiting officers would let some men slip through because of confusion on their race. When Japan decided to go to War, the need of male enlistment increased dramatically, Aboriginal men enlisted in large numbers and were mainly recruited into labour corps. Hundreds of Indigenous Australians served throughout WW2 and the numbers are not exact. Many were killed in battle and at least a dozen died as prisoners of war. In Northern Australia, Aboriginal women had the right to enlist and many did, enlisting in the women's services or in war industries. They supported isolated RAAF outposts and even helped salvage crashed aircraft