WW1
In the trenches, all soldiers were treated as equally and it was one of the few places where racism wasn't considered and laid upon the Indigenous soldiers. They were employed under the same conditions, received the same wages and were accepted without prejudice. Although, the men who fortunately returned to Australia did not receive any recognition or achievements and as the other Non-Indigenous soldiers. They were discriminated worse than before, and in some cases the Government had stolen their children while these soldiers defended for our country. The men were no longer seen as equal to the other soldiers, for example: they were not allowed to have a drink with the white Australians at the local pub. Therefore, the status of Aboriginal people had not been changed in the society. One anonymous soldier of Cherbourg, Queensland stated: "There were three of us that went to the great war out of my family, one was killed. I always thought that fighting for our King and country would make me a naturalised British subject and a man with freedom in the country but ... they place me under the act and put me on settlement like a dog. It seems as if the chief protector thinks that a returned soldier doesn't want justice"
WW2
During WW2, the Aboriginal Soldiers were dependent on their labour skills, producing construction sites, in army butcheries and on army farms. They also drove trucks, handling the cargo and providing labour within the camps. Therefore the contribution of Indigenous Australians was vital throughout the War. For the first time, Aboriginal soldiers were provided with adequate housing and sanitation, fixed working hours and access to medical treatment in Hospitals. Pay rates remained low, with standard pay of 5 shillings a week. Although at one stage they were paying Indigenous Australians 5 shillings per day because of their hard labour and involvement in the war. Although, pressure from the civilian administration forced back to the standard rate. Aboriginal men also contributed to the localised defence effort on the home front. During WW2, the Australian Army used local populations to develop specific Indigenous units such as the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance. This unit was comprised of Indigenous Soldiers, trained under the Military leadership. Their main task was defending the Northern coast of Australia from Japanese attack. The men serving in this unit were paid approximately half the wage of soldiers serving in other units, although unless they served overseas, they were not considered eligible for veterans' benefits. Like WW1, the soldiers that survived returned back home to nothing attitude towards the Aboriginal community being affected. They were still discriminated and were not recognised as full citizens of Australia.
In the trenches, all soldiers were treated as equally and it was one of the few places where racism wasn't considered and laid upon the Indigenous soldiers. They were employed under the same conditions, received the same wages and were accepted without prejudice. Although, the men who fortunately returned to Australia did not receive any recognition or achievements and as the other Non-Indigenous soldiers. They were discriminated worse than before, and in some cases the Government had stolen their children while these soldiers defended for our country. The men were no longer seen as equal to the other soldiers, for example: they were not allowed to have a drink with the white Australians at the local pub. Therefore, the status of Aboriginal people had not been changed in the society. One anonymous soldier of Cherbourg, Queensland stated: "There were three of us that went to the great war out of my family, one was killed. I always thought that fighting for our King and country would make me a naturalised British subject and a man with freedom in the country but ... they place me under the act and put me on settlement like a dog. It seems as if the chief protector thinks that a returned soldier doesn't want justice"
WW2
During WW2, the Aboriginal Soldiers were dependent on their labour skills, producing construction sites, in army butcheries and on army farms. They also drove trucks, handling the cargo and providing labour within the camps. Therefore the contribution of Indigenous Australians was vital throughout the War. For the first time, Aboriginal soldiers were provided with adequate housing and sanitation, fixed working hours and access to medical treatment in Hospitals. Pay rates remained low, with standard pay of 5 shillings a week. Although at one stage they were paying Indigenous Australians 5 shillings per day because of their hard labour and involvement in the war. Although, pressure from the civilian administration forced back to the standard rate. Aboriginal men also contributed to the localised defence effort on the home front. During WW2, the Australian Army used local populations to develop specific Indigenous units such as the Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance. This unit was comprised of Indigenous Soldiers, trained under the Military leadership. Their main task was defending the Northern coast of Australia from Japanese attack. The men serving in this unit were paid approximately half the wage of soldiers serving in other units, although unless they served overseas, they were not considered eligible for veterans' benefits. Like WW1, the soldiers that survived returned back home to nothing attitude towards the Aboriginal community being affected. They were still discriminated and were not recognised as full citizens of Australia.